Don't assume the Panthers first pick...

[csx]

I'm going to assume they will go defense first.

[Ramblin' Willie]

Ron Rivera (and Hurney) vetted Cam. I believe they is looking for people with ability and drive to be the best. People showing up at the combine out of shape won't cut it. Conversely, people who only are workout warriors won't either. We need to trust Ron and Hurney to evaluate the drive and character of the prospects with the most physical ability. Those who were productive in college and students of the game in the film room have an edge over those who just show up and play with their God-given talent. I'm sure we will end up with prospects who have talent and are driven to be the best at their position. In the early rounds, I hope we find guys who are both talented and dirven. However, in the later rounds, does desire trump pure talent?

[rayzor]

I'm going to assume they will go defense first.

i hope they do.

i'm tired of accepting mediocrity in any phase of the game.

i want this team to be complete and to be dominant.

the offense as-is was the 4th best coring offense in the league. we lost because we had a bad defense.

i don't care how much faith you have in beason, TD, ron edwards, or wilks...i can't imagine without significant upgrades to our pass rush, interior dline, FS, and CB that we can be anything more than average and just as likely to give leads away as we are to take the lead only have it happen at the worst time.

we don't have to address all those needs, but we also don't need to be settling for what we have in those areas. we need more game changers on defense.

we just need to focus on fixing the areas of greatest weakness and that ain't WR. that ain't the Oline. that's DT, CB, OLB (because i'm not counting on TD being able to come back and play for a whole season), and FS. so what if we give up picking a slightly more talented OG. we fix what is broke first and deal with the rest later.

i hope this is a smoke screen from the top. i hope their #1 priority this offseason is fixing what didn't work and trying to make the team complete. if they don't then they are no better than john fox in running a team.

[Brandon]

Wtf does your board mean?

Position we need? Cause if so then CB is one of them

Basically they look at everyone in the draft and decide if those players are capable of playing in our system. After that they are arranged in order of skill and with a slight bias towards positions of greatest need.

[Lout]

If we legitimentely were looking at offensive players, I can not think of a logical reason why Hurney would tip his hand and tell a beat writer that. He would rather make teams think we were going strictly defense, and have the upper hand. Just doesn't make sense. Makes me think we are looking strictly defense now, after reading that article.

[Snake]

Hurney was content to ignore the defense in the last off season, so why would this off season be any different?

Statements like this make me wonder if anyone pays attention to what has been said in the past.

[MHS831]

BUT, if Hurney truley believes Otah is the player he wants than I see no reason to pick Oline depth with the first pick.

.

Do you really think we can count on Otah? In addition, who is our backup LT? Wharton. Who was below average vs the pass last season? Wharton. Who is scheduled to make nearly $8 million in 2012? Wharton.

And Gross is 32. If there was ever a need at T, it is now.

-----------------------

BPA--that is misleading because you also have to factor in the difficulty in finding a quality player at any position. For example, there are 3 legit LTs in the draft. 2 franchise QBs. Rarity has to factor in. The Panthers may not get the chance to draft a LT because they will draft too high for years to come.

Take the LT.

What defensive players will be on the board at 8/9 that fill a need and will not necessitate a reach? Kirpatrick CB; Coples DE; and maybe Still, DT. No OLB, FS is scheduled to go that early.

Here are the arguments against each defensive player mentioned:

Dre Kirkpatrick: Will we take a guy who was busted for pot at such a critical time in his life? Is he a good fit for our defense? What about Hogan? How good is he?

Quintn Coples: Is he consistent and does he have a strong motor? Has he been able to rely on natural ability and when heart is needed, he will not be able to provide it?

Still, DT: I think this one-hit-wonder will drop. Besides, DT is one of the positions with the highest first round bust rate. Hurney is usually pretty safe in the first round.

---------------------

Protect Cam. Draft for the next 12 years and not next season only. LT is a need that will only get worse if not addressed with quality. You do not find quality LTs in the second half of the first round. Take one now when you can get one.

[cookinbrak]

If, for some reason, other teams lose their minds, and Justin Blackmon or RG3 are available, we don't go defense.

[frash.exe]

Do you really think we can count on Otah? In addition, who is our backup LT? Wharton. Who was below average vs the pass last season? Wharton. Who is scheduled to make nearly $8 million in 2012? Wharton.

And Gross is 32. If there was ever a need at T, it is now.

-----------------------

BPA--that is misleading because you also have to factor in the difficulty in finding a quality player at any position. For example, there are 3 legit LTs in the draft. 2 franchise QBs. Rarity has to factor in. The Panthers may not get the chance to draft a LT because they will draft too high for years to come.

Take the LT.

What defensive players will be on the board at 8/9 that fill a need and will not necessitate a reach? Kirpatrick CB; Coples DE; and maybe Still, DT. No OLB, FS is scheduled to go that early.

Here are the arguments against each defensive player mentioned:

Dre Kirkpatrick: Will we take a guy who was busted for pot at such a critical time in his life? Is he a good fit for our defense? What about Hogan? How good is he?

Quintn Coples: Is he consistent and does he have a strong motor? Has he been able to rely on natural ability and when heart is needed, he will not be able to provide it?

Still, DT: I think this one-hit-wonder will drop. Besides, DT is one of the positions with the highest first round bust rate. Hurney is usually pretty safe in the first round.

---------------------

Protect Cam. Draft for the next 12 years and not next season only. LT is a need that will only get worse if not addressed with quality. You do not find quality LTs in the second half of the first round. Take one now when you can get one.

nope, not true. you don't have to take a tackle first round in order to protect cam

[CPF4LIFE]

Do you really think we can count on Otah? In addition, who is our backup LT? Wharton. Who was below average vs the pass last season? Wharton. Who is scheduled to make nearly $8 million in 2012? Wharton.

And Gross is 32. If there was ever a need at T, it is now.

-----------------------

BPA--that is misleading because you also have to factor in the difficulty in finding a quality player at any position. For example, there are 3 legit LTs in the draft. 2 franchise QBs. Rarity has to factor in. The Panthers may not get the chance to draft a LT because they will draft too high for years to come.

Take the LT.

What defensive players will be on the board at 8/9 that fill a need and will not necessitate a reach? Kirpatrick CB; Coples DE; and maybe Still, DT. No OLB, FS is scheduled to go that early.

Here are the arguments against each defensive player mentioned:

Dre Kirkpatrick: Will we take a guy who was busted for pot at such a critical time in his life? Is he a good fit for our defense? What about Hogan? How good is he?

Quintn Coples: Is he consistent and does he have a strong motor? Has he been able to rely on natural ability and when heart is needed, he will not be able to provide it?

Still, DT: I think this one-hit-wonder will drop. Besides, DT is one of the positions with the highest first round bust rate. Hurney is usually pretty safe in the first round.

---------------------

Protect Cam. Draft for the next 12 years and not next season only. LT is a need that will only get worse if not addressed with quality. You do not find quality LTs in the second half of the first round. Take one now when you can get one.

At the end of the day it isnt about what we think, its what the coaching staff thinks.

[La Pantera]

if, for some reason, other teams lose their minds, and justin blackmon or rg3 are available, we don't go defense.

rg3...........?!

[ed bell]

If, for some reason, other teams lose their minds, and Justin Blackmon or RG3 are available, we don't go defense.

If RG3 is available, the trade wheels better be turning....If Blackmon is available...wait a minute! Is there any scenario that doesn't involve Luck, Blackmon, Kalil, Claiborne, and RG3 going before we pick? Focus on the rest...

[ed bell]

Is this RG3?

:)

[weymouthst]

I feel like if Blackmon is there at 8, we take him.