Got A Chance To Talk To A Player On The D-Line About The Draft

[koolkatluke]

We will see. Demeco Ryans had the same surgery as Beason and what I heard is it took him towards the end of the season to play at a pro bowl level.

Them changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4 could be the reason.

[panthers90]

best case possible Beason will be weaker, Ron Edwards isn't going to just revolutionize the D, and Davis will very likely injure himself again. We do need defense. But I would just draft good players and build around Newton.

wait... how are these best case scenarios again?

[koolkatluke]

best case possible Beason will be weaker, Ron Edwards isn't going to just revolutionize the D, and Davis will very likely injure himself again. We do need defense. But I would just draft good players and build around Newton.

The offense will get better by having a full offseason alone. Plus again we were the 6th ranked offense and that wasn't the reason we lost 10 games last year. The best thing for Cam is a defense that can get the other offense off the field.

[CollegePanther]

Taking any OL other than Kalil at 9 would be a bit of reach. Decastro may be talented enough but i cant see us taking a guard that early. Reiff doesnt look like a top ten talent so if this info is true we may trade down.

[SCP]

I would only want Reiff if he has the ability to play LT.... if so, it's a good move in my book...

For what it's worth, Mayock said on PTTD last night that Reiff is not a true plug and play NFL left tackle. Said he should probably see a year or two at RT first. Mayock also thought Cam was a late first rounder, so who cares I suppose.

[panthersphan]

I wouldn't mind trading down... then trading back into the 1st and grabbing a OL and DL ...

[Snake]

Them changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4 could be the reason.

Love how people dont like to even factor this in. They just point to his stats and say See I told you Beason is going to be screwed we need to draft his replacement NOW!!!!!!!!111!

[Woodie]

People need to realize that the perception and value of OG's has shifted significantly over the past couple of years. Anyone who doubts the value top level guards hold in the league now only needs to look at what they are getting in FA. Those guys are getting massive contracts. Despite what some think, elite OG's are not easy to come by, and when teams find one, they are willing to pay. Another factor that we need to look at is the effect of the rookie cap on the draft. If a team evaluates an OG prospect as elite, then they will be much more inclined to take one high since the cost is no longer quite so exorbanent, particularly when you compare it to what elite Guard are getting in FA.

As for whether the Panthers take DeCastro, I have been saying it is a strong possibility for a while now. And to me, the chances went up significantly when we released Wharton. Hangartner is serviceable at best, Williams is still a question mark, and everyone else is less than inspiring as potential starters. That doesn't mean he will be our pick, but he is legitimately in the conversation...and may, in fact, be leading it.

[Wither]

Were you two in the bathroom talking about this or what?

Stall-to-stall chatting?

[koolkatluke]

People need to realize that the perception and value of OG's has shifted significantly over the past couple of years. Anyone who doubts the value top level guards hold in the league now only needs to look at what they are getting in FA. Those guys are getting massive contracts. Despite what some think, elite OG's are not easy to come by, and when teams find one, they are willing to pay. Another factor that we need to look at is the effect of the rookie cap on the draft. If a team evaluates an OG prospect as elite, then they will be much more inclined to take one high since the cost is no longer quite so exorbanent, particularly when you compare it to what elite Guard are getting in FA.

As for whether the Panthers take DeCastro, I have been saying it is a strong possibility for a while now. And to me, the chances went up significantly when we released Wharton. Hangartner is serviceable at best, Williams is still a question mark, and everyone else is less than inspiring as potential starters. That doesn't mean he will be our pick, but he is legitimately in the conversation...and may, in fact, be leading it.

That's why most of the top 20 guards the last 3 years were either later round picks or undrafted. Only 2-3 were 1st round picks. So your whole post is crushed by Facts.

[Woodie]

That's why most of the top 20 guards the last 3 years were either later round picks or undrafted. Only 2-3 were 1st round picks. So your whole post is crushed by Facts.

No, go look up what top OG's have gotten in FA, and then go look up when the new collective bargaining agreement was signed. Then, go look up how many OG prospects were rated as elite...particularly on the level of DeCastro...suddenly all those facts go poof.

Here's the fact you need to understand, perception is changing. Sure, you will have traditionalists that still make decisions based on an old school mentality, but you also have progressive minds that understand that this isn't your daddy's NFL. The value of OG's that are involved in every offensive play (and can dominate against both the run and pass) has grown in recent years. That doesn't mean everyone is going to run out and draft a Guard in the first round, but if one comes along that most evaluate as elite, it is likely that he will go much higher than is tradition...particularly when you have teams in need of Guard help. Does that mean the Panthers will take DeCastro, not necessarily, but if not, he likely won't last much longer.

[Mage]

For what it's worth, Mayock said on PTTD last night that Reiff is not a true plug and play NFL left tackle. Said he should probably see a year or two at RT first. Mayock also thought Cam was a late first rounder, so who cares I suppose.

Incorrect. Mayock as the NFL Draft approached change his stance on Cam and said that, if he had a way to know if his head was on straight or not (which is understandable as Mayock obviously wasn't going to get an opportunity to interview him like we did), he would absolutely take him first overall.

[koolkatluke]

http://thedctimes.co...-rank-best-ogs/

1. Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens (3rd)

2. Carl Nicks (5th)

3. Evan Mathis (3rd)

4. Josh Sitton (4th)

5. Mike Iupati (1st - 17th)

6. Brian Waters (undrafted)

7. Jake Scott (5th)

8. Andy Levitre (2nd)

9. Chad Rinehart (3rd)

10. Steve Hutchinson (1st-17th)

11. Jahri Evans (4th)

12. Logan Mankins (1st-32)

13. Jeremy Zuttah (3rd)

14. Richie Incognito (3rd)

15. Mike Brisiel (undrafted)

16. Leroy Harris (4th)

17. Brandon Moore (undrafted)

18. Ben Grubbs (1st-29th)

19. Stephen Peterman (3rd)

20. Rob Sims (4th)

21. Justin Blalock (2nd)

22. Davin Joseph (1st-27th)

23. Chris Snee (2nd)

Pay attention because I'm not doing this again. Do you notice a pattern? Only 4 1st round picks in the top 23. None were drafted in the top 10. So when exactly did guard perception change? When has a guard ever been picked in the top 10 of the draft?

Plain and simple Picking a guard in the 1st round is a luxury Pick for teams that were either in the playoffs or close to it (mostly in). We were neither.

[panthers55]

We will see. Demeco Ryans had the same surgery as Beason and what I heard is it took him towards the end of the season to play at a pro bowl level.

Pro bowl level???? He was considered a 2 down back and was traded to Philly for only a 4th rounder. Most guys with achilles surgery takes years to recover if ever. Takeo Spikes took 3 years to regain his productivity.

A study done on players with achilles heel surgery showed only 66% came back at all and of thosepositions, linebackers showed the biggest drop off of almost 95%.