The Case For Coples At 9...

[KendrickPanther]

I've read repeatedly this guy is not in Peppers class. I keep seeing people compare him to a top3 pick. They feel like he's a steal at 9 that slipped because of motor. That's not the case. He is not a complete DE.

[The Huddler]

I've read repeatedly this guy is not in Peppers class. I keep seeing people compare him to a top3 pick. They feel like he's a steal at 9 that slipped because of motor. That's not the case. He is not a complete DE.

Why?

[Peppermint9030]

Based on what? How can you say hes not a complete defensive end? It shows in the tape when hes going 110% hes dominant, when he doesn't hes not dominant...That to me sounds like a lack of motor over physical ability.

[Ja Rhule]

Coples is raw. He's a project with a lot of upside. He might still be a bust. Also, quickness and speed r 2 different things. 4.6 is speed.

[rippadonn]

I think we may grab Coples. As much as people harp on how bad our DT's played, at the end of the day they were two of Rivera's very first draft picks, and I doubt he gives up on them so quickly. DT isn't the instant NCAA-NFL transition that people think it is. I really, really believe that Rivera will give McClain and Fua a minimum of another season or two to succeed before cutting ties and drafting replacements.

A top quality DT in the draft would make the rotation stronger. Nobody that is any good has to worry about their job. Fua and McClain as well as Hardy can all rotate in. We lack that prototypical "monster" inside, everybody knows it. You must have quality talent at key positions.

I'd love to get a top quality pass rusher. Coples is a special athlete and if he is there we should pick him up. I like the fact that he can move inside already. Pep needed to add weight to do that. Coples is coming in bigger. I wouldn't worry about motivation in the NFL though.

[DaCityKats]

I've read repeatedly this guy is not in Peppers class. I keep seeing people compare him to a top3 pick. They feel like he's a steal at 9 that slipped because of motor. That's not the case. He is not a complete DE.

yeah thats why he is the top ranked DE on most draftniks boards.

[carolina-chuck]

Love to see him in a no.90 Panthers' jersey.

[KendrickPanther]

Being the top tanked DE and being an elite DE prospect is not the same. Coples had success playing in a 3 pt stance. All of his success came as a DT his junior year. His senior year he played with a 4 pt stance as an edge rusher and he struggled. Greg Cosell calls him a power rusher with strong hands. He doesn't have the elite quickness to get around the edge. He projects as a run stuffer. Not a pass rusher. I'll link a podcast were Greg talks about it on WFNZ but to paraphrase he says "He's certainly not Julius Peppers, I don't even think he's Mario Williams"

I'm sure some of you will disagree with Cosell. What do you see in Coples? All I hear is nice measurables. Poe has nice measurables. Neither of them did squat in 2011. Neither of them went up against dominant opposition.

here's the link if you care enough: http://nyc.podcast.play.it/media/d0/d0/d1/d0/d8/dJ/dW/108JW_3.MP3?authtok=5561741422405739910_9twpyGevakWKDdHzweKaNZI08

[scarface]

besides Claiborne, Coples is my #1 choice.

[pantherclaw]

Lineman will most likely be BPA at our pick.

While I feel there is just as much risk with Coples as there is with Poe, I wouldn't be upset.

[koolkatluke]

Lineman will most likely be BPA at our pick.

While I feel there is just as much risk with Coples as there is with Poe, I wouldn't be upset.

PC don't forget Cox.

[pantherclaw]

I haven't forgotten Cox. We have more than one Cox like DT on the roster.

While I like Cox, if the team goes DT in the first, I feel it'd be Poe.

[carpanfan96]

Being the top tanked DE and being an elite DE prospect is not the same. Coples had success playing in a 3 pt stance. All of his success came as a DT his junior year. His senior year he played with a 4 pt stance as an edge rusher and he struggled. Greg Cosell calls him a power rusher with strong hands. He doesn't have the elite quickness to get around the edge. He projects as a run stuffer. Not a pass rusher. I'll link a podcast were Greg talks about it on WFNZ but to paraphrase he says "He's certainly not Julius Peppers, I don't even think he's Mario Williams"

I'm sure some of you will disagree with Cosell. What do you see in Coples? All I hear is nice measurables. Poe has nice measurables. Neither of them did squat in 2011. Neither of them went up against dominant opposition.

here's the link if you care enough: http://nyc.podcast.p...WKDdHzweKaNZI08

They moved him around his Junior year and he had success both at DE and DT, They moved him around last season as well, the kid doesn't have a motor problem. He was learning a completely new defensive position that he wasn't used too. Technique takes time to learn, how to come out of different defensive stances is part of that. Also, he's not an elite DE prospect.... He's an elite defensive prospect. There's only a couple of those in this draft and he's one of those, Defensively he's the most versatile D player in this draft as well. "If he moved to DT, he'd be the only player at DT in this draft that has had a signature season" He's got the talent, size and skill set to play DT, 4-3 DE and 3-4 DE easily.

He's also got good initial burst, but doesn't get to his top end speed quickly at his current weight. He's not a prototypical NFL RE, he's bigger and stronger and not as much of a twitch player. However what he makes that up with is his skill set is his run defense and the amount of ground he can cover, even when being blocked. If Rivera wants a player that can run up front on both front's then Coples is that guy, you could play him at DE on running downs or in the 3-4 looks. Then move him to DT on passing downs.

He brings a whole lot of versatility to a defense in that he's the only player that can do all three of those well. (LE, 5 tech, DT and occasionally at RE.)

Coples said he's his own harshest critic, so he can handle the negative things said about him. And he claims to be ready to take on the duties of starring in the NFL.

"To be a professional and to be great you have to work hard all the time," he said. "And do those small things that I did, but didn't master like I think I should."

[carolinarolls]

would be a steal at 9.... no brainer there

will not fall to 9... also pretty well known

EVERY DLineman takes plays off. They are coached to. They have to. The ones they take off are typically the ones that are running away from them or the ones where they draw a double. Both of which are examples of them imposing pre-snap will on the play.

Because you see the guy going less than 100% while he watches a tailback run to the opposite sideline some of you say the guy "lacks motor". That is and will always be very stupid.

just sayin'