Amini Silatolu A Carolina Panther

[Zod]

Casual Carolina Panthers fans are waking up this morning and yet again having a hard time pronouncing the name of the newest Carolina Panther. Amini Silatolu? Chances are you have not heard that name on sports center.

Last season, if you are being honest, the Panthers offensive line was not one of the strengths of the Panthers. Their talented running backs helped to hide this fact by masking sub par offensive line blocking with positive runs. Since then the Panthers have lost their most talented guard in Tavelle Wharton, leaving the line even less likely to open up gaping holes for Deangelo Williams to sprint through.

With their second round selection the Panthers addressed the loss of Travelle Wharton by replacing him with who some consider to have first round talent - Amini Silatolu. Don Banks of Sports Illustrated had San Fran taking Amini with the 30th pick of the first round.

Silatolu has an important trait that some could say the Panthers Offensive Line could use an injection of... nastiness. Amini caught the eyes of the Panthers front office with his ability to finish off defenders. Granted, these defenders were from smaller schools, but at six foot three and three hundred and eleven pounds, the Panthers are confident his transition to the pro game will be a smooth one.

While at Midwestern State, Amini was remarkable. At left tackkle, he had an overall blocking grade of 94.7 percent, the only offensive lineman in the draft with over 90 percent for his college career. He also posted 97 knockdowns.

“The one thing that stands out is his nasty temperament. When you’re playing at a certain level like that you should dominate — and he did dominate the competition. So you feel like going to the next level he’s going to be very, very competitive.” - Ron Rivera

“When you put on the tape of him he puts a lot of people on the ground. You see the athleticism and the physical play.” - Marty Hurney

It isn't a flashy pick. Offensive Guard is not a pick that will stir up the fan base. However, you can bet your sweet ass Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart toasted this pick Friday evening.

Here is to hoping Amini has plenty of ire in his belly for the 2012 season. Maybe now the Panthers will actually run the ball on 3rd and 1.

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[KendrickPanther]

I listened to an interview with him on Panthers.com. Maybe it doesn't matter but the guy is not very smart. He said he went the DII route because he couldn't pass his juco classes. He said he felt like he did a terrible job on the board with Panthers offensive line coaches.

Maybe he's got the ability to learn but just wasn't raised to be a good student. He said his parents were hard working immigrants. His mother was a housekeeper for a hotel and his father did landscaping.

[4Corners]

Not a fan of the pick from any angle I look at it. Need defense. Better athletes at o-line picked in the three spots after him.

Now we find out this guy is a retard? Man, this pick is getting better and better!

[Zod]

This is the biggest reason he isn't being considered really for a tackle position. As a guard there is much less thinking and much more reacting and being physical. Lets face it, Wharton wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed either. At guard he will have help from the center and the tackle, two much more mentally demanding positions.

[Floppin]

He's not a good student, that doesn't make you a retard. He said he had a 2.5gpa at Midwestern.

[Zod]

Chris Gamble got a 9 on the wonderlic yet is able to show up on gamedays, find the correct field and be fully dressed. Now thats something!

[Panthro]

So is he Wharton or better than Wharton. Wharton was picked #94.

I hope much better

[4Corners]

Chris Gamble got a 9 on the wonderlic yet is able to show up on gamedays, find the correct field and be fully dressed. Now thats something!

Gamble was also focused enough to maintain a playing gpa at a very prestigious university. My gf is an Ohio state alum and it's difficult to get in there.

The guy we drafted couldnt even get a 2.0 at a fuging community college.

I know a lot of y'all here are trying to keep the glass at half full, but admit it. It was a reach and bad decision to draft him here.

[jtnc]

This is the biggest reason he isn't being considered really for a tackle position. As a guard there is much less thinking and much more reacting and being physical. Lets face it, Wharton wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed either. At guard he will have help from the center and the tackle, two much more mentally demanding positions.

How do you know Wharton wasn't smart?

[KendrickPanther]

At the very least the scouts are touting this guy as a great athlete. His 40 and bench press didn't blow me away. I really don't know how you can evaluate his athleticism against DII players.

[CRA]

Gamble was also focused enough to maintain a playing gpa at a very prestigious university. My gf is an Ohio state alum and it's difficult to get in there.

The guy we drafted couldnt even get a 2.0 at a fuging community college.

I know a lot of y'all here are trying to keep the glass at half full, but admit it. It was a reach and bad decision to draft him here.

We reached on a guy at 40 that many teams had going in the 1st round.

Just or the record, there are tons of NFL players that went to big schools for a year or two and dumber than a bag of rocks.

Bad GPAs also don't mean you are dumb....also can be immaturity

[4Corners]

We reached on a guy at 40 that many teams had going in the 1st round.

Just or the record, there are tons of NFL players that went to big schools for a year or two and dumber than a bag of rocks.

Bad GPAs also don't mean you are dumb....also can be immaturity

Immaturity is something a young team doesn't need.

If the guy is just dumb because of a disability that's one thing.

The issue I have with this guy is he just doesn't want to put in the time to study. He said himself that he is not a good student. Ouch.

I'm well aware how student athletes are treated in the classroom. They get privileges other students don't. They have every opportunity to be successful in the classroom and this guy still couldn't get it done.

Now are we supposed to believe he is going to be studious as a professional?

I'd also be interested to see where you mentioned about a lot of teams having him as a first round pick lol. Can you prove that or did u pull it out of your ass?

[4Corners]

How do you know Wharton wasn't smart?

I think the consensus is if Wharton would have agreed to a pay cut he would still be on the team.

[ClawOn]

We really don't have the luxury of being cute with our 2nd round picks. Hurney has made a habit of that. We have to have guaranteed starters from the 1st and 2nd rounds for 3-4 years in order to compete for a championship. This guy has never played against decent college players, much less NFL linemen. Say what you want but there's no way to know how good he can be, which is too much of a risk for a team in our position. Very similar to the infamous Armanti Edwards pick to me,