Carolina Panthers Draft Brad Nortman, Punter, Wisconsin

[ed bell]

Good post. You did a good job summing up how I mostly feel. I did like the Alexander pick up, but not the lose of the future 3rd. I'm not willing to get down on it to much because I feel we can't have too many pass rushers. And if he becomes one, great. If he doesn't fine, but at least the the team is being built the right way. The right way to build a team is though Elite QB, and Elite Pass Rush. I've said that at least five times this week and no one has even attempted to dispute me on this a little, so I think most everyone agrees with that on some level.

Now several posters say we will have success because Rivera has had success in two other places. That is pretty logical, but it is also true of all coaches to have had success elsewhere. They say he didn't have DT's at his other stops which isn't true because he had more than adequate DT's and more importantly a good pass rush. So what this particular tangent comes down to is they have more faith in Rivera having a good defense than I have faith in the ability to generate a pass rush without a good D-line.

We didn't "lose" a future 3rd round pick. We took it this year instead of next. We "lost" our 9th pick in the 6th round. Considering that we speculated our draft position will move down the line next year if we improve as a team, it's close to giving up a few positions in draft order overall and cutting loose a 6th round pick to do so...all indications point to this happening because of Joe Adams.

[ed bell]

Please don't think of me as a guy who didn't want Newton. They were annoying to me.

Fair enough...then you understand why "lucked out" wasn't the appropriate way to describe the pick. I really think the full staff (FO, scouts and coaches) was on board despite the negative assessments.

[ed bell]

I gotta learn to guide my comments to the proper threads....I just realized I've been hashing all this over in the punter draft pick thread...DOH!

[rebelsace]

we got what was needed live with it let the team do there kind of magic they can be the best this is what we live for to put the carolinas on the map we have had a hard time but a true fan still belives in there team win or lose its yours your team im proude to be a fan love this team win or lose shes in my back yard go panthers and gamecocks

[Woodie]

Back to Nortman, I was somewhat disappointed because I wanted a big legged boomer at Punter, and I think that's exactly what Butler is. However, after some research and thought, Nortman may actually be the better pick. No, his leg isn't as powerful as Butler's, but he does have a lot of control on his punts (which is why I think the team chose him over Butler). He gets good hang time, but he is also very skilled at the placement of the punt...and that's somewhat of a lost art. He also has punted in pretty much any condition in which a football game can be played. Now, that may not be a big deal in September, but if we have to play a playoff game in NY or Green Bay in January, I think we;'ll be very happy to have a guy that is experienced in poor conditions (which was actually a knock on both Butler and Anger).

[chknwing]

lol, you people expect carolina to actually punt this year? Their gonna score on every drive.

[sharkkiller]

Our new punter: