"It is sometimes better to be lucky than good": Some Panthers draft grades

[Kurb]

Week 1 16 points

Week 3 7 points

Week 5 12 points

Week 7 14 points

Week 10 14 points

Yeah scoring points kinda was a problem.

We averaged approx 23 points over the course of the past two seasons. (one of which was with a Rookie QB/HC)

I know that hurts your cherry picked argument, so we can ignore that if you wish.

Last season the top 5 scoring teams.

Pats: 34

Broncos: 30

Saints: 28

Skins: 27

Packers 27

Consider, those teams consist of 4 HOF QB's (Brees, Rodgers, Manning, Brady) all of which are 5+ year veterans in the league. RG3's numbers are great, especially when you consider his WR corps aren't exceptionally better than ours. The Skins, however, run a much more efficient scheme than we did last season. They used lots of "easy" throws and let Alfred Morris (who should have gotten more cred as OROY) carry the load.

This offense can blossom with what is here, with better scheme and execution.

Which is one of the reasons I was banging the drum to bring in a Chip Kelly if Rivera was let go.

Also your examples include the Seahawk's and Bronco's. Two of the better teams in the league defensively.

More TD's are always welcome. ONE way to do that, is to punish the other teams offense. On paper our D-Line is getting really really close to "Punishing" and before you get into the "Herp Derp our secondary suxxx" debate, welp QB's hate getting sacked so much they start throwing like garbage.

The Giants won a pair of Superbowls with poo Secondaries riding on the heels of an Amazing Dline and solid LB corps.

[Gin and Juice]

Two things:

1) Heard quite a few Draftniks state the Kwaan Short was the BEST player coming out of the Big 10. Only question was his motor, which if true, RR answered that!

2) If Cam has any pride and confidence then he doesn't need pro bowl weapons at every offensive position! As long as the coaches use him right then we will be fine! My god, we have the good Steve Smith, JStew, Dwill, the bowling ball, Thor, Lafell, Barner, maybe a hidden gem in our WR, and a solid line returning! If he can't get points on the board then he may not be our guy!

We seemed to get two starters out of 5 picks and both have the talent to be Elite! Fug y'all, it was a good draft

[Kurb]

I didn't know about that. I didn't want him for his hands. I absolutely would not add a WR with suspect hands.

I like that "Vol" reference, even though I don't see where it was really apropos to make your point (*LOL*). Then again, maybe it was. *LOL*

Just rumor I saw.

Kid was a Volunteer.

No SEC hate here.

[Kurb]

Basically 3 things will hurt our offense more than not having "Playmakers"

Cam Newton not becoming better as a passing QB (he is already working with George Whitfield)

The OLine being shittier (RG/RT still suspect. LT,LG,C should be solid to all pro level)

Shula being a poo hire (Which I have nightmares about weekly)

[CRA]

and it's an indictment on yours that you think it's not.

It can be improved no doubt, but for the billionth time --> Has scoring points been an issue the past 2 years?

We just have to bring Hakeem Nicks home :D

Yes. We have struggled to score consistantly. They was evident last year.

[CRA]

Basically 3 things will hurt our offense more than not having "Playmakers"

Cam Newton not becoming better as a passing QB (he is already working with George Whitfield)

The OLine being shittier (RG/RT still suspect. LT,LG,C should be solid to all pro level)

Shula being a poo hire (Which I have nightmares about weekly)

Cam Newton won't be a better passer if you don't improve OL play, specifically G play. He also won't improve as a passer when we have and deep ball QB, run a vertical offense....yet have no vertical threat

[Kurb]

Yes. We have struggled to score consistantly. They was evident last year.

We struggle to sustain drives more than anything.

This is placed more on execution than lack of "TD scorers" IMO.

[Gin and Juice]

The "Seattle Throw"? The elites make that throw! Cam really has no excuse there and needs to focus on improving a facets of his game! He was first pick for his play making ability, not because we have to have the weapons in which Sanchez could succeed

[SHoCK]

This was clearly a draft where our GM was looking for the future.....We basically drafted Beason and William's replacements. There will be a draft next year to fill other needs.....

[CPF4LIFE]

I will admit i wanted a wide receiver too, but if it wasnt at least a mid 1st round talent. Pass.

[CRA]

We struggle to sustain drives more than anything.

This is placed more on execution than lack of "TD scorers" IMO.

and why did we struggle to sustain drives? Weak OL and too often no one to throw to.

and let's leave the RB corp out of the conversation for now. Who are our TD scorers? <insert deal with it gif>...but Smith is more of a yardage guy inbetween the 20s now. We are still a deep vertical pass O with a spotty OL play and no vertical WR.

[CRA]

This was clearly a draft where our GM was looking for the future.....We basically drafted Beason and William's replacements. There will be a draft next year to fill other needs.....

Now that I agree w/....

He is going to play it safe enough where he hasn't legitimately invested in something for 2013 that might not jive w/ what a new coach might do in 2014.

[MHS831]

It is interesting to see what the various outlets are saying, but unless there is one from Nostradamus, I am not sure I am that interested.

[panthers55]

Not saying that I disagree with your assessment, but the biggest question mark regarding the draft was not why we didn't draft a WR in the 5th/6th, it was why we didn't draft a WR when we drafted Short. Keenan Allen (who I don't personally believe would have been Smitty's heir-apparent, but, imo didn't really need to be) was there for the taking. Most would say he was definitely a 2nd round talent, and some even believed he was a true 1st, but we passed on him in favor of Short. That was the Panthers' (G-man's) "crossroads moment" for this draft. Time will tell if we made the correct decision.

There is no way Allen was worth a 2nd as evidenced by him dropping into the third round. There were some guys who might be worth taking but it wasn't Allen. But lets not beat that up again, every team passed on him in the second. The bigger issue would be taking a corner or safety in the second when there was lots of talent to be had. Still Gettleman has evaluated our talent at corner, safety and wide receiver and likes what he sees or thinks he can get playmakers in free agency still. What he couldn't get in free agency was arguably the best nose tackle in the draft and on his boards the best pass rushing 3 technique DT in the draft. I really can't blame him at all. D Edwards is here for 2 years tops and we have no real run stopper in the middle. He hopefully addressed the middle of the defense for the next decade. I can see people being mad because we didn't address skill positions later in the draft although we clearly went BPA, but the first 2 picks were really very good in my book.