Can you really blame analysts giving our draft so so grades?

[frash.exe]

Now first and foremost, let me say that I do not agree with the analysts when they say we had a mediocre draft or give us a C rating. I was as happy as anyone that we landed Star, infact I jumped and up and down when his name was called. BUT

Put yourselves in analyst's shoes for a minute. Pretend for one minute you are not a Panthers fan and look at our draft objectively. Sure, everyone can agree our 1st round grade gets a A+. But, the fact remains. We are a team that has HUGE holes at CB/Safety and huge need at another WR and O line.

Our two biggest area of strengths are at RB and LB. So what did the Panthers do? They used two of their 5 picks on a RB and LB. What else did they do? They drafted an extremely raw prosepct at a guard in the 4th round, a guard which had a 6th-7th round draft grade.

And what did we do in the 2nd round? Draft a pass rushing UT after signing our very own pass rushing DT Dwan Edwards to a two year deal.

Again, I am in no way, shape or form bashing the Panthers because we have Star OMG Lotulelei and I am stoked! BUT (yes there is a but) that doesnt hide the fact that Gettleman drafted as though we had 9 plus draft picks and had the luxury of drafting these other players at positions we are already stacked at.

So in reality, can you really blame analysts giving us a C rating?

The problem with draft grading is that everybody thinks you've only done well if you drafted for all of your needs and as long as the guys you drafted were assessed to go in the rounds you graded them in. Any deviation from that is met with penalties. While we didn't necessarily cover all of our needs in the draft if you're fine with the addition of Star and Kawann on the team (which you should be since those guys are very talented) then we essentially got at least the equivalent of what a draft pick after that would've provided at CB or WR in free agency. Also, the guys in the later rounds Gettleman drafted I think are a part of a more long term plan involving cap allocation from position to position. He could already be looking at taking a chunk of money out of the RB position to invest elsewhere, and you could arguably say we are already in the process of taking money out of the linebacker position after the release of Anderson.

Most draft analysts lack the vision to understand the long-term viability of these picks. If they incorporated some data mining into their analysis, they'd understand we had a really good draft, and not only got more than our fair share of the above average DT talent in the first two rounds, but also drafted positions where they should be drafted as they offer the most value in those rounds historically.

[shelbypanther]

Mel Kiper is still an asshole.

[TheRed]

Actually 2007 might have been. No rounds skipped, and 2 2nd round picks but it kinda balanced out with 2008 draft seeing as how we had 2 1's and 2 3's

What a strange sight it will be to have a full set of draft picks again.

[iamhubby1]

If picks 4, 5, and 6 make the final roster. This was a great draft. And chances are, all three will make the team.

[CRA]

I agree but you are saying you solve the problems completely for the departures with LB and RB in the 5th and 6th round? These are insurance policies that were BPA at those selected rounds. You are talking about pro-bowl caliber players leaving replaced by 5th and 6th round players? No one has yet to answer who would be a BPA at those picks. Look at the draft picks left, those were steals (BPA) because they had supreme talent for 5th and 6th round picks.

And i said you thought it was a conspiracy because of your overall views of Gettleman, claiming he wasn't all in on Cam, setting himself up to depart (not going all in) on Rivera, when you have semi-factual basis that can be looked at a variety of different ways. Some of which you stated was based on other posters twisting words. Hence, illuminati suggestions.

No...Beason was already replaced by Luke. Now we just need to rid ourselves of a very expensive and injury prone SLB. Same with Williams, he was a pro bowl caliber RB. Now we are replacing an expensive backup role player. Technically he was replaced years ago with Stewart we just kept both.

Their past blurs the reality of it all....bc of what they were. They are something completely different now.

[beastson]

What a strange sight it will be to have a full set of draft picks again.

Next year will make 7 years since 2007 we haven't skipped a round 1-4

[Brooklyn Bully]

Oh.

My.

God.

During the Draft, when I half-jokingly made a post asking when the complaints about our Draft grade would start, I had no idea it would actually happen this year. Some of you really scare me.

#thereismoretolifethanthepanthers

[Krucid]

When are people going to realize that there was no replacement for Steve Smith in this draft. Not one at least that you could spend the 14th pick at with 100% confidence. There was also no Cornerback in this draft that I honestly feel is better than what we have already.

Safety on the other hand could have been picked up and is the only position that left me scratching my head.

We will get our receiver and corner next year.

And no Tavon isn't even in the same time zone as Smitty.

[Toundra]

The first 2 picks are outstanding then, based on the names left i am a litle disapointed.

Using a 4th on a grade 52 is a luxury.

Or Gettleman is a genius.

[BelgianPantherFan]

Or NFL just saw the guy's name and Division, and randomly gave him a rank between 50 and 60. I trust a guy with 30 years of actual and proven experience more over some guys who spend more time in the makeup room then they are watching tape.

[#1 Pantherfan]

I'm starting to think CRA believes in the illuminati. Everything is a conspiracy.

The Illuminati is a VERY REAL AND DANGEROUS secret society.

[panthers55]

Gettleman and the staff obviously feel that with 15 wide receivers in camp there is enough to fill 3 or 4 spots. Particularly with Smith and LaFell penciled in as the 2 starters.   They obviously like who they have in the secondary.  Gettleman feels that the best pass defense is a great pass rush which he learned while in New York.  So he went out and got some guys who could stop the run and apply pressure up the middle allowing the back 7 to worry more about passing than stopping the run.  It reminds me of what Minnesota did with the Williams brothers and Jarett Allen a few years ago.

 

Disagree if you want but that is what he believes in and he is willing to stake his job on it. I personally have no problem with it at all. No wide receiver or defensive back picked in the 4th round  or later has a better chance of playing than the guys we picked at those spots. This is the way we roll now for better or worse.  If  you don't like it pick another team with more sexy picks.  But I am going to wait to bitch until I have something to bitch about.  I wish others would take my example.............

[CRA]

Gettleman and the staff obviously feel that with 15 wide receivers in camp there is enough to fill 3 or 4 spots. Particularly with Smith and LaFell penciled in as the 2 starters.   They obviously like who they have in the secondary.  Gettleman feels that the best pass defense is a great pass rush which he learned while in New York.  So he went out and got some guys who could stop the run and apply pressure up the middle allowing the back 7 to worry more about passing than stopping the run.  It reminds me of what Minnesota did with the Williams brothers and Jarett Allen a few years ago.

 

Disagree if you want but that is what he believes in and he is willing to stake his job on it. I personally have no problem with it at all. No wide receiver or defensive back picked in the 4th round  or later has a better chance of playing than the guys we picked at those spots. This is the way we roll now for better or worse.  If  you don't like it pick another team with more sexy picks.  But I am going to wait to bitch until I have something to bitch about.  I wish others would take my example.............

well, Gettlemen had limited resources....and walked into a mess.  At some spots he simply is going to have to roll with what he has and try to get by.

 

I doubt any coach or GM would like our secondary.  It is weak.  Gettlemen can't fix it all in an offseason.    

[AceBoogie]

I tried pointing this our in another thread and got flamed. Fact is we have so many homers on the huddle they will cheer any move the panthers make and rationalize it.more lbs and more rbs it was a need!!! Gettleman was right!!

There are a select few of us that agree with you and I am one. Gettleman could have taken Lacy in the 1st and the Huddle would have said its a good move now we can get rid of dwill