Carolina Panthers Draft Day 1 Info….
April 27, 2008
by Blindsite
Round 1
13th Overall: Johnathan Stewart RB Oregon
Scouting Reports:
http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/jo…stewart?id=949
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sco…anstewart.html
http://condraft.com/profile.php?id=1221
http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/p…ospect_ID=1223
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/draft/p…tentId=8021418
Quote:
| JONATHAN STEWART, Oregon (5-10, 235, 4.46, 1) – Third-year junior with 2,891 yards, 5.6-yard average and 27 touchdowns. “I think he’s more of a fluid runner than a (young) Jamal Lewis,” Cleveland GM Phil Savage said. “In some ways Stewart is a little more instinctive runner than Jamal. He will have to adjust from a spread offense to a traditional NFL offense, and that might take him a few months. But he’s 240, he’s athletic and he can catch.” Might slip a few notches after undergoing toe surgery in March. “You will be thrilled to get him,” Indianapolis president Bill Polian said. “A workhorse. Hard-nosed. Fast. Punishing.” Compared by one scout to Natrone Means. “He scares me because he’s not a real tough kid,” another scout said. “He’s got some run skills and size, but he just kind of gives up at times. For a big kid he just kind of drops.” Scored 20 on the Wonderlic intelligence test. |
Quote:
| 3. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon 5-10 3/8, 234; Round 1 Overview: The best big back in the draft, and appears almost certain to go in the top 20 to 25 picks, despite having surgery on a big toe last month. The surgery prevented him from working out for scouts at Oregon’s pro day but means he should be ready to go at the start of training camp. In his two seasons as a starter, gained 2,779 yards and averaged 6.0 yards a carry. Rushed for 1,798 yards last year — he sustained the turf-toe injury in November and played through it. Averaged 28.1 yards per kickoff return as a sophomore and 26.7 yards last season. Has a tremendous build and the size to punish between the tackles, plus good instincts. Ran the 40 in 4.46 at the scouting combine, even with the sore toe. The toe injury last year and an ankle injury the year before raise durability issues. Might have been the No. 2 back if not for the surgery.The talk: “(Surgery) might drop him a little, but I don’t think it will drop him that much,” the scouting director for an AFC team said. “Even with the injury, he’s still going to be ready by camp. It might drop him a few spots, or bump Felix Jones or one of these guys ahead of him, but I don’t think so.” … “Mendenhall is more pro-ready,” another scout said. “(Oregon) is a little bit more of a spread offense, coming across the backfield, out of the shotgun handing the ball off, that type of thing. (The surgery) is definitely something you investigate and look at thoroughly. They say it’s turf toe, but the rehab may be more extensive than everyone was led to believe.” … “A really talented guy,” said a scout whose team picks late in the first round. “I’d take him in a second (at that pick), but he won’t be there.” |
My Take:
Solid take I suppose for the draft pick. Easily the best value remaining on the board however you look at it. I understand with this pick where Fox wants to take the team in the future and he’s very clearly looking to run the ball a lot more in the coming seasons. This pick will help to open the passing game and will help the Panthers control the clock a lot more.
Not my pick, but I do like it and Stewart was my number 2 back over Mendenhall so we got the best back and probably the best player available.
19th Overall: Jeff Otah OT Pittsburgh
Scouting Reports:
http://condraft.com/profile.php?id=1733
http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/p…ospect_ID=1255
http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/jeff-otah?id=292
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/draft/p…tentId=8021730
http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sco…/jeffotah.html
Quote:
| EFF OTAH, Pittsburgh (6-6, 323, 5.28, 1) – “He is athletic, he can bend, he can move his feet, he’s got real good body control and he’s a giant,” Chicago GM Jerry Angelo said. “His workout was a red flag but he benched 27, which is good. And his tape is real good.” Born in Nigeria, moving to United States at 7. Didn’t play high school football until his senior year in New Castle, Del., and then for only three games. “I just think he’s a mauler and he has less-than-great feet,” Polian said. “That bothers you. Now it might not bother some other people.” After two junior-college seasons, he started two years at LT for Pitt. “You can have Otah,” one scout said. “He’s a fat guy. Remember the fat guy from Wisconsin that failed? And Aaron Gibson was way more talented than Otah. Whoever gets him is going to have a big heartache. I don’t know what everybody sees in Otah.” |
My take:
To take Otah we gave up our next years first round pick, this year’s second and a fourth. That’s way too much to spend on a guy who’s been called “fat” “lazy” “soft” and has serious motivational concerns. Otah is a mauler who should be able to open some holes at RT but will require help in the passing game for his rookie year at least.
The coaching staff have to see something I don’t because I don’t really like the idea of trading away a bit part of our future, a huge part, for a guy with big question marks.
Something to keep in mind in a year or so time for the same price we could’ve had Williams/Albert and Mendenhall.
Rucker to Retire…
April 22, 2008
Mike Rucker is to retire according to WFNZ…
Discuss it here….
http://www.carolinahuddle.com/forum/carolina-panthers/76088-mike-rucker-retires.html
2008 Schedule Announced…
April 15, 2008
Here it is boys and girls. Let the 16-0 predictions begin…
Sunday, Sept. 7 Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers 4:15 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Sept. 14 Chicago Bears at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Sept. 21 Carolina Panthers at Minnesota Vikings 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Sept. 28 Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Oct. 5 Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. CBS
Sunday, Oct. 12 Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Oct. 19 New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Oct. 26 Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. FOX
Week9 BYE
Sunday, Nov. 9 Carolina Panthers at Oakland Raiders 4:05 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Nov. 16 Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Nov. 23 Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Nov. 30 Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers 1 p.m. FOX
Monday, Dec. 8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Sunday, Dec. 14 Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers 1 p.m. CBS
Sunday, Dec. 21 Carolina Panthers at New York Giants 1 p.m. FOX
Sunday, Dec. 28 Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints 1 p.m. FOX
