MHS831

Interesting.

Brian-do not be surprised if we don't draft a DE (5 tech) at some point and and edge. Here is how we would look: Derrick Brown.......................Turk Wharton/Brown III..................Robinson Ray is the most notable backup--I think this draft is strong at DE and we need to dip into it---Daniel Jeremiah said there are 24 starters at DE in this draft--so if we grabbed one to backup Brown and compete with Robinson, I would be happy. Ray sucked last year.

I used to coach OL in high school, so I am slightly familiar with what causes OL problems--on that level, they HATED the smaller, quick "gap shooters" --- I realize that the NFL is vastly different, but when I saw those jukes before contact, I watched it again to see how balanced the OL was--on his heels--that gives him no chance vs the bull rush and if he swims or rips, the OL has a 50% chance of guessing correctly. I realize this is simplifying everything, but I used to watch my OL getting owned and it would impact my agility drills etc. during practice. When your OL is doing agility drills to be able to block a NT, they are losing their size advantage and leverage if not done correctly. When fatigue sets in, the OL is at a disadvantage. IF they rotate, I expect Brown III to play early in downs and maybe Wharton on passing situations at NT. The question is can he play DE as well? I don't know. I went to watch other videos and he does hit brick walls at times, but his motor was running hotter than Jones most of the time.

It depends if they keep the tush push legal or not--he would be a tough.

Have we shown any interest in any WR? Sure looks like they are going with XL, Coker, AT, and Moore.

My first thought: Bet Morgan and Davis would love playing behind this guy. I had no idea that they were going to play Wharton at DT (instead of DE). With Brown III more of a Long arm (nearly 35 inch arms) NT (328 lbs), I wonder if this combination is going to play DT/NT for the Panthers. He is only 280, but he has amazing twitch that freezes the OL and the power to bull rush or move around the OL. At times he seems unblockable. This, to me, suggests the DT position is set. It also suggests that we will add a DE to go with D. Brown and Robinson. If things go as I think they will go, our DL is going to be pretty dang awesome. I do not think I can over-estimate the value of having a NT that can collapse the pocket. Wharton had 6.5 sacks from the DT position in KC. At 280 lbs, he split double teams. he plays with intensity and swag. I had no idea that he would be this good. I love these analyses. Man, we were spoiled with LBs like TD and Morgan, Beason, Mills, Luke--love to have them back in their primes.

Blackshear is not a bad 3rd back. STs? not great.

There are some tackles who will be there around 8 and a ton of good teams (back of the draft) who want one. We will be in the middle of that. I doubt we pick at 8. The first four picks are (in some arrangement of the four) are pretty much set: Tennessee: Ward QB Cleveland: I am guessing Carter because they need a rookie contract to offset Garrett's deal) NY Giants: Hunter WR/CB New England Patriots: This is where it gets interesting: Armand Membou LT Jacksonville Jags: Mason Graham, DT Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB. Geno Smith could use an understudy, but they might not want a QB this year. Tough call--Sanders or Jeanty, but Jeanty has teams salivating--Brock Bowers and Jeanty take a lot of pressure off the QB. This could be Sanders, but a QB controversy for Pete is not ideal. NY Jets: Will Campbell (RT). Do not rule out Will Johnson, CB to play across from Sauce. That leaves a QB (Sanders), Banks (LT), Warren (TE), and any WR in the draft. I see Pittsburgh wanting to trade up for Sanders, or a team like Texas or KC moving up for a sure fire starting LT (Banks). So if the Panthers want a haul of picks to trade from #8 to the back of the round, I think this is a great draft to move that far back....I see a drop off around 10-12 and then it is pretty level between 12 and 50.

Yes--good points. I often (on the Huddle) post a prediction of what I think the Panthers might do--not what I would do. Then you have some crack/crystal meth head sitting outside of a McDonalds for the free internet come out of the woodwork (Completely, for example) and try to argue as if they were my opinions. It is dumb on a level few have ever seen and remained mentally unscathed.

I think we can draft an edge in round 2 and after Carter, it is almost a question of what kind of edge do you want more than who is the best player--fit will change the ratings. I think the front 5 (edge, DL) talent pool in this draft is sick. If we leave round 2 without one, I think it is a mistake. I think we can get a starting-level safety in the late second--if we trade back in round 1, I imagine we trade up into round 2. If we left day 2 with an edge and safety--I would be giddy--like a little girl. If we could get a TE like Mason Taylor and maybe an OT like Trapoli from BC or maybe a WR like Bech in that range, I would skip and frolic all day.

This is photo shopped. I never wear a hat at the beach.

Combine, pro days, etc. giving numbers. people in groups (scouts, coaches, players) talk. More data, more rumor fodder.

I do not see it this way--we upgraded, but we will need to draft an Edge, WR, DT, CB, S, OT, and maybe a TE. That is six or seven needs and I don't really see that as flexibility.

Translation: If you go apeshit crazy, we ain't paying u

In the past, I recall Huddlers arguing that character does not matter--it doesn't--in Madden. But a team is a fragile ecosystem and all it takes is one bad egg--that is a bad example because one bad egg leaves 11 eggs, and that is how many you need--disregard my metaphor. Think of our greatest players--most of them high character guys--Gross, Mills, Beason, Luke, Morgan, Moose (even when he had a mistake, he rebounded--I met him--great guy), Eric Davis, Minter, Rucker, Stewart, Jake, Cam (odd, different, but his character as an athlete and leader was good), Olsen, Kalil, Wharton, Remmers, etc. I put Remmers in there to piss people off. But you get the point--it takes a lot of self discipline to be a pro athlete--more than i ever had--training, image control, media engagement, dealing with the public, film study, etc. Character is important.

All of these guys would contribute--except maybe Belton. I would take the OT from BC Trapilo (if on the board in the third--a natural pass blocking RT) As much as I like the kid, I do not see Walker as a smart option as an edge. However, with Pearce and Green having a history of issues, I wonder what options we will have--really want to trade back. Having said that, I see why people would like this draft--but we can't have an all-South Carolina Edge starting crew and WR and three NC State Offensive lineman. It is as if our scouts do not have a plane.

Good teams can draft a guy like this and expect the culture to take care of it. Bad teams can't get cancer.

so since this thread is about Safeties, I thought I would ask if there is any news concerning the safeties that visited today-

I know people do not rate players based on the "big picture" but Smith did not encourage younger WRs--in fact, he bullied some. So if he is great but nobody else emerges in the WR room for several years, and his rep as a teammate is not good (punching teammates, getting in people's faces) then how can he be that great? I have mentioned several times how I watched him at OTAs and nobody talked to him except Kasay. Smith was a dick. now, he practiced as hard as he played, and he was a great player, but even if you are a star, you are one of 53 or you are a weakness. Some may disagree, but I watched him for years.

He will not be a "1 trick pony" like Burns was, and if you consider that he can play edge in some situations, LB in others (blitzing, shadowing, etc) he can beat you in many ways. Hard to game plan against. I used to teach at Salisbury years before he was there--vaguely knew his dad--but my friend who is still there can't say enough good things about him. High character guy--we could do worse. I think his versatility makes it difficult to rank him. Depends on the system and the DC. However, if he crashes as an edge, we still have a LB. If we were to draft Stewart and he crashes as an edge, we have a bust.

I was even proposing trying Farley at S if CB is not his thing. We have no pass rush (at the moment) and no deep S. What could possibly go wrong?

I had that thought. I also had the thought, "We will sign the wrong one."

Yeah, we need a center fielder and we draft third basement playing a bunt.

Like Ian Thomas....I just think this way--if your defense sucks in ways they compare it to the worst defense of all time, and this guy had a chance to crack that lineup and could not--and he is 29--what are we doing? I am going to call it camp fodder so I can sleep.

This Blackmon would be a good signing because in free agency, you look for players at their floors and hope that coaching, a new system, and a new opportunity will pay off. However, on day 1, you are signing players at their ceilings and hoping they continue that level of play. Blackmon can be average,and there is nothing wrong with average if you have elite players at other positions. if you ask me, if he can stay healthy. He has an injury history, and that has contributed to his inconsistent and subpar play--if healthy, expect improvement. He should arrive healthy. Low risk, high reward.