Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Should the Carolina Panthers Use an Early-Round Draft Pick on a Running Back?

Jeremy Igo

By Jeremy Igo,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

Jeremy Igo Newbie

Jeremy Igo

Posted
Posted

Some interesting stats here, looking at the running backs from the worst offensive lines in football (of which Carolina is a part, sadly)

 

 

 

 

 

In Jonathan Stewart’s case, he was playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in football last year. Anyone who watched the Eagles-Panthers game where Cam Newtonwas flattened like a pancake to the tune of nine sacks can attest to that. But pass protection and run blocking are two different animals, and according toFootballOutsiders.com, Carolina was even worse at creating holes for its rushers than it was at creating time for Cam to throw, ranking as the 27th-best run blocking line in 2014.

 

 

Running behind a porous run blocking offensive line is tough, even for good running backs. In fact, only three of the 15 rushers above matched or bested the NFL league average for rushers since 2011 on a per rush basis (-0.02 NEP for running backs totaling over 50 carries in a season). But Stewart ranked only 8th out of 15 qualifying rushers in Rushing NEP and 7th in Rushing NEP on a per rush basis among qualifying running backs on these teams.

Stewart did, however, boast the third highest Success Rate (the percentage of plays contributing positive NEP to a player’s total NEP) among this group, besting former rushing title luminaries including Lesean McCoy and Arian Foster.

 

Linky
Link to comment
Share on other sites
mbarbour21 Proficient

mbarbour21

Posted
Posted

Best player available. That is honestly what I hope we grab. If every position was completely equal at our pick and no one wanted to trade up to our spot......I'd pick according to depth at the positions in the draft. The draft is too uncertain to really pin point. My personal preference? I'd love a receiver capable of a #2 role. RB is a weapon, but I'd prefer WR.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Khyber53 Grand Master

Khyber53

Posted
Posted

If Wisconsin's Gordon or Miami's Duke Johnson were available in the second, I think we'd be foolish to pass up on them. Both would be great complimentary runners to Stewart and both offer good hands and speed as receivers out of the backfield.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tiger7_88 Experienced

tiger7_88

Posted
Posted

I would go more 3rd or 4th round..

My preference in the first 3 rounds is any combo of OT/WR/DE.

After that? Yeah, RB sounds fine to me. If you can get a kid like Cameron Artis-Payne from Auburn (yes, I'm biased), a kid who was the Southeastern Conference's leading rusher in 2014, a kid with experience and great success in a read-option, one-cut offense, in the 4th or 5th round? Hell yeah, sign me up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DOMOMAN Newbie

DOMOMAN

Posted
Posted

Its a deep deep RB class so i think you can find 10-15 carry a game backs in the mid-late rounds like Javorius Allen (who we've met with) at USC or Karlos Williams the converted safety out of FSU. Build from the inside out with some hog mollies and give the guys you have a larger hole, the difference between a Todd Gurley and a later round back with our current O-Line would be negligible compared to what a top O-Lineman would bring compared to Oher or Martin at LT

Link to comment
Share on other sites
frash.exe Apprentice

frash.exe

Posted
Posted

I'd wait until at least the third. Drafting runningbacks earlier than that has never ever worked out for us ever. I don't care if Gurley is the next Jedi in the backfield. They were saying the same poo about Trent Richardson a few years ago. This board just has an obsession with having multiple first round picks at runningback.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • tukafan21
      Evero HC requests!

      By tukafan21 · Posted

      Evero to the Raiders makes zero sense unless the OC he's pitching them is a failed HC who doesn't have interest in trying for it again. They're a team about to draft a QB #1 overall, developing him is job #1 for the new coach/staff.  Hiring a DC with a young up and coming OC wouldn't make any sense, because then you risk losing that OC to a HC job after maybe just a year or two and that young QB has to change system, play caller, etc. It's why hiring an offensive minded coach makes the only sense.  The Raiders have to make the right hire/pick with this HC hire and #1 pick combo because of that division they're in, it's a gauntlet and you can't screw up this opportunity.  
    • Khyber53
      Very intrigued how Morgan and Canales handle the offseason

      By Khyber53 · Posted

      1. Sadly, it's just too early to tell with Icky. And the draft will have come and gone before we have anything, FA, too probably. Njiman was good, but there's dollars to be invested there as well. This is really our biggest puzzle to figure out. And Moton on the other flank is getting long in the tooth, too.  2. Coker: Pay the man WR2 money.  3. Most WRs take three years before you really know what you've got. We'll know for sure by the end of this one and he's still on a relatively inexpensive rookie contract. Now if someone comes calling for a good, good trade... 4. This is the make or break for good teams vs bad teams. And depth development is essential. We've had a bit of that but there isn't a spot on our line that doesn't have worries except for maybe on guard.  5. I think you draft the best ILB, the smartest one in the first round and don't look back. People lost their poo here on this board when we "wasted" a pick on Luke Kuechly.  6. Yeah, I think Chuba is a workhorse. But we need to be more decisive in his use. Still not sure Rico doesn't come back next season, too. He'll get to see the marketplace first, though, and we'll offer similar numbers to him.  
    • Anybodyhome
      25-26 NHL Regular Season Thread

      By Anybodyhome · Posted

      I've grown to enjoy Mike & Tripp, even more so after listening to the ESPN, TNT, TBS hacks who, for whatever reason, seemingly don't know dick about the Canes. 
×
×
  • Create New...