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Carolina Panthers will target offense in round one


Jeremy Igo
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1 hour ago, Jeremy Igo said:

Ever notice how over the last three Dave Gettleman drafts, the round 1 selection was also in an area of great need? Funny how that works.

 

2015 - LB Shaq Thompson - logic does not compute

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15 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

Big weakness in 2014 on defense was buffalo nickel. Enter Shaq Thompson, new prototype for Buffalo Nickel. 

Sorry, I'm not buying. And while Star was a great need, he fell from a projected top ten due to the reported heart condition, so one could easily argue that he was in fact bpa. 

Even with Benjamin there is just not enough evidence for your case (not bpa in the first) yet. 

That being said, I would love a TE as well. 

Edited by Thorrez
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1 hour ago, Jeremy Igo said:

With the NFL Draft just a few weeks away, the Panthers are finalizing their draft board and preparing for their own first set of internal mock drafts. 

In round one, I feel the Panthers will be targeting offensive players. Yes, yes, I know, right now you are screaming "Best Player Available". That is a platitude that gets spread around far to often. Ever notice how over the last three Dave Gettleman drafts, the round 1 selection was also in an area of great need? Funny how that works.

Gettleman has said in the past that first round picks need to contribute their first year. This doesn't exactly make sense if the "BPA" mantra is true. What if the BPA is a quarterback? Or a middle linebacker? Or one of many positions on the team that a rookie has no chance of real playing time.  

In 2016, the Carolina Panthers first round selection has a much higher chance of contributing on offense rather than defense.

Yes, the Panthers do need another pass rushing defensive end, but when was the last time a rookie defensive end not taken in the top 15 had a great rookie season? In a draft full of solid defensive ends, I don't see the Panthers selecting one first. 

Two positions on offense, however, stand out to me as opportunities for a young guy to step in and immediately start making plays... Tight End and Running Back. 

Last season the Panthers kept two rookie running backs, Cameron Artis-Payne and Brandon Wegher. Clearly they know an eventual Jonathan Stewart replacement is needed. Cameron Artis-Payne did see some playing time, but he had a tendency to put the ball on the ground. That fact alone could cause Dave Gettleman to seriously consider spending a first round pick on a running back. 

Oh look, RB Derrick Henry could possibly be available at 30, and he is the big running back that would compliment a shiftier Artis-Payne or Wegher. Derrick Henry has also visited with the Panthers, who are only one of three teams to bring him in.

Now, about tight end. Yes, Greg Olsen is an amazing player and his importance in the offense cannot be overstated. But opposite Olsen is Ed Dickson. While Dickson is a serviceable vet, he could very well lose his playing time to an outstanding rookie tight end.

Enter Hunter Henry, the most complete tight end in the draft and some say in years. Equally as skilled in catching and blocking, Hunter Henry could not fill the tight end position opposite Olsen more perfectly. 

In mock drafts, Hunter Henry is a late first round to early second round pick... and smack dab in the middle of that range are the Carolina Panthers. Bingo. 

In short, I like Hunter Henry or Derrick Henry in the first round, depending which is available. If both are... watch out. A trade up and double dip of Henry boys could happen, which would make Cam Newton especially happy.  

But just in case I have not convinced you yet that the Panthers will be going on the offense in round one, take a look at Dave Gettleman's draft pick history...

2013 - Defense

2014 - Offense

2015 - Defense 

2016 - Do I see a pattern here.... ?

 

 

 

 

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I said from the beginning I would go with D. Henry.  Dont see how we can pass on him

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3 hours ago, nctarheel0619 said:

I'm pretty sure I am.  You said a position of need, and he didn't play at that "position of need" many minutes at all last year.  If it's a position of need, don't you think he would've played there a lot?  

Colin Jones get a lot of playing time last year? 

 

Buffalo nickel was used a ton in 2014 because the Panthers did not have a fast enough linebacker opposite thomas davis to cover more athletic tight ends. Colin Jones ended up doing it. 

Did Shaq cover tight ends this year? How did he do? 

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2 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

Colin Jones get a lot of playing time last year? 

 

Buffalo nickel was used a ton in 2014 because the Panthers did not have a fast enough linebacker opposite thomas davis to cover more athletic tight ends. Colin Jones ended up doing it. 

Did Shaq cover tight ends this year? How did he do? 

If he did, it wasn't often.  Hell, they had Roman Harper on TE's this year sometimes, and they started Colin Jones over him after Bene went out for a bit.  So, since you asked the question, how about you tell me................

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