Comparative approaches to roster building in the NFC South

[TheRumGone]

Incredible thread KB. You can really see why we're on a path to yearly success while our division rivals are drowning in mediocrity. Excellent.

[TheSpecialJuan]

Very impressive work. Thanks for putting in the time. Great read

[thennek]

Great information.  It will be very interesting to see these charts after the 53-man roster is finished (ie - how many rookies actually make each team)

[Mr. Scot]

2 hours ago, CPF4LIFE said:

It's hard to make this team

And getting harder...

[KB_fan]

4 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

Good job as always, KB.

Of course, the Panthers just signed someone else to mess with you.

I just knew that was going to happen!

[aussiePanther]

Great work KB_Fan

My only query is whether the focus on TE is really a great shock? All I've been hearing all offseason (mostly from Igo admittedly) was that TE #2 was a major focus.

Bringing in 3 TEs after drafting one might be more than we were expecting, but I've been totally underwhelmed by Williams over the last two years, Dickson was never great and is getting older & I'm not sure how much Simonson was going to show after being cut and then re-signed to the practice squad. It had been in my mind that apart from Olsen there was no certainty that the other 3 TEs would be back this year.

In fact to be honest, right now I'm hoping it will be Olsen, Beau & 1 or 2 of the new rookies that make the 53, because that should mean we've had real progress at that position and can get back to seeing more 2 TE sets.

 

 

4 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

7 hours ago, CPF4LIFE said:

It's hard to make this team

And getting harder...

It's always bittersweet to have to cut good players who could easily start on other teams in the league.

It's something we're going to see more and more often, that and well liked players leaving for starting roles when their contract ends.

Which could explain some of the focus in LB? I think AJ and possibly even Mayo (eventually) might not be content with Special Teams and relying on injury to get playing time. Especially when they see twice a year what teams like the Falcons put on the field.

[KB_fan]

12 minutes ago, aussiePanther said:

My only query is whether the focus on TE is really a great shock? All I've been hearing all offseason (mostly from Igo admittedly) was that TE #2 was a major focus.

Sure some of us, myself included, were excited about the idea of drafting Hunter Henry and talking about the need for better depth behind Olsen.  But I was pretty much thinking of something like we did with Butler.  Grab one High Quality draftee to groom for the future, and rotate in the offense in the meantime.

I think it's the sheer quantity of TEs we've brought in that surprised me.  Draft Beau Sandland and add a UDFA and I wouldn't have batted an eye.  Look to upgrade at TE #3 in hopes that you're grooming someone with lots of upside.  If you're really lucky you find someone better than Dickson for TE #2.

But with 5 new TEs added to the roster, it seems like we're looking for more than just one TE.  There's a clear plan to attack this position and try to find some players for the long-term.  Specifically, I think we're looking for some blocking upgrading to support our Oline and protection.  It's not just another good pass-catching TE we're trying to add, but a package of TEs.  That's quite a different scenario than what many of us were chatting about in relation to adding a single player like Hunter Henry.

[Saca312]

Quality post. I've always enjoyed analyzing your data and schematics. 

[KB_fan]

Here's another glimpse into the Panthers' roster-building strategy.  It's very clearly "quality over quantity" - both in their drafting (i.e. willingness to give up picks to trade up and grab a guy they like), and now, in their priority undrafted free agent signings.  I hadn't really noted the big decline in numbers this year...:

This from an article at the Observer today about UDFA Devon Johnson, who received a 20K signing bonus, as did Jeremy Cash.  Both tied for the highest bonuses given out to UDFAs this season, I believe:

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/nfl-blog/article78658547.html

Quote

 

Carolina signed just seven undrafted free agents following the draft while employing a new strategy to attract bigger fish. In the previous three years following the draft, the Panthers had signed a total of 32 players (10 last year, nine in 2014 and 13 in 2013).

This year the Panthers signed just seven, opting for quality over quantity while paying those top players better.

 

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/nfl-blog/article78658547.html#storylink=cpy