Gil Brandt - Instant Impact Rookies - Panthers have 2/14

[Bronn]

http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000805592/2017-nfl-draft-fourteen-instantimpact-rookies

Christian McCaffrey, running back, Carolina Panthers

Drafted: Round 1, No. 8 overall.

McCaffrey will be a matchup nightmare for opponents -- he can run as a back or flank out as a receiver. He will be very hard to cover on high-percentage passes coming out of the backfield, especially when you factor in the threat of him catching screen passes. McCaffrey is tough, athletic and has great work habits. He will help Cam Newton become a better quarterback and improve his completion percentage. McCaffrey also will be a factor in the return game.

 

Curtis Samuel, running back/wide receiver, Carolina Panthers

Drafted: Round 2, No. 40 overall.

Samuel is my dark-horse candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He's like a Percy Harvin clone, only stronger. At Ohio State, Samuel lined up at running back, H-back and receiver, and he posted 74 catches without a drop in 2016. He has great speed and acceleration. At his pro day, Samuel looked like Secretariat. He will make catches in traffic and plays his best against tough competition. Samuel most likely will be a slot receiver on early downs, but he can line up as a back on third down, which will pose a real conundrum for defenses. Yes, I know he'll have to fit in among weapons like Greg Olsen and fellow rookie Christian McCaffrey in Carolina, but he's just such a mismatch threat, and the Panthers will be very creative with him, giving him a chance to make a major mark.

 

Respek

[L-TownCat]

2 minutes ago, Bronn said:

Panthers will be very creative with him

Guess this guy forgot who our OC is, right guise??

[Saca312]

Quote

At Ohio State, Samuel lined up at running back, H-back and receiver, and he posted 74 catches without a drop in 2016.

Let this sink in.

This guy runs a 4.31, and he doesn't drop passes.

Just picture that for a moment.

[YoungPanthers89]

Wow, high praise.

[KSpan]

What is this 'screen pass' being referenced here? 

[thefuzz]

6 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

Let this sink in.

This guy runs a 4.31, and he doesn't drop passes.

Just picture that for a moment.

Agreed, that jumped out to me as well.

So, the players with the best hands on our team are probably CmC, Samuel, and Olsen?

That's pretty wild.

[vorbis]

IMO the "zero dropped passes" line for Curtis Samuel is misleading. his hands and ball skills really do need a fair amount of refining. mistiming jumps, not having his hands together in time for passes with high velocity (mayyyybe relevant for a soon-to-be Panthers receiver, huh). a few balls bounced off his hands and became INTs, including Jabrill Peppers' only career interception.

still LOVE Samuel as a 2nd round pick. so hyped about him.

[Cary Kollins]

gotta love old man Brandt's comments regarding Fournette

"To top it all off, he's a nice young man, too."

 

not sure if casual racism or not

 

 

[ecu88]

14 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

Let this sink in.

This guy runs a 4.31, and he doesn't drop passes.

Just picture that for a moment.

Cam is already picturing it

[ecu88]

8 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

Agreed, that jumped out to me as well.

So, the players with the best hands on our team are probably CmC, Samuel, and Olsen?

That's pretty wild.

All mismatch elements

[top dawg]

I guess he has suction cups on the ends of his arms also. I didn't know, but I do now. Wow!

[JawnyBlaze]

Samuel is my favorite pick of our draft. I mentioned wanting him during the downtime between night one and night two. McCaffrey has grown on me and I'm happy about the pick, but I am legit excited about Samuel. 

[panther4life]

8 minutes ago, Cary Kollins said:

gotta love old man Brandt's comments regarding Fournette

"To top it all off, he's a nice young man, too."

 

not sure if casual racism or not

 

 

Gil Brandt ends every sentence about anybody 10 years younger than him the same way and that stretches far beyond athletes. The dude is a living legend in the football world and loves all players equally.

[yasuhara2241]

19 minutes ago, KSpan said:

What is this 'screen pass' being referenced here? 

I started thinking about this. With Chud it seemed like we did quite well with screens. Stew had quite a few catches and was utilized quite well. 

Then, something happened. We had to try and use misdirection for screen passes. They never worked. All of our screens were quickly snuffed out. 

So what was the reason? 

Steve Smith

His speed and explosion had to keep defenses honest. We went to tall slow receivers who defenses weren't worried about burning them deep. 

Now with Samuels, we might have that again! We can move away from deception and just utilize short passes and traditional screens....at least that is what I am hoping.