Rhule #1: The draft matters more now

[stbugs]

12 minutes ago, Black&BlueBubba said:

I am really interested in the UDFA’s Rhule brings in.  I bet 3-4 make the team.  

We need to pull out the $$$ and get the top UDFAs. It should be easy to convince them to sign up seeing as how we’ve got great opportunities all over the place. I just hope Marty and crew know we need to be solid on UDFAs and the bottom tier potential guys.

[SmokinwithWilly]

23 minutes ago, bababoey said:

If that many UDFA make this team, we really sucked at drafting and signing any free agents that could actually help this team.  And the whole tanking thing might happen whether we are planning it or not.

It's not that far out of the realm of possibility. Kick returner and a kicker could very well be 2 spots where we hunt UDFA. Throw in a guard and another LB or DL and there's 4.

We have too many needs to fill in a single draft. Being able to get 4 or 5 UDFA on rookie contracts could mean an extra 5-8m towards Cam or CmC.

[catnip]

We have an new sheriff in town .  I think Rhule will overrule Hurney on our draft especially if a team starts calling about a trade .  I am excited about  this new decade .

[Khyber53]

I hope you are exactly right about how this plays out. It sure will be interesting and of a whole different flavor than we've gotten used to in the last couple of decades.

May he build a program that keeps on going year after year, improving and solidifying. I mean, that's what Belichick did.

Of course, let's do it without all the cheating. That goes without saying, right?

[cardiackat88.]

I know we all roll our eyes at Madden comparisons, they are not realistic.

Even so, I think this (and a strategy I have read between the lines for before reading this) fits a blueprint for many of us who have played it. 
 

Basically you trade back for guys who are not high on the radar. You get many players with lots of potential, who want to play their hearts out and have a lot to prove.

Not only do you get a lot of feisty players who are out to show the world, they are dirt cheap (NFL not college) and can be replaced when their contract is up, should they lose their humility and demand a massive payday (which we have all seen that turn to laziness quickly, many times over).

[MHS831]

3 hours ago, Snake said:

I would take this a bit farther and say Rhule will be great at finding free agents who have been cast away from teams with coaches like Rivera. He will take a guy who was struggling but hungry and get him to perform. Similar to how the Hawks and Pats approach FA. Finding a way to get guys to give that extra. 

I had the same thought after starting the thread---that may be where he is the most effective---rummaging through the trash bins.

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, bababoey said:

If that many UDFA make this team, we really sucked at drafting and signing any free agents that could actually help this team.  And the whole tanking thing might happen whether we are planning it or not.

I think that we will not sign a bunch of free agents--maybe a DT, S, and G--nothing fancy.  Jobs will be available.

 

[Matt62881]

5 hours ago, FakePlasticTrees said:

I agree that using a high draftpick on a RB is not wise. I would take that a step further. Allotting a large cap figure to the RB position is also not wise. The Panthers have a history of having too much of their cap tied to the RB position albeit not currently. Thus, it will be very interesting to see how the new regime treats the position given the heady accomplishments of Christian McCaffery and his likely desire for a new contract.

The Rams vastly overpaid Gurley to their great regret. The Cowboys did the same with Elliott and are probably already regretting it. Will the Panthers follow suit? Personally, I would gauge his trade value and pull the trigger for a reasonable price. I have no idea how the new Panthers' brain trust will view McCaffery, the RB position, and salary cap value. This is another of the great unknowns that will likely become known soon.

I in general would agree about rbs and even felt the same way when he was drafted but I also would have never seen mccaffery turn out like this. Hes a rare gamechanger from his position that really doesnt come around, even with a lesser line and bad Qb he makes things happen. If there was a HB to pay it would be him! Draft a bruising back for 2 yard stacked box gains every 4 years and even split mccaffery out wide a little more. I honestly dont think I've seen a back quite like McCaffrey. 

[FakePlasticTrees]

54 minutes ago, Matt62881 said:

I in general would agree about rbs and even felt the same way when he was drafted but I also would have never seen mccaffery turn out like this. Hes a rare gamechanger from his position that really doesnt come around, even with a lesser line and bad Qb he makes things happen. If there was a HB to pay it would be him! Draft a bruising back for 2 yard stacked box gains every 4 years and even split mccaffery out wide a little more. I honestly dont think I've seen a back quite like McCaffrey. 

I agree that the choice is easier made in theory than in practice. Of course, we are not paid the " big bucks" to actually make the call.

[kass]

6 hours ago, Malt Liquor said:

A good example of what kind of coach Ron Rivera was. Do you remember when the Panthers let CJ Anderson go to the rams. Then weeks later he ran all over the cowboys in the playoffs? I just hope that Matt Rhule can get the best out of the ENTIRE team. And I think he really can. I'm excited about the new era of Carolina Panthers football....Keep Pounding!!!

People need to stop referring to CJ Anderson as some sort of devine god. After Panthers cut him, he went to Raiders and was cut after a week. He did great with the Rams for a few games but they didn't sign him for the next season.

Instead he played 2 games for the Lions before he was cut. 43 yards. That was week 2. No other team signed him.

Why? I dont know, but there seems to be a reason teams don't keep him or want him. His career might even be over and he just turned 29.

 

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, FakePlasticTrees said:

I agree that the choice is easier made in theory than in practice. Of course, we are not paid the " big bucks" to actually make the call.

I have said (and nobody wrote it down) "Never sign a RB to a second contract.  Draft one every 3 years or so--not on day 1.

That includes CMC--unless the make a hybrid swiss army knife out of him and keep him upright.  He does a good job of avoiding contact (water), but we shall see.  RR is a career killer.

[45catfan]

4 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I had the same thought after starting the thread---that may be where he is the most effective---rummaging through the trash bins.

Gettleman was pretty good at dumpster diving while trying to get us out of cap hell.  So we know it can be done.

[MHS831]

8 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

Gettleman was pretty good at dumpster diving while trying to get us out of cap hell.  So we know it can be done.

He did. 

[MechaZain]

unspoken advantage of having coaches fresh from college is the instant upgrade in scouting for the next couple years