Panthers scouts find talent in odd places

[Rod Butsecks]

(By Darin Gantt and Charles Chandler, [email protected]) span class=byline_credita href=mailto:[email protected]@charlotteobserver.com/a/spanp/The Carolina Panthers might not be signing many players at the moment, but you can't accuse their scouting staff of not working.

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[Guest silver82blade]

yes i can.

[Guest silver82blade]

how does that new york times blog have keydrick vincent ranked higher than travelle wharton? wharton is an elite guard. he's a great tackle too, when he doesn't have to go up against john abraham. that guy is like kryptonite to him for some reason. anyway, he's my favorite panther and that was just not correct in my opinion.

[magnus]

yes i can.

then you have no idea what you're talking about. There's no way you can look at the last three drafts and say the scouts didn't have us prepared for the draft.

I imagine what you meant to criticize was that we're not signing a ton of players right now, but look at last year and look at what everyone's doing this year.

how does that new york times blog have keydrick vincent ranked higher than travelle wharton?

it's right guards, the same as Otah is ranked at right tackle.

I have issues with Kalil being the 9th best center. Wharton is rankable, certainly, though in a year where he played half the season at tackle I can understand being overlooked, and LG is a talent-heavy spot of the three interior spots.

[pantherfan49]

how does that new york times blog have keydrick vincent ranked higher than travelle wharton? wharton is an elite guard. he's a great tackle too, when he doesn't have to go up against john abraham. that guy is like kryptonite to him for some reason. anyway, he's my favorite panther and that was just not correct in my opinion.

Vincent shouldn't even be ranked. If he was the 6th best RG, he wouldn't be without a contract for next season.

Ranking offensive lineman is tough to do.

[Guest silver82blade]

i was just being cynical. i know they do a pretty good job in general. it just seems like every year they have one or two critical holes they leave unfilled, when they could've filled them, and it holds us back. it seems like everyone can see it except the people who need to see it the most. it's not all their fault though.

[jramsey4]

i was just being cynical. i know they do a pretty good job in general. it just seems like every year they have one or two critical holes they leave unfilled, when they could've filled them, and it holds us back. it seems like everyone can see it except the people who need to see it the most. it's not all their fault though.

I tend to agree with this. When the last 3 drafts picking up good talent late they also have not drafted a receiver in two years (the greatest offensive weakness) and they left us thin as a sheet at the NT position last year. So while good they are by no means perfect (I would love to be a Pat fan, but I can't stand that team).

[Guest silver82blade]

also return man has been a huge hole. we've had one of the worst return games in the league for years. they've drafted guys to specifically fill that hole, but they've been busts as far as returning goes.

[jramsey4]

also return man has been a huge hole. we've had one of the worst return games in the league for years. they've drafted guys to specifically fill that hole, but they've been busts as far as returning goes.

I honestly think Crossman was the cause of all our struggles on ST. I mean we have sucked all around in that department for years. No matter who we brought in they were at best average. Smith I honestly believe is the only reason (maybe Jones delaying the inevitable) he still had a job.

[Future of the Funchise]

so... we're definitely trading next years first to move up into the first this year to draft "The Golden Calf of Bristol almighty" before the pats can get to him then in the second we are picking that wr from usc. there's a guy in the later rounds... a 385 pound nose tackle named Jelly Roll Johnson. Look for the team to pick him up and a corner named Flip McGee. He works part time at IHOP famous for his pancake flipping style.

:out: