We need to talk about Bowers more

[nagai]

I think these forums don't give this guy enough attention. Let's review the other 3 main candidates so far:

1. Nick Fairley: If Rivera's serious about intangibles, and all the signs show that he's VERY serious about it, Fairley should bring up a lot of red flags. Rivera wants players to 'behave like Carolina Panthers on and off the field', Fairley's known for being dirty. Rivera really values a good work ethic and thinks it says a lot about what kind of guy someone is, Fairley's known for taking plays off. I'm not sure this would be the best marriage.

2. AJ Green: The history of the Panthers' draft is to go BPA, but that's BPA in positions of need. It's not necessarily out biggest need that we draft for, in fact history has shown that this is often not the case, but we draft for a position of weakness nonetheless. Rivera really seems to like our WR's, as he should. Smitty's gonna stay here for another year at least and both Lafell and Gettis are young and has shown promise. I'm not sure drafting Green is as likely as I would want it to be.

3. Patrick Peterson: Same point again. A lot of the fans think that our corners can use an upgrade, but Rivera seems to like them... all 3 of them. Hurney also believes in drafting impact positions at the top of the draft, probably meaning QB, LT, RB, or D-line. I don't necessarily like this way of thinking, but it's not my decision.

Now, we have Da'quan Bowers, who has had 15.5 sacks and 25 TFL last year with all the character traits that Rivera likes in a player. At DE, we have CJ who's obviously a good starter for us, but beyond that, Brown and Brayton aren't every down players. It seems to me that DE is a need at least every bit that WR and CB is. For those who just like to bang their fists on the table, arguing that the interior D-line is a much bigger need, no one is disagreeing with you. However, if Rivera doesn't like Fairley, and these other guys are all better talents than the next DT (probably Dareus), you HAVE to look at other positions. For the record, I'm not advocating that we should draft Bowers, no, I'm making a much more modest claim of strongly considering Bowers for no.1 overall. It should be a 4 horse race imo, and Bowers can win it all.

[Jackofalltrades]

How do you completely forget about Hardy?

[nagai]

How do you completely forget about Hardy?

I didn't. But he doesn't stabilize the position that much really. It's still a position of need.

[Jackofalltrades]

I didn't. But he doesn't stabilize the position that much really. It's still a position of need.

Disagree completely.

Either way, we have 2 possible starters at DE.

We have ZERO at DT.

DT is far and away the biggest need outside of QB.

[nagai]

Disagree completely.

DT is far and away the biggest need outside of QB.

When did I disagree with that? You gotta read the OP again :shocked:

[Jackofalltrades]

When did I disagree with that? You gotta read the OP again :shocked:

To clarify, I disagree, vehemently, that Hardy doesn't, at the very least, stabilize the position.

[Cyberjag]

Right now I would take Marcell Dareus ahead of Bowers. Bowers is a classic Al Davis type of pick--did his thing for one year only and he's a physical freak. Not number one material.

[Nicbsbll2]

I didn't. But he doesn't stabilize the position that much really. It's still a position of need.

Just by going off of percentages, the case could be made that Hardy was the most consistent defensive lineman we had this year.

The only problem was that he was only given about a fourth of the snaps that Johnson, Brayton and Brown had.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

OK let's talk about him.

Horribly overrated. One year wonder. Still too raw and relies on his physical ability. Not technically sound. Not a top 10 caliber player, much less #1 overall.

There, happy?

[CRA]

Right now I would take Marcell Dareus ahead of Bowers. Bowers is a classic Al Davis type of pick--did his thing for one year only and he's a physical freak. Not number one material.

to be fair, Bowers stats were statistically freaky last year......he looked like the real deal the moment he stepped on the field as a freshman though.

I think Bowers will be a better lineman than Fairely.....not saying we should pick Bowers but I think overall he is a better package.

[Nicbsbll2]

OK let's talk about him.

Horribly overrated. One year wonder. Still too raw and relies on his physical ability. Not technically sound. Not a top 10 caliber player, much less #1 overall.

There, happy?

Let's not forget the fact that his first 2 years he was nothing more than a warm body on the defensive line.

[CRA]

Let's not forget the fact that his first 2 years he was nothing more than a warm body on the defensive line.

lol. Bowers pushed people around as a freshman....but you gotta be realistic in terms of the amount of time and play a freshman gets on a DL w/ good talent.

he battled injury his sophomore year.

when healthy and starting.......we all saw what he did his junior year. He is no more of a one year wonder than an Andrew Luck. Bowers is legit. People around here are gonna knock him b/c they don't want a DE drafted. I don't think I do either...but nothing about when he was on the field suggests his season was a fluke. If he played his senior year all you would see is another freak season if he stayed healthy.

[TheRealDeal]

OK let's talk about him.

Horribly overrated. One year wonder. Still too raw and relies on his physical ability. Not technically sound. Not a top 10 caliber player, much less #1 overall.

There, happy?

Same can be said for almost everyone at the top.

We picked a bad year to have a bad year

[SPANKY]

Watch Hardy, he will suprise you. It took Charles Johnson a little while too.