Patrick Peterson Meeting W/ Panthers Tonight

[Catalyst]

Most everyone in league circles agree that if you're in position to draft a potential franchise QB, you don't pass on that chance.

Peterson... I could live with the pick, but if you look back at the last decade the best NFL CB's tend to be the ones drafted in the mid-1st round and beyond. Revis was 14th overall, Nnamdi was 30th or so, Tramon Williams was undrafted, Asante Samuel was a 4th or 5th rounder. Very few of the top corners in football were high 1st round picks.

Take a look at the CB's taken in the top-10 the last 10 years:

Quentin Jammer: Good player, solid corner.

Terence Newman: Average corner; has good days and bad.

Deangelo Hall: Gets INT's, but is terrible as a cover corner.

Dunta Robinson: Good player, solid corner.

Adam Jones: Do I even have to say...?

Antrel Rolle: Great athlete, but a terrible corner. Moved to FS after a few years.

Carlos Rogers: Average/below average corner. In & out of starting lineup.

Joe Haden: Too early to tell.

Compared to that, let's take a look at some of the better CB's (IMO) in football and see where they were each drafted:

Darrelle Revis: 14th overall

Nnamdi Asomugha: 31st overall

Champ Bailey: 7th overall (1999)

Tramon Williams: Undrafted

Aqib Talib: 20th overall

Asante Samuel: 4th round

Tracy Porter: 2nd round

Charles Woodson: 4th overall (1998)

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: 16th overall

Antonio Cromartie: 19th overall

Cortland Finnegan: 7th round

Leon Hall: 18th overall

Jonathan Joseph: 24th overall

Brandon Flowers: 2nd round

So out of the top CB's in the NFL today TWO were high 1st round picks and they were both drafted prior to 2000. In the last decade no top corner has been selected earlier than 14th overall (Revis) and as you can see, the majority of them were late 1st rounders or 2nd rounders, with a few late round/undrafted guys in there as well.

You have to be careful with CB prospects. They're so hard to judge because the receivers they're playing against are nowhere near what they'll be facing in the NFL in most cases. I consider drafting a CB 1st overall to be as risky as taking a QB, TBH. If we do go defense, I'd MUCH rather us take Dareus and wait until the 3rd round to take a CB.

History shows we've got a much better chance at landing a solid player there than with the 1st overall pick.

[Ricky Spanish]

But this is the first year we have had this particular situation. I agree, though. I have been screaming for a QB, DT in the draft for four years now. However, my point is this: When youth is the problem you don't fix it by adding even younger players.

I look at the defense and I see Gamble, 28 years old with maybe 2-3 years left, Munnerlyn, a nickel CB, and ---? This would be a good time to draft a CB.

The draft is deep at DT, so #65 should be our rookie and we add a free agent.

QB? We drafted 2 or 3 last year. They take time. It would be stupid to give up on them so soon. Bring in a veteran. None are that great, but many will be better than Cam in 2011, especially if there is a lockout.

Peterson is starting to look like the pick to me, but a DT or DE could step up.

Who knows. Maybe we are waiting to see what happens with the CBA>

I just don't want us to end up like the dolphins, taking the safe pick and then missing the playoffs twice when two teams behind you take QBs and either go each of teh past 3 years (ravens) or 2 out of 3 (falcons)

[Kettle]

PP7 is so fast he creates his own smokescreen

[Catalyst]

I just don't want us to end up like the dolphins, taking the safe pick and then missing the playoffs twice when two teams behind you take QBs and either go each of teh past 3 years (ravens) or 2 out of 3 (falcons)

This. Jake Long has been a Pro Bowler for them, but it hasn't made a damn bit of difference because they STILL haven't been able to get a QB. They probably told themselves the same thing many here are saying... "take the safe pick now; we can address the QB spot next year."

It's a LOT easier said than done, folks. You NEVER know where you're going to be drafting or who will be there at any given position. We're picking 1st right NOW. We know what's out there and we know we need a QB.

No reason to put off the inevitable.

[MHS831]

I just don't want us to end up like the dolphins, taking the safe pick and then missing the playoffs twice when two teams behind you take QBs and either go each of teh past 3 years (ravens) or 2 out of 3 (falcons)

If we think Newton or Gabbert can be a successful, playoff QB for the next 10 years, jump on it. It is sorta damned if you do...

[MHS831]

This. Jake Long has been a Pro Bowler for them, but it hasn't made a damn bit of difference because they STILL haven't been able to get a QB. They probably told themselves the same thing many here are saying... "take the safe pick now; we can address the QB spot next year."

It's a LOT easier said than done, folks. You NEVER know where you're going to be drafting or who will be there at any given position. We're picking 1st right NOW. We know what's out there and we know we need a QB.

No reason to put off the inevitable.

The Texans (Carr) and Lions (Harrington) and Cardinals (Leinhart) and Browns (Brady) etc. etc. etc. drafted QB before the pieces were in place up front and the QB struggled. The peices were not in place here last year, and CLausen bombed. Who is to say they made the wrong decision for them? Surely with 20/20 hindsight someone can say," woulda, shoulda, coulda", and I NOW know Ryan was the best pick, but no mocks I saw had Ryan going #1.

[MHS831]

This. Jake Long has been a Pro Bowler for them, but it hasn't made a damn bit of difference because they STILL haven't been able to get a QB. They probably told themselves the same thing many here are saying... "take the safe pick now; we can address the QB spot next year."

It's a LOT easier said than done, folks. You NEVER know where you're going to be drafting or who will be there at any given position. We're picking 1st right NOW. We know what's out there and we know we need a QB.

No reason to put off the inevitable.

Drafting Cam Newton is not addressing the QB situation this year. He is a project with more red flags than a Russian parade. I have never suggested that we refuse to address the QB spot if we don't pick Cam. I have said that we should build the defense (It opens up the offensive playbook) to make it top dawg. Solidify the OL, and trade for or sign a UFA QB.

I suggest addressing the QB position this way:

1. Give Clausen time to develop and do not give up on a high draft pick with 10 bad games under his belt who had to play in conditions worse than any QB in my recollection.

2. Bring back Moore. He was 6-2 before he was made captain of the Titanic. Maybe, just maybe, it was not every QB we put under center's fault.

3. Bring in a veteran to compete with the two above. We have tons of money and there are veterans who can still play. With a GREAT defense, a veteran does not have to shoulder the load.

That IS addressing the QB position. Short term and, possibly, long term. If we do not feel Cam or Blaine are franchise QBs, then do not draft them because we need a franchise QB.

And sure, hindsight tells us the Dolphins screwed up. Have you considered all the teams that drafted QBs without the OL in tact? Ask Houston why David Carr was the wise choice. Ask Detroit about Harrington, Cleveland about Quinn--gotta have the pieces in place before the QB arrives, which causes me to look at Clausen again and consider the rookie WRs and three reserves on the OL. How much better could he have been if protected and with veteran WRs? That is why we need a second look.

[Catalyst]

OL isn't an issue for us, though. I know some would disagree with that, but who do we replace? Our Pro Bowl left tackle? Pro Bowl center? Recent 1st round right tackle? We need a solid guard, not an entire OL. Even if you disagree, Hurney & Rivera do not; they've both stated that they consider the OL a strength. Rivera had glowing things to say about the young WR's and we just signed a veteran TE in Shockey. Our RB's are among the best in the league.

The situation isn't going to get much better, certainly not be using the 1st overall pick on a defensive player. We could use another guard and some OL depth, sure, and an elite playmaking WR for when Smith moves on (this year or next) would help, but by no means can anyone say our offense is a wasteland of talent. What it needs is a QB who can lead the troops. Our offense has MUCH more talent than what Bradford had to work with in St. Louis or than The Golden Calf of Bristol had in Denver, and certainly more than McCoy in Cleveland yet ALL THREE played better than Clausen when given the chance.

"Give Clausen more time!" = wishful thinking and not wanting to admit another failed 2nd round draft pick. He had most of the season to show some signs that he may one day be a starting NFL QB. In all his games only ONCE did he show ANY sign of potential - to Gettis on 4th down @ New Orleans. Can he be better? Yeah, he can be. Will he ever be elite? No. That I can say with absolute certainty.

"Bring back Matt Moore!" = beating a dead horse until its flesh has rotted from its bones. I don't know, maybe it's because he's the last QB that looked half-decent in a Panthers uniform. Maybe it's because everyone was so attached to him as our QB of the future last offseason that they're unwilling to admit they were wrong. I dunno, but this fascination with Matt Moore as an actual legit option at QB is pretty pathetic. The guy is a backup. I'd be all for having him back in that role, sure, but he will NEVER BE OUR STARTING QB LONG-TERM! He can't do the job. He's just not that good, people!

"Sign a veteran QB!" = not a bad idea, but FAR from a solution long-term. Besides, who is out there that is really any significant upgrade? Good QB's aren't allowed to make it to free agency. It just doesn't happen. Anyone we sign will be a stop-gap at best. I agree we need to bring in a veteran, but it needs to be to backup/push Clausen while Newton/Gabbert sit and learn as rookies. Our future isn't on the roster and it isn't available in free agency. We don't have the ammo to trade for a Kolb or McNabb.

The lack of talent on offense excuse holds no weight with me. The OL is solid, despite what so many think. We add a starter at RG and some depth (a solid veteran to backup Otah, just in case) and we're set there. Gettis & LaFell both put up some damn solid numbers considering they had the worst QB play statistically in the league in Clausen/Moore/St. Pierre. We HAVE a Pro Bowl caliber WR in Smith who we can't get the ball to as well.

We're not the Texans when they drafted Carr, the Lions with Harrington, OR the Browns with Quinn. We're ready to compete, we just lack a QB and a few pieces (RG, DT, CB). Our situation is a LOT closer to the Falcons when they drafted Matt Ryan, the Rams when they took Bradford, or the Bucs when they drafted Josh Freeman.

And we can take the one step that will give us the best chance to join those teams as success stories and take a QB with this pick or we can pussy out and go the "safe" route and take another solid defensive player who won't get the recognition he deserves or equal out to wins because we're still going to be playing Jimmy Clausen & Matt Moore at QB and THAT is not what winning franchises are about.

It's time to step up, throw some caution to the wind, and take a leap of faith with this pick. In 5 years we could be the Falcons, with a young QB we know we can win with. Or we could be the Dolphins, with a Pro Bowl player taken 1st overall and STILL a middle of the road team because they failed to go all-in at the QB position.

Like my signature says, we will never achieve success if we fear failure.

[teeray]

Whenever a QB you like sucks it up the first thing apologists are going blame is the O-line.

I remember back when that was all the David Carr apologists told me the same thing.

"No, no he was really good in Houston he just didn't have any protection."

When you can't use the middle of the field because your release is so bad and all you can do is throw in the flat or down the sideline you are going to be sacked and pressured constantly.

It ain't the O-line

[Actionman0z]

I like PP a lot but he isn't going to shut down "half the field" against a team like the Saints. With more teams going to the spread it places more emphasis on depth at corner more than having a great no.1.

I disagree. Hes versitle enough to tie up a #1. Is what I meant, in a zone scheme 2 or 3 he will shut down his respected duty spot allowing us to float more defense to other areas or zones. What he gives us is a dangerous combo of Gamble and Peterson with Marshall and Munnnerlyn as nickle type players.

He also has the ability to break it open in speical teams.

[Actionman0z]

PS: He gives us the best option to be an impact player right away, regardless of weather or not he gets thrown at. Period.

[MHS831]

Whenever a QB you like sucks it up the first thing apologists are going blame is the O-line.

I remember back when that was all the David Carr apologists told me the same thing.

"No, no he was really good in Houston he just didn't have any protection."

When you can't use the middle of the field because your release is so bad and all you can do is throw in the flat or down the sideline you are going to be sacked and pressured constantly.

It ain't the O-line

Yeah, I remember when they said that about Elway after his rookie year, when he threw for 47% and had a QB rating of 52.

And then Manning-both of them--etc.

So you disregard the impact the offensive line has on a QB's performance?

[Actionman0z]

Yeah, I remember when they said that about Elway after his rookie year, when he threw for 47% and had a QB rating of 52.

And then Manning-both of them--etc.

So you disregard the impact the offensive line has on a QB's performance?

Some guys rebound, others dont.

[MadHatter]

Most everyone in league circles agree that if you're in position to draft a potential franchise QB, you don't pass on that chance.

Exactly.

This comes down to whether the coaching staff thinks that either Newton or Gabbert are franchise QB's. They both have HUGE ??'s.

If they think either is a franchise guy then they SHOULD definitely be the choice.

If they don't think either is.....Peterson, Fairley, Dareus, Green could all be valid choices.