Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Team needs(PFF)

jtnc

By jtnc,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

jtnc Newbie

jtnc

Posted
Posted

Primary Need: Safety

The Panthers ran with young Charles Godfrey (-13.7)

and Sherrod Martin (-6.8) as their starting safeties in 2011, with Jordan Pugh (-11.6) as the primary backup. Neither has fully panned out, but Godfrey in particular has seemed to regress–in 2011, he had the fourth highest yards per play in coverage by a safety at 1.03. Although Pugh is young, he didn’t look like the answer either allowing nearly every ball thrown his way to be caught. The answer at safety doesn’t look like it’s on the roster, and the Panthers haven’t been the best at finding defensive back talent in the draft before, so free agency might be the way to go.

There are a handful of safeties that are available, most of which have an injury history or haven’t proven they can stay consistently playing well. One match who might fit is LaRon Landry (+2.7), if he can get healthy. The Panthers played Godfrey within 8 yards of the line of scrimmage on 63.3% of plays, while Landry is one of the few safeties who lines up that close an even higher percentage of the time. Landry had a stop rate of 7.8% which is a bit higher than Godfrey’s 4.6%, and he is an improvement in coverage as well. The only question is if he can stay on the field.

Secondary Need: Wide Receiver

Since Muhsin Muhammad first left the Panthers after the 2004 season, the only viable replacement across from Steve Smith was bringing Muhammad himself back for the 2008 season. Their most recent attempt was giving Legedu Naanee a one-year contract. However, they apparently wavered on the experiment, as he played 88% of snaps for most of the season, but over the last five weeks that decreased to 45.5%. The Panthers could use someone to be the No. 2 receiver, and someone to put in the slot while Brandon LaFell goes out wide in three receiver sets. While the Panthers do need a lot on defense, another offensive weapon could work wonders.

While there are a number of talented wide receivers are available, only a few are experienced and talented playing as a slot receiver. One of them happens to play in the same division as Carolina, and that’s Marques Colston (+21.2). He has been a dominating force for years, and is only getting better. Over his last three games, he had 23 catches for 396 yards and three touchdowns. Teams always like bringing in players from division rivals, and with the Saints’ cap problems, Colston may be free to walk. The connection of Newton-to-Colston could become one of the best known quarterback-receiver duos for years to come if a deal gets made.

Tertiary Need: Cornerback

The Panthers have Chris Gamble (+7.4) at one cornerback spot, and he had his best year in the recent past in 2011. The problem is when you’re in a division with Matt Ryan and Drew Brees, you need more defensive back depth than that. We saw the worst we’ve seen from Captain Munnerlyn over the last few weeks of this last season with a -4.4 coverage rating in the final six games. He was also one of the most penalized cornerbacks with eight called on him. The depth behind him isn’t that strong, and cornerback is a position where you can never have enough depth.

One man who seems more likely to be ready to switch teams than others is Brandon Carr (+2.7) of the Chiefs. Kansas City already brought in Stanford Routt, making Carr free to sign elsewhere. In 2011 Carr allowed one of the lowest catch rates in the league at 49.4% which would pare up nicely with Gamble’s 45.0%. He plays the right cornerback spot, so he would be able to let Gamble stay on the left, and have Munnerlyn just come in for nickel situations to play in the slot where he moved last year for nickel plays.]

http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/02/28/team-needs-2012-carolina-panthers/

Link to comment
Share on other sites
panthers55 Grand Master

panthers55

Posted
Posted

Not a bad read but they don't figure in guys like Hogan or Gettis who didn't play due to injury. But that said, I would have no problem picking up a safety and corner in free agency if we could afford them. Problem in free agency is that every time you pick someone up you have to be under the cap. We are going to have to do some serious manipulating if we plan to do anything in free agency. I just think that if NO can't afford Colston, neither would we be able to either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

Posted
Posted

Not a bad read but they don't figure in guys like Hogan or Gettis who didn't play due to injury. But that said, I would have no problem picking up a safety and corner in free agency if we could afford them. Problem in free agency is that every time you pick someone up you have to be under the cap. We are going to have to do some serious manipulating if we plan to do anything in free agency. I just think that if NO can't afford Colston, neither would we be able to either.

I am not a fan of the article either, but when I said the Godfrey contract was stupid, nearly everyone on here claimed that Godfrey had a solid 2011. Most expert, objective articles I have seen suggest he sucked. Now, you could blame poor corner play for pulling him out of position etc. and you might have a point. However, Hurney is a bit out of control on this "protecting the core" crap. We need to improve the core too.

Maybe they think firing Meeks can help.

Good point on Hogan. He is like a draft pick. Gettis is forgotten because his potential is not being considered. A lot of outside opinions look at stat sheets without knowing the team.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
panthers55 Grand Master

panthers55

Posted
Posted

I am not a fan of the article either, but when I said the Godfrey contract was stupid, nearly everyone on here claimed that Godfrey had a solid 2011. Most expert, objective articles I have seen suggest he sucked. Now, you could blame poor corner play for pulling him out of position etc. and you might have a point. However, Hurney is a bit out of control on this "protecting the core" crap. We need to improve the core too.

Maybe they think firing Meeks can help.

Good point on Hogan. He is like a draft pick. Gettis is forgotten because his potential is not being considered. A lot of outside opinions look at stat sheets without knowing the team.

I was not a big fan of Godfrey or Martin this past year. I wouldn't mind an upgrade at both positions. Maybe it is me but I thought Martin was a bigger problem than Godfrey last year. As for corner I think we need to upgrade if Hogan isn't able to step in and start right away. But we did spend a draft pick on Hogan and there was some speculation that if he didn't have the ACL injury he would have been a first or second rounder.

As for improving the core, I think Rivera agrees with you. He is not wedded to these players given he is a new coach and showed last year with Brown that he is willing to part with a player if he doesn't think they belong here. I think Hurney listens to him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
koolkatluke Newbie

koolkatluke

Posted
Posted

I was not a big fan of Godfrey or Martin this past year. I wouldn't mind an upgrade at both positions. Maybe it is me but I thought Martiin was a bigger problem than Godfrey last year. As for corner I think we need to upgrade if Hogan isn't able to step in and start right away. But we did spend a draft pick on Hogan and there was some speculation that if he didn't have the ACL injury he would have been a first or second rounder.

As for improving the core, I think Rivera agrees with you. He is not wedded to these players given he is a new coach and showed last year with Brown that he is willing to part with a player if he doesn't think they belong here. I think Hurney listens to him.

I think Rivera and staff like Godfrey as well or he wouldn't have the new contract.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Icege
      How would you feel if Bryce did this in 2025

      By Icege · Posted

      These are the three deep throw attempts that Will Levis made in week 12. His first one is a beauty; Levis and Westbrook-Ikhine gets the safety to bite on a deep dig only to go over the top for the score. His second throw is another beauty: a crosser to Calvin Ridley reminiscent of Bryce to XL (though Ridley has noticeably more separation on his route). His third and final deep shot was an incompletion from his own endzone on 3rd & 14 with pressure coming down on him (to me, this seems like a solid throw).   Film Room Playlist NFL Pro-02.mp4 Film Room Playlist NFL Pro-01.mp4 Film Room Playlist NFL Pro.mp4 Film Room Playlist NFL Pro-01.mp4 Levis took half of the deep shots that Young did. The differences are: Ridley had much better separation than XL, which is why his deep crosser turned into a 63yd play since he was able to scamper for another 15+ after the catch. Westbrook-Ikhine holds on to his TD pass. Bryce had to throw one away to preserve time for a field goal. Bryce had two more throws that were incomplete due to the WR Are we really holding the three WR errors and clock management decision against Bryce in order to say that Will was better throwing deep in week 12? That's not passing the eye test nor is it confirmed by the data.
    • WhoKnows
      Clowney released

      By WhoKnows · Posted

      If you go on the PUP list before the season starts, you are gone for the year. If you start the year on the PUP list then you can get off of it. Kind of semantics, but we are putting him on the PUP list now which is before week 1, that’s why people who come off of it aren’t really on the PUP list until week 1, hence you usually hear right before the season that they are “starting the year” on the PUP list. I think PUP list and IR may basically be the serve the same purpose now because you also sometimes hear that if a player is added to the IR before week 1 that they aren’t eligible to come off the IR list for the entire year. Now, everyone added to IR (post week 1) can come off after 4 (or more) games so the PUP list is meaningless since it’s 6 games and starts at week 1. Anyone added to PUP or IR in the preseason is gone for the year.
    • countryboi
      Brooks RB, Placed on PUP, Out for 2025

      By countryboi · Posted

      I saw Brooks maybe a few weeks ago, he was walking pretty normally. of course he wasnt running, jumping and cutting.
×
×
  • Create New...