Walter Football's 2013 Panthers Draft Analysis

[top dawg]

Well, even after a couple of months, draft analyses are apparently still coming in. Walter Football (Charlie Campbell) is the latest site to offer its two cents and has given the Panthers an overall C+ 2013 draft grade. I am kind of miffed as to why, though, because they also rated each payer as well, and the only one given less than a B was Edmund Kugbila ©.  Must be that funny math, or perhaps they are grading us down because of a lack of picks at WR, DB or safety. I don't know. Anyway, we've probably heard it all before, but here go a few excerpts. 

 

 

 

It is very hard to find defensive tackles who are good pass-rushers and Short has proven ability to get after the quarterback. He is very quick off the snap to fire by guards and gain leverage. The 6-foot-3, 308-pounder has good closing speed with the strength to shed blocks. He looked excellent at the Senior Bowl going against good competition. 

Short is a perfect fit as the Panthers' three-technique defensive tackle with Lotulelei taking on nose tackle duties. Carolina has good defensive ends, so the tackles should see plenty of good pass-rushing opportunities. Short may fall short of being one of the elite defensive tackles in the NFL, but he looks like a perfect complement to the Panthers' other defensive linemen. I think Short will turn into a quality starter.

 

 

 

"Short may fall short..." How creative...Anyway, I think that it's way too early to say that the obviously talented Short may fall short of being elite, especially with all that talent surrounding him.

 

 

It is tough to say a fourth-round pick is a bust, but there are always good players who go in the fourth round every year. I think Gettleman did an outstanding job in his first year running Carolina's draft, but this was the pick I found the most questionable...The Panthers selected him much higher than expected... It can be tough for small school players to make the jump to the NFL, so of all of Carolina's picks, I think Kugbila is the most likely to be a bust.

 

 

Perhaps. The jury is still out. I had to remind myself that this is in comparison to all the other players that we drafted, and doesn't mean that they necessarily think Kugbila will bust.

 

 

The Panthers were very fortunate that Lotulelei fell to their pick. There were teams in the top five that loved him, and if there were smarter teams drafting in the top 10, he probably wouldn't have gotten close to Carolina. Lotulelei is a difference-maker on the inside of the defensive line...Lotulelei has a rare combination of size, power, speed and explosion. He can beat blockers with strength or quickness. Lotulelei is dominant when he isn't double-teamed and remains effective while taking on two blockers...

The team's solid pass-rushing ends, Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy, should result in Lotulelei seeing some good looks to get after the quarterback. I wouldn't be surprised if the rookie ends up being a boom pick for Carolina and one of the better defensive tackles in the NFC.

 

 

More love for Lotulelei. Sickening isn't it...? In any other situation, that is.  Looks like Star has the perfect name if you buy into all the hoopla.  I am all in. Bring on the Starlite Kool-Aid,

 

 

If the Panthers move on from Williams or Stewart, Barner should be a solid backup running back who can excel in third-down duties. He brings a speed element to Carolina's backfield and could be a nice weapon on spread-option plays if those remain in the Panthers' playbook. 

Barner was a quality pick in the sixth round as he could have gone much earlier. The rookie looks like a safe late-round pick with the ability to make a roster and develop into a solid depth player.

 

 

 

Our secret weapon, scatback, and/or back-up RB.  It is very interesting to see what type of role and/or impact that Barner will have his rookie year. Perhaps that will tell the story of his ultimate role in the NFL. Here's to hoping he is the next coming of Priest Holmes, the Hyphen, Darren Sproles all rolled up into one while meeting Tavon Austin-esque expectations.

 

 

A.J. Klein was conspicuously missing from Walter Football's review other than the following (in its totality):

I thought A.J. Klein would be a fourth-rounder, so this is a nice value selection. Klein won't project as a starter, but he'll provide depth for a Carolina team that wasn't very deep at linebacker.

 

Klein appears to be quite literally an afterthought.  Of course Klein isn't projected to be a starter right away, but he's a nice insurance policy for the continuity of quality in the future. In reference to the pick, the site gave him a B grade.

 

Walter Football also gives Star an A, Short a B+, and Barner a B, while giving G-man a little praise for his freshmen effort controlling the reins. To me it's not bad, but they still gave us a C+ overall. Confusing, huh? I guess you could say they have a love-hate relationship with the current status of the team.  Here's to "shock and awe" (and "candy and flowers") once the season starts.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

C+ bc of the Kug pick and that we had no 3rd round in of course a strong as heck third round draft.

Killing it on the third round pick and maybe getting Kug later could be the difference from an A to C+

[frash.exe]

Walter football analysis

 

[MHS831]

After Star, every pick was rather shocking.  Short, a DT in the second after drafting the best DT in the draft in round 1; Kugbila, a player we knew we brought in but I thought he was setting up Undrafted free agent contacts; Klein, a LB when we already have 3 former first rounders at LB and needs at WR and DB; and Barner, a running back to play behind Stewart, Williams, and Tolbert.  It really made no sense when it happened. I wanted Hurney back for a second, but then I slapped myself and pulled it together.

 

As the draft sank in, I started seeing the brilliance behind it. 

 

Short--Star is a Nose tackle.  Short is an undertackle.  Different players at different positions.  Star will start, Short will rotate in.  Yes, we focused on the interior defensive line in the draft when we had needs at WR and DB, but solidifying the middle in 2 days made our run defense better and our (already good) DEs very good.  Improving the DTs not only makes the DEs better (something that will make our DBs better), but it also makes the LBs better.  In other words--Star and Short have a much bigger impact on this team because they make everyone else on the Defense better.  A WR's difference is not as dramatic.

 

On day 3, this is where Gettlemen used his vision. 

 

A fourth round WR?  We have a roster full of them.  A fourth round DB?  Again, roster is full of them (Thomas, Munnerlyn, Norman, Dockery, Lester, Campbell, were all drafted after the fourth round).  A fourth round OG?  We have a 31-year old converted center at RG.  But why Kugbila?  Our coaches loved him and he was a hidden gem.  On day 3, we are not drafting for immediate starters any longer.  So you take the kid with the upside.  

 

Klein is depth at all 3 LB spots and will play special teams.  He dropped because he was considered a 2-down LB, but I am not sure about that.  Regardless, if he is limited, he is depth and could compete in 2014, because I am not sure both Beason and Davis will be here--too many question marks.  He has starting ability.  I have to think the plan is to shop Beason after 2013; regardless, Blackburn's deal is only 1 year.

 

Our situation at RB is a lot like it is at LB.  We have an aging RB (31) and one with chronic injuries.  While we look good on paper, maybe not.  I am fairly certain one will be gone in 2014, but it is possible 2 will be gone.  Barner could contribute as a scat back right away, and a special teamer.  Regardless, his role should be significant for a sixth rounder and that role could grow.

 

If you get past thinking that the draft, where raw and developing players sign 4-year contracts, is to fill 2013 needs, you can see the plan.  Gettlemen is filling immediate needs with 1-year deals while drafting youth behind them to develop slowly.  How many players did we draft and start too soon, causing them to bust?  Who knows.  Maybe Clausen would be decent if he sat behind a good QB for a few years.  Maybe Norman would have benefited by sitting in 2012--notice that he said his benching helped him?  What about Joe Adams and the muffed punts?  Was he fundamentally sound or a raw rookie? 

 

Who knows, but I am one for developing raw and developmental players.  I am also an advocate of drafting on day three for quality depth, not to fill holes.

 

[Catweisers]

The front seven Let Them be" Magnificent  Seven" is going to make every QB a scrambling QB.  No one throws on run as well as they do in pocket with a little time.  Not going to happen, we run them all over place and got rotational guys to do same thing play after play.  Big O lineman gets tired out real fast and D gives ball to Cam and Co. 

All this running make our safties kinda like out fielders, by the time season over with we will have some fine safties!!!

 

Gooooo Panthers

[frash.exe]

FWIW I thought our draft was really good, and we got some potentially big contributors in nearly every round that will improve our team, but I'm not sure if I'm being positive enough... perhaps I should be huffing spray paint and getting our draft picks' names tattooed on my genitals just to show how much of a surefire express route to a baker's dozen of superbowls I think this is.

[TheRumGone]

After Star, every pick was rather shocking.  Short, a DT in the second after drafting the best DT in the draft in round 1; Kugbila, a player we knew we brought in but I thought he was setting up Undrafted free agent contacts; Klein, a LB when we already have 3 former first rounders at LB and needs at WR and DB; and Barner, a running back to play behind Stewart, Williams, and Tolbert.  It really made no sense when it happened. I wanted Hurney back for a second, but then I slapped myself and pulled it together.

 

As the draft sank in, I started seeing the brilliance behind it. 

 

Short--Star is a Nose tackle.  Short is an undertackle.  Different players at different positions.  Star will start, Short will rotate in.  Yes, we focused on the interior defensive line in the draft when we had needs at WR and DB, but solidifying the middle in 2 days made our run defense better and our (already good) DEs very good.  Improving the DTs not only makes the DEs better (something that will make our DBs better), but it also makes the LBs better.  In other words--Star and Short have a much bigger impact on this team because they make everyone else on the Defense better.  A WR's difference is not as dramatic.

 

On day 3, this is where Gettlemen used his vision. 

 

A fourth round WR?  We have a roster full of them.  A fourth round DB?  Again, roster is full of them (Thomas, Munnerlyn, Norman, Dockery, Lester, Campbell, were all drafted after the fourth round).  A fourth round OG?  We have a 31-year old converted center at RG.  But why Kugbila?  Our coaches loved him and he was a hidden gem.  On day 3, we are not drafting for immediate starters any longer.  So you take the kid with the upside.  

 

Klein is depth at all 3 LB spots and will play special teams.  He dropped because he was considered a 2-down LB, but I am not sure about that.  Regardless, if he is limited, he is depth and could compete in 2014, because I am not sure both Beason and Davis will be here--too many question marks.  He has starting ability.  I have to think the plan is to shop Beason after 2013; regardless, Blackburn's deal is only 1 year.

 

Our situation at RB is a lot like it is at LB.  We have an aging RB (31) and one with chronic injuries.  While we look good on paper, maybe not.  I am fairly certain one will be gone in 2014, but it is possible 2 will be gone.  Barner could contribute as a scat back right away, and a special teamer.  Regardless, his role should be significant for a sixth rounder and that role could grow.

 

If you get past thinking that the draft, where raw and developing players sign 4-year contracts, is to fill 2013 needs, you can see the plan.  Gettlemen is filling immediate needs with 1-year deals while drafting youth behind them to develop slowly.  How many players did we draft and start too soon, causing them to bust?  Who knows.  Maybe Clausen would be decent if he sat behind a good QB for a few years.  Maybe Norman would have benefited by sitting in 2012--notice that he said his benching helped him?  What about Joe Adams and the muffed punts?  Was he fundamentally sound or a raw rookie? 

 

Who knows, but I am one for developing raw and developmental players.  I am also an advocate of drafting on day three for quality depth, not to fill holes.

 

i agree completely but slight mistake. Blackburn signed a two year deal i believe. Gives Klein more time to develop. I like the guy. Don't think he'll be a superstar, just a James Anderson-type player on the cheap.  James was mostly reliable.

 

 

[lovelett]

I think we got good value, and I agree we do not need another Joe Adams or AE, they qre just knocking us because of our presssing needs at WR and DB. If we did not pick a DT they would knock us because of that.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

okay neat. I was over the draft the day after it happened. Ughh I wish the season would get here

[MHS831]

i agree completely but slight mistake. Blackburn signed a two year deal i believe. Gives Klein more time to develop. I like the guy. Don't think he'll be a superstar, just a James Anderson-type player on the cheap.  James was mostly reliable.

You could have won some money from me.  I thought Dwan Edwards was the only 2 year deal.  I stand corrected--I like the move even more.  Thanks for reading the long-winded response.  It is therapeutic during the offseason.

[MHS831]

okay neat. I was over the draft the day after it happened. Ughh I wish the season would get here

You are right.  A draft analysis 2 months after the draft makes no sense-they still know nothing.   However, I would rather talk about the draft than whether or not a twitter pic of Greg hardy is in the nude or how we need a Panther logo on the 50.

[MHS831]

I think we got good value, and I agree we do not need another Joe Adams or AE, they qre just knocking us because of our presssing needs at WR and DB. If we did not pick a DT they would knock us because of that.I

I think the DBs will be OK---not great, but OK.  If our front seven plays lights out, that should be good enough for now.

 

Here is what I see forming:

 

The defense is getting elite and the offense is going to be average.  The offense will run the ball more, and Cam will make enough plays to help win.

 

Next year, nearly every WR not named SMith is a free agent.  I look to see us address that position as the priority, along with OT and second TE.   Depending on the secondary, we could be set.

[Captain Morgan]

I loved our draft.  I had targeted Short after the Senior bowl regardless of who we took in

the first.

 

Kug's the only question mark, but a decent pick in the 4th.  That is one big ol' 

Abdullah the Butcher looking mofo....at the least, he's going to scare off blitzing DBs and LBs

who do not want to be mistaken for a snack..