Panthers Round 5 Draft Pick: Duke Robinson OT
by Revshawn on May 6, 2009 1:58 AM EDT
in NFL Draft
16 comments
It's always interesting to see how a draft ranked C and D all over various sites can be grades simply because of a single trade. Meanwhile, the Panthers catch fallers in all positions including this latest player Duke Robinson whom was taken all the way down in the 5th round.
Let me take you guys back a bit. It's in the 4th round of the NFL Draft. We had our own little draft board of guards and tackles at the start of the 4th round waiting for our next pick. All of the sudden we're on the board. Robinson is available. Then we're all wondering what the heck happened as the Panthers select fullback Tony Fiammetta in the 4th round.
We're upset for a few seconds, but it quickly passes over as we do research and figure out that he was one of, if not the best fullback in the draft: A worthy successor to Brad Hoover. As if a act of divine providence, Robinson continues to fall and the Panthers land him at pick #163 in the 5th round. He's a road grader that will be able to take a starting position within the next few years. He is an absolute steal in the 5th round.
Upside: A
There is no other grade you can possibly give when you take a player this good this late in the 5th round. He has all the tools to physically dominate his opponent to provide the RB lanes in the running game. He's a big, massive player with the ability to engulf and put away the average DT in this league. He has good quickness off the snap, long arms to keep the defender from pulling away easy. He plays just as well in the passing game as well. He has developed a good first punch to give his opponent a shock coming onto the play, and if they're stunned or don't commit to the rush they're usually wrapped up and defeated.
Downside: A
Needs to learn to be on the move a little more with a smaller, faster DT. Spends too much time on the ground. If he does not get the initial slowdown with his first punch on passing downs, he struggles to adjust through the rest of the play.
Fit: A
The Panthers lost nearly all of their OL depth during the offseason when Jeremy Bridges, Geoff Hangartner, and Frank Omiyale all signing with other teams. We clearly needed depth, and this rookie performs that and gives us a future starter. I'll bet that he eventually takes over for Keydrick Vincent when he's done in Carolina. It would make perfect sense.
In the end, we just have a good player that fell far beyond his value. I can't believe he fell this far in the draft. We'll be sure to give him a happy home here in Carolina.
OG Duke Robinson Highlights Oklahoma 2008 (via DraftParty)
0 recs |
16 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Look back at the draft day boards
I was yelling Duke at the end of round 2 for what we should do next day, on the day 2 boards I was yelling Duke in the third round, and once we picked up Tony I thought we missed the boat on Duke. The Panthers Draft Room heard me and answered my prayers. I knew he was a Panther the whole time! Called it so well that weekend.
Watching the youtube film there are a few things he needs to work on.
1st – he needs to clean up his foot work. He tends to take bigger steps. He needs to take smaller quicker steps. This will help with change of direction and when he moves laterally once he is locked onto a defender. It will also help with his overall since of balance and help reduce the chance of injury to the lower extremity.
2nd – he would benefit from bending his knees and dropping his hips a little. He is a big, strong, and physically imposing guy and in college he could get away with that. Guys in the NFL will be able to get under him and drive him back or rip through if this is not cleaned up.
3rd – on two plays he did not “play to the whistle”, but stood up and watched the play. These were plays that went to the opposite side of the field and he was not going to get back into the play. At the same time, I saw him drive guys into the ground or nail a guy that was getting back up when he was on the ground. So this is just a bit of a preference as far as mentality (road grader – I’m gonna hammer you every play all game) that he seems to have some of but needs to keep through every play.
I also see many great things that he will be able to contribute to the team and agree with the grades above for upside, downside, and fit.
Will Parker
Downside: A?
Don’t know if I understand your grading scale, but how can his downside be an A? Does that mean there is no downside? Don’t see how that’s possible for a guy that slipped to the 5th round. I love Duke Robinson as much as the next Panther fan, but that grading seems a little bias.
As far as the oline goes, is anyone else as confused as I am about Cadogan playing RT during mini-camp? I’m not sold on Wharton being our backup LT. I would much rather have the starters stick to their position. If moving him to LT gives us the best chance to win, then so be it. But I don’t think that’s saying too much about our line depth.
Yeah, I would put downside at C
He fell for a reason and that is he has had trouble controlling his weight. Once he gets his money there is the risk of him getting ‘lavish’ in his eating habits. That’s the only negative though. Duke will look at the money the slide cost him and realize he will have to keep his weight done to make the big bucks. Do that and he will be a starter soon enough.
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I don't mind Wharton backing up LT
I would prefer the experienced guy protecting the blindside given how young the remaining depth is. Less risk plugging a rook into a guard spot of injuries crop up.
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
I concur...
Wharton always got a tough rap as and LT for some reason when he always played capably there, even coming off a torn up knee.
by MichaelProcton on May 6, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I know Wharton has experience...
and I’m not question his ability to play LT. I’m just wondering what the difference might be between Wharton who practices at LG, and a guy like Cadogan who can practice at backup LT from day one in training camp. Same line of thinking as last year. Omiyale played LT while Wharton stayed at LG. I like that philosophy and since the Panthers did it last year, I thought they would this year too. I don’t think switching from LG to LT then back to LG would be good for Wharton (or any starter switching positions). But I’ve never played oline before, so I wouldn’t know for sure. From our list of backups, I thought Cadogan had the best resume to backup Gross. I’m surprised he wasn’t in mini-camp.
Downside as an A because,
he was taken in the 5th round. Having a player to mold with his tools taken in the 5th round where guys typically are nothing more than career backups equals little to no downside. If he was taken in the 3rd round, then that would change his downside grade. Make sense?
Will Parker
by WillParker81 on May 6, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions
You got it.
That’s the reason I had his downside at A on this report. Typically in the 5th round you’re looking for career backups or someone that has a lot of potential but didn’t show he had the skill for football in college. For this draft for whatever reason he fell to the 5th round. I can understand the weight problem, and I can envision that his draft stock slid because he was unable to participate in the combine all that much.
All the same, I consider him a steal in the 5th round. A starting-caliber guard is not supposed to fall this far. That’s why I gave him an A. When you compare his talent with the other players in the 5th round, what he can give to the team outweighs the worries about him as a player by far.
"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
Weird approach...
And I think some concerns were glossed over. The guy was never great in pass pro, and his footwork needs plenty of work, not just a little bit. Those in addition to the fact that our coaches might need to stay on him in the event he doesn’t really love football are all concerns.
by MichaelProcton on May 6, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Let me explain it this way.
Let’s say I was grading the Raiders first round pick. Of course I’d be very upset because they passed on Michael Crabtree and picked a player that was supposed to go WELL before his point, so I would probably give him a F in all areas except for fit, where I would give him a D because they did need a wideout.
If he was picked later, say the 4th, 5th, or 6th rounds my grades would naturally go up because of his raw talent and fast 40 time that the team could develop and perhaps turn him into a capable football player.
Also, I haven’t read anywhere that he doesn’t like football. Think you could throw me a link on where you read or heard that?
"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
Loo.ks like luck was on your side...
“The jury is out on Robinson, as he does not have major off-field issues, but is the type that needs to be monitored. Suspended for part of the 2008 Texas Christian game due to a team rules violation. You just wonder if a big contract will make him stay hungry and if he will mature on and off the field. Had temper issues on the field and those personal foul penalties have proven costly.”
—TSX
“Unfortunately, the biggest concerns for Duke Robinson regard concentration, consistency, and the ability to keep a cool head on the field. False starts, personal fouls, and generally showing inconsistent effort on the field will not impress Colts scouts or the front office. A player can have all the athletic ability in the world but if he doesn’t do what it takes to make effective use of it, he won’t be able to excel in the NFL or have a long career on any team.”
by MichaelProcton on May 6, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I had known about the issues with motivation and all but I had not heard exactly he had problems with pass protection, other than the fact he played in a system at Oklahoma where he was known mostly as a run blocker. I don’t think he will have too many problems in pass protection and I had not heard anything about his footwork either needing plenty of work.
I think we can gloss over some issues when you get a guy who was a 3rd round value in the fifth round. He is not being asked to start this year (hopefully) so I still feel good about this pick.
The point is
he was taken in the 5th round. Even 1st round OLmen need work. There is very little risk, given that he is a developmental guy that does not need to start yet if at all and has a very low cap number.
Will Parker
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Cat Scratch Reader
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
