Thoughts from Panthers Fans?

by Hail2DaChiefs on Mar 12, 2010 7:34 AM EST Comment 17 comments

What's up everyone! I'm a big-time Chiefs fan living in uptown Charlotte for the past two years, and I wanted to introduce myself to you all. Although my #1 is Kansas City, I've definitely become a fan of the Panthers over the years seeing as how my family is originally from South Carolina. I live down the street from BOA Stadium and attend all the home games! Here's to hoping the Panthers have a better start to the season (props to Matt Moore for coming in and helping the team to a good finish last season)

So the members of Arrowhead Pride have all signed up to be GM's in a mock draft starting next week, and I've volunteered to represent the Panthers in the draft. I chose the picture of Stewart and Williams above, because I am a huge fan of Carolina's running attack. This RB tandem is the best in the NFL no question about it. That's one position this team shouldn't have to worry about for years to come, so I guess my question is: where do we go from here to getting the team back on track to being a perennial playoff contender starting with next season?

I'd like to generate a little discussion and get caught up with everyone's opinions on the state of the franchise and who they would like to see taken with the 2nd round pick in the upcoming draft.

My questions to you:

1. Who was your favorite player this season?

2. Who do you predict to be the most improved player on the roster?

3. What are your feelings about Matt Moore possibly being the starting QB next season?

4. Top five team needs coming into the draft and why?

5. What FA would have the most impact on the Panthers next year?

6. Who should I select in my mock draft with the 2nd round pick and why?

I'm noticing the makings of a youth movement going on around here lately with all the cuts to the roster this past week. I'm excited to see where the Panthers organization is headed with the infusion of some talent from this year's draft (which is shaping up to be loaded with mid-round talent).

Thanks for reading.

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Comments

Good evening Hail! Welcome to our blog! :D

That’s a pretty big project you guys got going over all 32 teams! Good luck to you! Make sure you support our Panthers well! :D

As for the questions

1. I’d have to say Chris Harris, no questions asked. When a player will get on the internet with you and blog with you, that’s a really special thing for fans like us. Plus he puts people on the ground faster than you can blink. Best hitter on our team in the secondary, he loves catching WR’s when the QB leaves them out to dry.

2. Most improved player has to be Matt Moore. That’s on the offensive side of the ball. To take a 4-7 team and sneak them back up to 8-8? That says wonders about the future he has with this franchise. Which leads me to 3.

3. There’s a air of restrained optimism around Carolina. We love what Matt Moore brings to the table. He’s an highly accurate QB with an above-average arm, and he’s at his best when he can escape the pocket and throw on the move. It’ll definitely be a change of pace after Jake Delhomme and his pocket passing for a good 7 years. On one end, we’re a little concerned that he’s only had 5 games to prove himself. On the other, we’re extremely excited to see what he can do over the course of 16 games.

4. WR, KR, DT, DE, and K

WR is pretty obvious. Besides Steve Smith, we don’t have another good receiver on the roster. Dwayne Jarrett had a good final game last year, but otherwise he’s been a severe letdown. We have to get a good playmaker at WR position that can contribute on Day 1. Possibly a fast sprinter that can be the eventual replacement for Steve Smith.

KR is another obvious one. We didn’t have one guy last year that knew how to hold onto the football. We were literally calling fair catches in order to make it clear to our guys to catch it, not drop it. If we asked them to return it, the ball would bounce on the ground and the returner would look like an idiot. Not going there at all.

DT is a position of need because of the recent cut of both of our starters. The Panthers have decided to go young at the position, cutting all 3 starters in Kemo, Hollis, and Damione Lewis. They are left with players like Louis Leonard, Nick Hayden, the Tank, and that young rookie whose name escapes me to carry on with the 2010 season, and some of them are about as injury prone as you can get. This is another need where it would be nice to find a young rookie in the draft that could potentially start on a team.

DE is another need created by both starters Tyler Brayton and Julius Peppers leaving here, but it’s not as big of a deal as everyone thinks it is. We have Everette Brown and Charles Johnson, the former a potential stud if he’s worked on his strength in the off-season. But it’s time to reload at that position and grab a little bit of depth, the Panthers should look to grab a young project in the later rounds of the NFL Draft.

Finally, Kicker. I had to struggle with this last one, because the Panthers don’t really have any other issues so they’d just build their depth. In reality though, John Kasey is getting older. He’s losing the power in his leg, while he’s still accurate he can’t hit anything past 50 yards. In kickoffs he was terrible, he only hit 2 in the endzone all year the last time he kicked in 2007-8. I can’t imagine that it’s gotten any better with age. While Kasey is a good player, the only original panther still on our squad, it’s time for the Panthers to find someone who can at least be a kickoff specialist, if not the long-term answer.

5. The Panthers haven’t really taken any free agents yet. Haha. It would have been great if we had landed someone like Antonio Bryant, Anquan Boldin, or someone along those lines. Someone that could have been a legit #2 guy to pair beside Steve Smith. But alas, we didn’t pull the trigger. Upside down happy face.

6. You should select Jacoby Ford with the 2nd pick in the NFL Draft, unless he is projected to go in the later rounds. He’s a speedy receiver that can be the successor for Steve Smith, and he is a Clemson Tiger. That is all that needs to be said.

"Once again the trousers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Mar 12, 2010 8:15 AM EST reply actions 4 recs

This, except take Mardy Gilyard instead of Jacoby Ford

Don’t let Rev’s Clemson loyalties cloud your judgment (LOL j/k).

As long as the Panthers don't trade for Michael Vick, sign Derek Anderson, or draft Tim Tebow; my sanity (what's left of it, at least) will remain intact for 2010.

My Panthers Blog
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by bwsmith25 on Mar 12, 2010 9:37 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with Rev

Except for Ford in the 2nd. He could be had in the 3rd. My rankings would go.
2nd Golden Tate, Mardy Gilyard and Brandon Lafell if none of them are available take a DE/DT
3rd Take a DE here unless you take one in the 2nd. If you take a WR here take Jacoby Ford or Andre Roberts.

This sig is dedicated to those cut in the 2009 purge.

by chinchillas sword on Mar 12, 2010 12:43 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah Rev

I go to Clemson games pretty often, and I enjoyed watching Ford single-handedly change games last year. I agree Steve Smith needs some help out there. Jacoby Ford was one of the players I thought the Panthers would definitely target in the 2nd. I appreciate the in-depth response………rec’d!

by Hail2DaChiefs on Mar 12, 2010 5:09 PM EST up reply actions

I like Ford

But I think we should draft like this.
2nd WR preferably Golden Tate or Lafell but Gilyard would be a nice prize also if Weatherspoon is here GET HIM!!!!!!!!!
3rd If a good DE is here then pull the trigger if not get Ford for return spec and WR Ford is also a hometown guy.
4th If LT Jason Fox is here I’d love to get him but he most likely won’t be. So most likely a LB.
6th 6th ATH Armanti Edwards love the guy and is a hometown guy.:)
Comp. 6th DE CJ Wilson he’d help in rotation and is a hometown guy.
7th CB Crezdon Butler he’s a great athlete who needs development. Was a former 2nd round lock.

This sig is dedicated to those cut in the 2009 purge.

by chinchillas sword on Mar 13, 2010 5:26 AM EST up reply actions

Crezdon

is definitely a good athlete and very much under the radar at this point.

by Hail2DaChiefs on Mar 16, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

PS: The only player we've got out of FA is Wallice Wright

He’s a pretty decent special teamer though, from what I’m hearing out of New York.

"Once again the trousers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Mar 12, 2010 8:39 AM EST reply actions

This, except my #4 and #6 are a bit different

#4: DE, DT, WR, KR
#6: Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU. I want pass-rushing bookends for the next 5-10 years in Brown and Hughes. As of this moment we do not have a serviceable 3rd DE, which is bad—one injury there, and we cannot field a defense (I don’t think Hilee Taylor is the answer).

Do or do not. There is no try.

by ERL on Mar 12, 2010 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

Welcome!

1. Jonathan Stewart – the man came in a ran over anyone in his way including a 200 yarder against the Giants.

2. Dwayne Jarrett – I think this is his year, he has all the size and ability in the world, he just needs to put it together on the field.

3. Excitement – I was excited when we finally put him in last year and only got more excited as each week progressed seeing him dominate some pretty good teams.

4. 1 – Defensive Line – We lost our top 5 players on the depth chart this offseason…
     2 – Wide Receiver – It’s no secret that Steve Smith is lacking a solid compliment, I hope it’s Dwayne Jarrett but if it isn’t we can’t risk not having another option
     3 – Quarterback – I’m pretty confident in Matt Moore but we need a solid backup…
     4 – Linebacker – With the loss of Na’il Diggs, we have the parts there in our starting lineup hopefully in Dan Connor. But I think we saw last year you can never have too few linebackers because of injuries.
     5 – Kicker – Rhys Lloyd was great at putting it in the endzone, and Kasay’s foot is clearly getting weaker, Baker wasn’t a spectacular KOS, so it will be interesting to see what we do…

5. Good question…we haven’t taken any

6. Last week I would have told you WR, but now i think our D-line is in glaring need of depth and talent. So I’d take either the Best DE available or the best DT available.

by SouthernPanther on Mar 12, 2010 12:32 PM EST reply actions

SP

Thanks for the answers………..Jonathan Stewart is the man right! I’ve met him out uptown a couple of times, and he’s a nice guy.

by Hail2DaChiefs on Mar 12, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

:)

1. Jonathan Stewart, monster runner, ran over EVERYONE

2. Matt Moore, tbh some of his throws were risky and wobbly, but he’ll get that fixed in the offseason

3. Great. He could be the Panthers next franchise QB, still think we should draft Tony Pike though

4.
Wide Reciever- Steve Smith is our only Reliable Reciever

Defensive End- Restructure of the whole D-Line

Quarterback- Someone to back up Moore, Tony Pike maybe? :)

Special Teamer/ Kick Returner- Horrible ST coverage and returns, and a we need a kickoff specialist

WR- Again

5. Nobody, we took Free Agents for depth

6. Jacoby Ford 2nd Round, Tony Pike 3rd

by RaWrASaUrUs on Mar 12, 2010 5:02 PM EST reply actions

Lets see...

1. Who was your favorite player this season?
I’d have to say J. Stew.. The man is a beast with the talent to be one of the best running backs the NFL has ever seen.

2. Who do you predict to be the most improved player on the roster?
While I don’t know if it could actually be considered “improvement”, I do believe Moore is going to be our “break-out” player next year. Behind him I believe Brown is going to show his true talent.

3. What are your feelings about Matt Moore possibly being the starting QB next season?
There’s nothing to support any notion other than he’ll do great. He played great during his short time as the starter last year and there’s nothing beyond a cynical mind to say that that would change.

4. Top five team needs coming into the draft and why?
I’ll just list my “preferred” draft order…WR, OLB, DE, DT, KR… I think most of them are self explanatory, except for linebacker.. I just want Eric Norwood.

5. What FA would have the most impact on the Panthers next year?
That’s tough.. Umm, can we just take Hoover back?

6. Who should I select in my mock draft with the 2nd round pick and why?
I like Taylor Price for his size & speed but I seem to be the only one. Looks like he could be had in the third now, though. Surprise me in the second haha.

by D-Ranged1 on Mar 13, 2010 1:35 AM EST reply actions

My favorite player would definitely have to have been Harris

Besides being a safety, which is one of my favorite positions, he was a leader and gamechanger on defense. I also like Smith, Williams, and Moore, for giving me hope on offense. :D

I think Brown is going to surprise some people this year, he had some nice pass rushing moves last year. Jarret is also going to become a good split end threat. He catches every ball thrown to him, and he looks to finally have gotten it.

I think Moore is going to be great. 20 or so scores, under ten INT’s. The run game will do most of the damage.

We need, in this order, WR, DE, KR, DT, and BPA. WR we need either a solid target for the slot, or a scoring threat across from Smith. We also need a solid rotational DE. A KR to give us good field position is also a necessity. DT’s who can provide an inside pass rush, like Atkins or Alualu, would also be nice. Apart from that, BPA at CB, LB, QB, and OL is good.

Most FA’s will be lower quality, bargain bin FA’s, or none for that matter. Richardson seems to be in a cost-cutting mode.

Depending on who’s available, I would say Tate, Gilyard, Alualu, or LaFell.

Jake Delhomme, QB Carolina Panthers, 2003-2009.

120 TDs+16000+ passing yards=Good

89 INT's+27 lost fumbles=Bad

Most comeback wins since 2003=Priceless

by Flowing Willow on Mar 13, 2010 4:27 AM EST reply actions

My Answers

1. Jon Beason
2. Everette Brown
3. Vast improvement over Delhomme. Has potential and decision making to be a very good NFL QB for years.
4. WR DL LB OL QB WR. This should be the order for the 2010 draft. Opening up the offense and getting Smith off double and triple teams is paramount. Which of course will allow DW3 and Stewart to run rampant. DL and LB depth is next.
5. The only logical answer would be Anquan Boldin
6. Since we didnt get Boldin, or Bryant, Demaryius Thomas is the best available in round 2.
2– Demaryius Thomas WR: Alternates: Terrance Cody/Corey Woolton

3– Lemarr Houston DE/DT- Alternates: Taylor Price/Mardy Gilyard;.

4– Dekoda Watson LB – Alternate: Donald Butler

6 – Kevin Haslam OT/OG

7- Sean Canfield QB

Comp- Marcus Easley.

by Sniff on Mar 15, 2010 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

Good post

1. Who was your favorite player this season?
Jon Beason. I love his leadership, playmaking ability and competitive fire.

2. Who do you predict to be the most improved player on the roster?
Dwayne Jarrett by default. It is looking like he will be our #2, in which case he has no where to go but up. Right?

3. What are your feelings about Matt Moore possibly being the starting QB next season?
Cautiously optimistic. He went 4-1 with 8 TD’s and 1 INT last year. I do not think he will go 13-3 with 26 TD’s and 3 INT’s next year (his pro-rated stats). Two big reasons why: 1. The pressure is much at the beginning of the year with expectations than when we were all but out of the playoffs last year when he came in. 2. Teams will have more film on him and be focusing/game planning for him. With that said I think he will be a very good QB in our offense. Amazing running game, great O-line, explosive and dynamic Smitty, patient defensive minded coaching, and Moore making GOOD DECISIONS i.e. limiting turnovers.

4. Top five team needs coming into the draft and why?
In order, DE, WR, LB, DT, QB. Johnson and Brown are the only guys with legit playing time at DE (I have little confidence Hillee Taylor can be productive in a larger role). Smitty is only threat, Jarrett is unproven, Kenny Moore is at best a 3rd WR and thats pretty much it. Maybe WR Dexter Jackson can step up and be a productive player. LB is a position needed for special teams and our depth has grown thin after recent cuts. I do like our top 4 guys (Beason, Davis, Conner, and Anderson) provided Davis is healthy. DT is key due to our scheme in rotating guys in and out. I personally like our top 3 guys (Leonard, Tyler, and Corvey Irvin), but I am not crazy about Hayden and Ed Johnson. A young QB with potential would be nice for our depth.

5. What FA would have the most impact on the Panthers next year?
Who’s left? How about Tyler Brayton? I think he is a 1st class guy and a solid football player. He just had his 2 best years of his career after leaving the Raiders who are famous for destroying talent. By the way Brayton was a 1st round pick.

6. Who should I select in my mock draft with the 2nd round pick and why?
If available, in order: DE Brandon Graham, DE Everson Griffen, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DT Brian Price, WR Golden Tate, DE Jerry Hughes, WR Demaryius Thomas, DE Corey Wooten, WR Damian Williams, WR Arrelious Benn. I like Jacoby Ford ad Mardy Gilyard for their receiving skills and ability to return kicks, but I see there “value” as being late 2nd or 3rd round.

- I liked the format D-Ranged1

Will Parker

by WillParker81 on Mar 16, 2010 1:08 AM EDT reply actions

Good break-down man!

I really want to see improvement from the other wide-outs, because it’s painful to watch Steve Smith double-teamed all the time. Imagine if he had a legit threat to help stretch the secondary….

by Hail2DaChiefs on Mar 16, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions