A Surprise 1st Pick For Panthers

by PanthersRoar on Dec 27, 2011 1:22 AM EST

ESPN now has the Panthers with the 9th pick in the 2012 draft, and if they should beat the Saints Sunday, then they might even go higher, maybe around 12th. This might mean that several of the players we've dreamed of drafting may now be out of reach (OT Matt Kalil, WR Justin Blackmon, CB Morris Claiborne), gone before the Panthers pick. This means that several players who the Panthers probably wouldn't have considered drafting at around the 5th pick, are suddenly in play for the Panthers pick at around 5-12 (OT Jonathan Martin, OT Riley Reiff, G David DeCastro, DT Devon Still, DE Quinton Coples, WLB Zach Brown, or CB Dre Kirkpatrick).

However, here is a surprise name for the Panthers 1st round pick, 4-3 DE/3-4 OLB Whitney Marcilius (6-4, 265, 4.65-40), a junior from Illinois, who's last name is pronounced Merc - i - less. He played against top compition in the Big 10, recording 52 tackles, 19.5 TFL's, 14.5 sacks, and 9 forced fumbles, leading the BCS in both sacks and forced fumbles this season. He's currently projected to go from the middle of the 1st round, to the top of the 2nd round, but unless his numbers come up short at the Combine, I believe his stat line will carry him up to arond where the Panthers will be drafting. This pick might be a longshot dark horse, but here's why I think he might interest the Panthers.

1. He's the top pass rusher in the draft, and the Panthers would like to improve their pass rush.

2. He fit's both a 4-3 defense as a DE, and a 3-4 defense as a pass rushing 3-4 OLB.

3. Think of the pass rush with him at DE, CJ at the other DE, and Hardy inside, or him blitzing as a 3-4 OLB, on the same side as CJ or Hardy.

4. If the Panthers also draft another big (330+ NT like Poe or Ta'amu) in the 2nd round, then the Panthers will be equally good in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense.

In other post I've suggested drafting a DT/DE like Jared Crick or Quinton Coples, to provide an inside pass rush at DT, and as the top backup DE behind CJ and Hardy. However, they are a little small for a DT at around 285 pounds, and the only 300 pound DT with a very good sack total (9.5 sacks this season) is Derek Wolfe. Well, it just hit me today, why draft a small DT in the hope his pass rush translates to the NFL, when DE Greg Hardy could fill that same roll (at least on passing downs, as he sometimes does now)? Hardy is only listed at 277 pounds, but that's only around 8 pounds less than Crick or Coples, 14 pounds less than rookie DT Terrell McClain, and I belive he could add that 8 pounds without losing any speed.

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He could be another aldon smith, 1 good year

of college production. Very raw but with proper coaching, he could be a beast. Seems to small to defend the run at the NFL level, which he can improve on it time.

by adam carter on Dec 27, 2011 1:37 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I think he fits best as a 3-4 OLB. (which we are not transitioning into)

I like him as a player. but not for us, not in the 1st any way. With Johnson and Hardy as starters and Applewhite and Kieser as backups I just really like our DE situation and don’t like the idea of drafting one early. My least favorite mock that I have seen had us taking Floyd at #10

by pcroadrage on Dec 27, 2011 3:20 AM EST reply actions

scratch that

the worst mock I have seen had us trading our 2nd round pick to move up 4 spots to get Jeffery

by pcroadrage on Dec 27, 2011 3:21 AM EST up reply actions

...

I saw that aswell….. the only way we trade up is for Kalil or Claiborne

I doesn’t matter how many times you tell people the Panthers don’t need a WR then they mock a WR to the Panthers any way…. smh

by rscott94 on Dec 27, 2011 3:36 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I also see people giving us Still in the top 10 a lot

but that doesnt bother me nearly as much

by pcroadrage on Dec 27, 2011 3:53 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah...

I still kinda bothers me if we’re going DT we should take one in the second (unless an amazing combine) I know the kid smokes a lot of weed but I would love it if Jenkins some how feel to the second

by rscott94 on Dec 27, 2011 4:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I would be fine with taking him in the 2nd

Good coaches can fix character issues. I also like Cliff Harris if he some how slips to the 4th

by pcroadrage on Dec 27, 2011 6:45 AM EST up reply actions

Rivera's last presser

was pretty clear that they won’t take a DT. Obviously, if it’s a great value at the pick or someone they really believe in they may pull the trigger but I don’t think it is going to happen. Rivera thinks the guys they have can be coached up. Edwards will be back, and then all 5 of the other guys (Fua, McClain, Neblett, Shirley, Kearse) were first or second year players in a new system without an offseason. Granted, the DT position was pretty rough this season but thinking about that makes me feel a lot better. In reality, if we only have 3/6 guys active on gamedays and it’s an open competition from now til August I feel really good about our situation. Competition brings out the best in people; let the competing begin.

"One step at a time"

by mcdonaldwr on Dec 29, 2011 8:13 AM EST up reply actions

That was so bad.

by tarheels24 on Dec 27, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

Do you believe that if a Jason Pierre-Paul prospect was available that you would pass him up?

The Giants took Paul while already having Tuck, Umenyiora and Kiwanuka at the DE’s. Now they have a guy they didn’t need and he has become a game changer when on the field, and he is way better than their other DE’s.

by jdough on Dec 27, 2011 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

He was taken in the 20s, right?

I think if Rivera and co spy a talent like that and have the creativity to use him they sure go for it.

The Giants have been excellent and scouting and developing D-linemen recently. They were obviously confident he’d be a great player for them. If we had the same confidence then I couldn’t criticise the pick.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 27, 2011 6:53 PM EST up reply actions

Pierre Paul was taken 15th overall in 2010.

Welcome to the Cam Cave

by jdough on Dec 27, 2011 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

If we had the same confidence then I couldn’t criticise the pick.

Well said, my thoughts exactly.

Welcome to the Cam Cave

by jdough on Dec 27, 2011 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

I think pushing Hardy inside is an interesting concept that might work.

During the last game, I saw Hardy get pushed inside on a few different occasions.

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Dec 27, 2011 12:29 PM EST reply actions

They do that because he's a good pass rusher.

Much like the Giants push their DEs inside on obvious passing downs. He wouldn’t hold up if he had to play as a DT full time though. He’s not big enough.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 27, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

I also think it would be a waste of his athletic ability and pass rushing talent to out in inside full time

by pcroadrage on Dec 27, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

Pretty much, It was only on 3rd down and longs.

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Dec 28, 2011 11:28 AM EST up reply actions

I've read some good things about Merciless, but haven't seen him play. I know one thing...

the Big-10 produces a lot of good o-linemen. Do you have any info about how he did against top competition?

I’m definitely on board with the concept. Not sure Applewhite will still be around, and getting a great pass rusher for passing downs (and kicking Hardy inside) makes a lot of sense; unless BAMF is convinced that Keiser is that guy.

So much to be done, and so few people willing to do it for me.

by Rick Bates on Dec 27, 2011 1:06 PM EST reply actions

You Can Watch Marcilus (Illinois) vs UCLA In The Fight Hunger Bowl Saturday

He had sacks in 10 of 12 games, and 1.5 sacks against Ohio States OT Mike Adams (a late 1st or early 2nd round pick.

by PanthersRoar on Dec 29, 2011 9:53 AM EST up reply actions

Drafting Mercilus in the top 15 would be a major reach

He lacks athleticism and speed. He’s also piss poor against the run

Panther Pride 'till I die.

by mangoes52 on Dec 27, 2011 4:17 PM EST reply actions

I'm really excited about the fact that the Panthers don't have any glaring holes going into the draft.

Rivera has done such a great job finding and developing some of these young players. This isn’t to say that we cannot improve in areas like DT, DE, CB and OL. I really like the idea of taking the absolute best player on the board when the pick rolls around.

DeCastro
Coples
Brown
Martin

What a luxury to have.

by jdough on Dec 27, 2011 6:39 PM EST reply actions

We have band aids over the holes at the moment.

We still need a disruptive force at DT and a starting LB at the bare minimum.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 27, 2011 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

agree but disagree.

I agree that the band aids are making us look better than we should but I think we should go CB/DT instead of LB. Beason will be back and Davis might be back. If Davis isn’t, I’d be comfortable with Senn in his spot especially if we grab a rotational LB late in the draft or during FA.

I see it this way:

Best case scenario we get Beason, and Davis back, healthy and productive. If we shore up CB and DT then our defense becomes top 15 maybe top 10. However, if we spend an early pick on LB, then that LB gets buried behind Beason, Anderson and Davis and either CB or DT continues to be a weak spot.

Worst case scenario Beason and Davis either don’t come back or are re-injured early. Again, if we shore up CB and DT we can still roll with the same LBs we have now and our defense still improves, but not as much.

Realistic scenario: Beason comes back. Davis doesn’t come back or comes back in a limited roll and becomes a rotational player. Even here, I think both CB and DT remain bigger needs than LB. LB would still be improved more by Beason’s return than by any other available means. Spending our picks and FA money on CB and DT have a better chance of making tangible improvements than getting a LB would.

by Floods on Dec 27, 2011 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

Yea Im def not for drafting a LB early

A guy we could look at for LB is NC States Terrell Manning. I have watched every single game he has played and he is a beast…always making a play. The guy is clutch and a good leader. The real knock against him is that he is undersized…but we have heard that before. He is going to go in the 3rd to 4th round range so we could possibly get him somewhere in there. I saw Ron Rivera at the Bowl game the other night so he might have had an eye on him.

by mlrupert on Dec 29, 2011 5:34 PM EST up reply actions

I Also Like Terrell Manning, But He Hasn't Entered The Draft Yet, & Probably Won't Unless He's certain Of A 2nd Or 3rd Round Pick

by PanthersRoar on Dec 30, 2011 7:30 AM EST up reply actions

I'm not counting on Davis coming back in any meaningful capacity and I want solid competition for Senn.

I don’t think there’s a DT worth our Top 10 pick. There’s plenty I’d take in the 2nd round, but with DT being a premium position I doubt they last.

I really, really like J. Jenkins in the first if we’re drafting a CB. I’d love Spence to fall to the 4th due to his height concerns – that’d quell my concerns about starting quality depth at WLB. I also really like Kuechly and M. Kendricks is someone that intrigues me too.

Not having that third round pick really shoots us in the foot when it comes to this draft. Although the ‘elite’ talent pool isn’t very deep there’s a TON of players I like in the 2nd and third rounds. I fear we’re going to have to overdraft someone in the 2nd round.

"Nah, you look like Elijah Wood." - danmerqury

by OldhamA on Dec 29, 2011 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

I agree that missing that 3rd rounder is gonna hurt

I don’t have the buyer’s remorse. Olsen was a good deal for a 3rd, but you hit the nail on the head with your assessment of the 2nd-3rd round talent in this draft.
Maybe we make a deal.

by Floods on Dec 29, 2011 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

PFF Reported Allowed 8 Of 8 Completions, For 98 Yards Last Week, With Almost The Same Results The Week Before

His weakness in pass defense should keep him as backup LB, and special teams player.

by PanthersRoar on Dec 30, 2011 7:33 AM EST up reply actions

Geno Atkins?

Juz messin’ PR.

Kid’s got some sick numbers. Don’t know much about him, but he would certainly be an option if he’s still there in the 2nd.

I like to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack.

by ERL on Dec 28, 2011 2:47 PM EST reply actions

What The Geno Atkins? He's Had A Great Year

With 1 game left, Bengals DT Geno Atkins has surpassed Suh’s 2010 numbers (except for 1 less sack) with 9 sacks, 14 QB knockdowns, and 25 QB Pressures, a total of 48 QB Disruptions. The next highest DT in QB Disruptions is Raiders DT Richard Seymore, with 37 (11 less than Atkins).

by PanthersRoar on Dec 29, 2011 12:42 PM EST up reply actions