On November 26, 2013, almost a year ago to the day, I wrote these words:
It is no secret that the Carolina Panthers' defense has been special this season. This can largely be attributed to a front seven which has collectively played as good as any in the NFL. The secondary? Not so much. Frankly, the coaching staff and the front four have done a phenomenal job of masking the weaknesses on the back end. There is no question at this point that the Panthers lack a true number one cornerback and it will probably stay that way until our general manager makes it a priority. I realize that this isn't necessarily Dave Gettleman's style, but maybe he will reconsider should the New Orleans Saints formidable passing attack embarrass the Panthers' secondary in their two remaining division-deciding meetings this year. If he does, then why not draft the best one available.
Provided he gives up his last year of eligibility at Oregon, that would be none other than Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.
I know what you may be thinking, and the answer is no. He isn't that tall, rangy corner that teams and fans are coveting these days, but what the 5-Foot-10, 190-Pound California native lacks in size, he makes up for with instincts and physicality. His smooth backpedal and loose hips allow him to mirror his opponents every move. Like most cornerbacks, he is subject to getting beat, but you don't see it very often. When a receiver does gain separation, Ekpre-Olomu displays excellent recovery speed to make a play on the ball.
Have you ever noticed that most cornerbacks struggle to turn around when running stride for stride with a receiver? This is by far his greatest strength. His superior balance and deft ability to track the ball in the air in such a way that he is almost always in a a position to either intercept the pass or knock it away. His PAC-10 leading twenty passes defended(16 PBU + 4 INT) in 2012 were a testament to his nose for the ball, and this was his first year as a starter. Ekpre-Olomu hasn't matched those numbers this season only because he hasn't had a chance to do so. Simply put, quarterbacks and coaching staffs have realized that they have a better chance moving the ball when they throw away from him.
Ekpre-Olomu's nose for the ball isn't just relegated to the pass. He is a solid run defender who uses fundamental technique when tackling and he usually does so with force, as evidenced by his six forced fumbles in 2012. Schematically speaking, he most likely projects to be a better fit in off man and press man coverage. This strength would be a welcome change for a team who lacks a play-making aggressive ball hawk on the outside.
Today's Tuesday Afternoon Prospect isn't exactly perfect, but neither is he a finished product. His work ethic and motor is such that he could see drastic improvements at the professional level. If the Panthers' brass want to take this defense to a completely different level, then drafting Ekpre-Olomu would be a step in that direction. But he won't be around at the end of the second round. He is a first round talent and will probably be treated as such.
Although I would personally be more enthused about taking a receiver or offensive lineman with our first pick, Ekpre-Olomu would still be on my short list nonetheless. The opportunity to add a potential shutdown corner to an already ever improving top tier defense is something that shouldn't be ignored and this is why I would somewhat hesitantly put my stamp of approval on it.
Well, the Panthers front seven as a whole(mainly the front four) no longer belongs in that special category. However, the issues in the secondary are sadly still the same. The only exception would be Josh Norman, who has seemingly come out of nowhere to stake his claim as the best corner on the team. Matching his shutdown potential with Ekpre-Olomu's would add an element to the Panthers defense that we haven't seen in a very long time.
Last year at this time, I fully expected Ekpre-Olomu to declare early for the draft, but I was wrong. Now he's a senior and the Oregon standout has no choice. He's still widely considered to be a first round level talent despite some unsteady play during this, his final season. Ekpre-Olumu doesn't fit Gettleman's size obsessed philosophy, but I believe he would be doing himself and the team a disservice by dismissing him based on size alone. For the record, I don't think the Panthers' general manager will overlook him. After all, the team brought a similarly sized Jason Verrett in for a private workout before the draft last year. Someone could chalk this visit up to subterfuge, but I suspect it was legitimate interest. Either way, it wouldn't surprise me if Ekpre-Olomu gets a closer look this Spring.
Personally, I wouldn't take him in the top ten. Outside of the top 15, maybe. Realistically, with the way this season is trending, the only way I see him being selected by the Panthers is under one of three circumstances. The first being that the Panthers play out of their minds the rest of the season, somehow make the playoffs(or just miss) and end up with a first round pick in the late teens or lower. The second would be in a trade back scenario that would net us a pick in the twenties. The third and final scenario would be if we continued our downward spiral combined with a subsequent Ekpre-Olomu slide on draft day where we would be in position to take him near the top of the second round.
What about you CSR? Would you feel comfortable taking Ekpre-Olomu in the first round? If so, at what spot would that be? Top ten? 11-20? 21 or lower? Only in the second round? Or later?