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December 08, 2007
Nelson making impact for Jags
Many observers expected Carolina, in obvious need of safety help at the time, to draft safety Reggie Nelson with its first-round pick in April. Instead, the Panthers traded down and scooped up linebacker Jon Beason. That has obviously worked out well, and Carolina patched its problems at safety with duct tape, Chris Harris and Deke Cooper.
The Panthers, though, said their safety targets never fell at the right place in the draft, where they could grab one without over-reaching for him.
So how has Nelson done in Jacksonville since the Jaguars took him in the draft? I asked coach Jack Del Rio on his conference call with area writers earlier this week.
"Reggie has been solid for us, he's a dynamic player," Del Rio said. "He's a guy that has a great deal of energy and really loves the game. He prepares hard during the week and he lets it go on Sundays. He's made some plays for us and I think he has four interceptions on the year. He's done a nice job being a ball hawk back there and he's been a little bit more physical than we anticipated.
"He's done a nice job of coming up and hitting people and doing the things he needs to do to help us win. We've been very happy with him. I noticed [Carolina's] rookie has done well too. I think Jon Beason has done a heck of a job and is having a good year for them." --STAN OLSON
Posted by Observer Sports on December 8, 2007 at 10:11 AM | Permalink
Comments
Beason has worked out fine..but I truly believe Beason could have been had early 2nd round. (and easily could have moved up to take him) as we WASTED! a 3rd pick on C. Johnson and a 2nd rd pick on Ryan Kalil. So the panthers could have Beason and NELSON!
IdiotS! take nelson with that 14th pick and move up a little late 1st early 2nd and take Beason as he had dropped a lot due to his bad combine numbers.....but why should I expect Fox/hurney to make a good personal move.
Posted by: Cheven | Dec 8, 2007 10:23:00 AM
Chevan: I don´t agree. The top priorities was a MLB in case Morgan went down again (which happened), risk losing Beason for a db was just to much of a gamble (especially considering that we did get an extra 2nd rounder in the process).
And I also think a 2nd receiver was a bigger need than safty. So I think that the thinking of what kind of players to take was correct, we just took the wrong WR...
Posted by: Thorrez | Dec 8, 2007 10:34:51 AM
There goes that 20/20 hindsight again...
It was a great move that day the way it looked to trade back and pick up an additional 2nd round pick. Any safety we could've taken there would've been a reach... Beason has been awesome and was worth that 1st round pick. I was excited when we got Jarrett too, but you never know he may work out. As for Kalil, give the guy time! He hasn't had much oppertunity yet, I bet when he has time to mature and work in our offense, he will be a great center.
Posted by: appgrad08 | Dec 8, 2007 10:36:35 AM
The Panthers' defensive scheme is predicated on the front four wreaking havoc, preventing the opposing offense from the ability to go deep. This is why it seems we always see Panther CBs play several yards off receivers at the line of scrimmage, thus further preventing the deep ball. This tends to open up the middle of the field, which is one reason linebackers are a higher priority than safeties in the current scheme, and another reason the Panthers don't spend a lot of money at this position.
I was rooting for the Panthers to take Reggie Nelson, and its inarguable that the Fox/Hurney era has produced its share of duds, but you really can't argue with Beason's production. For that matter, it's hard to argue with DeAngelo Williams and Richard Marshall as well (although I'd like to see what both can do in starting roles).
Posted by: Matt | Dec 8, 2007 11:33:03 AM
I would add that Beason is arguably the best player on the current defense, making the whole team behind Smitty.
Posted by: Matt | Dec 8, 2007 11:34:21 AM
Yeah, Beason has been the best defensive player this year, and it's pretty obvious that Morgan isn't reliable anymore. Harris hasn't been bad either, I think he could be a starter for awhile if we can get another good safety to go with him. I guess this was one move by Fox and Hurney that wasn't so horrid...
Posted by: Matt West | Dec 8, 2007 12:24:27 PM
how do you call Kalil and Johnson a waste after a handful of games? How can you say that Beason would have been available early in the 2nd round? I'd say Beason, who was drafter far later in the round, is outpreforming Nelson, who was chosen 14th, and yet you still put a negative spin on it just to blame Fox and Hurney.
Posted by: m | Dec 8, 2007 2:18:24 PM
Uh, we didn't HAVE to cut Chris Draft loose. We didn't HAVE to keep Dan Morgan.
That is what created the LB need.
Even so, given the moves the braintrust made, I go back to Aaron Rouse (VaTech) being on the board when we took Charles Johnson.
Rouse -- as we saw with his pick of Vinnie -- is contributing to his team. And he is only picked it up since then.
Marty and Foxy have essentially "redshirted" Johnson.
Posted by: JAT | Dec 8, 2007 2:25:12 PM
Letting Chris Draft go? You act like that was a bad move, they guy isn't even starting in St. Louis and yet he is more suitable for our MLB spot than Beason? Applaude Fox/Hurney for letting Draft go. As for letting Spoon go, I wish he could have stayed. I'm not sure though even if they let Morgan though if they still would have been able to afford what Spoon wanted. But still, retaining Dan was by far one of their worst moves.
Posted by: m | Dec 8, 2007 2:38:03 PM
Hey now, 'm', the competition Chris Draft got from Brandon Chillar is fierce...he's playing at an ALL-PRO level with his 4 tackles a game. Actually, I know why they're not starting Draft...they're saving him up to be a special teams DEMON!
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 8, 2007 4:47:10 PM
Guys look, Fox/Hurney knows what it takes to make their defense among the best in the NFL. If you look at it all their "Busts" were on the offensive side of the ball. Before Fox was coaching the panthers, he was a defensive cord. for the Giants. So he got a nose for defensive talent. However, he just needs help in the offensive firepower department
Posted by: MegaBrain21 | Dec 8, 2007 5:31:23 PM
I say give this scheme one more season... one more draft for fox, hurney, and davidson to draft some good offensive talent amd get it right. if they dont and we suck again, we tar and feather em' at midseason and run them out of town.
Posted by: CPT | Dec 9, 2007 12:48:25 AM
All great points! Let me add that the reporting done by Stan Olson is a breath of fresh air compared to that of Pat Yasinka-ruski-oski!! Finally, hindsight is 20/20; and I'm sure all of us would make great personnel manager and NFL coaches...NOT!!!
Posted by: SYRPIS | Dec 9, 2007 2:32:35 AM
BTW... Merry Christmas!
Posted by: SYRPIS | Dec 9, 2007 2:33:10 AM
Did you read the article about the dissapearance of the fullback? Fox talks about all the schemes in use today - but the irony is that we don't do the things he talks about!!!! It cracked me up to see all the quotes from him about all the varioius wide-out sets, how the passing game is prevelant now, blah, blah, blah. So...he knows about the stuff, but just doesn't do it.
A side note to Michael Procton, I was very impressed with your civil response to "m" even though you disagreed with him. Not one stupid or dumbass in your whole comment.
If we don't fill the air with footballs today, we don't stand a chance. Swing passes to Williams, even as safety valves, will gain a lot of yards. Let Foster stay in Charlotte and practice his spin moves and fumbles at home.
Posted by: Willy | Dec 9, 2007 5:43:20 AM
Stan/Pat, who is the official number 2 QB today? That person will play, because I fear that the Jags are going to knock Vinny out of this game.
Posted by: Willy | Dec 9, 2007 5:45:03 AM
Well, Willy, it's pretty tough to accept that complement when I wasn't even disagreeing with him.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 10, 2007 10:01:01 AM
How can people bag on chris Harris? he's a strong Saftey his job is to cover once and while and knock the sh** out people he leads the NFL in forced fumbles and we got him for a 5th round draft pick. we need to move Gamble to FS and Start Marshall. then get another DE because Rucker is done and Start Lewis And Drop Make Kemo. Draft another CB. AND Get a D coach that can make up some blitzs and set a fire under the asses of the People we have now (PEP) theres huge talent but no leader, no creativty and FOX is played out. way too conservitive for the playmakers we have. and Jeff Davidson needs to go (look @ the browns now since he left!)
Posted by: cali15 | Dec 10, 2007 1:56:24 PM
Not really fair to use the change in Cleveland against Davidson. First of all, they completely revamped their o-line and Derek Anderson has been allowed to thrive. Furthermore, there have been completely healthy seasons from both Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards. Lastly, though, Davidson took over that OC job midway through the season, and anybody knows that you can't install an offensive system (particularly to young players as the Browns have/had) in the midst of a season.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Dec 10, 2007 9:04:19 PM
And if grandma had balls she could be called grandpa. If we took Nelson, people would be wanting Beason. When is Charlotte going to get rid of these so called sports writers. All they do is stir up crap and have no idea about what they are writing about.
Posted by: biggdad | Dec 11, 2007 11:33:30 AM
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