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April 27, 2008
A head-scratcher for Conner
Penn State LB Dan Conner just said on a media conference call that he's a bit "shocked" to be picked by the Panthers, a team that didn't appear to have a need at his position.
However, he said he was excited about learning from the Panthers' veteran linebackers.
It will probably take Conner some time to come to grips with what's happened in recent weeks. He was once viewed as a first-round pick, but wound up going into the third to a team that already has four starting-caliber LBs -- MLB Jon Beason and OLBs Thomas Davis, Na'il Diggs and Landon Johnson.
Again, it was a value pick for the Panthers. He was way too high on their board to pass up and they'll find a place for him if he's as good as they think.
This probably means farewell to Adam Seward, whom New England likely will get at no cost after considering giving up a fifth-round pick to Carolina. Seward was a restricted free agent who visited the Patriots in March.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on April 27, 2008 at 11:01 AM | Permalink
Comments
LOL even Connor knew he wasn't supposed to get drafted here. Too bad the Panthers Brass minus the b and r couldn't figure that out
Posted by: Vernon | Apr 27, 2008 11:16:30 AM
WOW looks like Marty and Fox are getting back to their usual dumb on draft day selves...Dan Connor, What the hell? I don't wanna hear this value crap, we need help at way too many positions for this pick to make ANY SENSE at all.
Posted by: Haywood Jablowmi | Apr 27, 2008 11:20:04 AM
the only way to validate this pick is if we are planning on switching to a 3-4 defense
Posted by: Ryan | Apr 27, 2008 11:25:44 AM
Appearantly the Richardson should hire you to run his team, because you obviously know it all.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 27, 2008 11:25:48 AM
I agree. This is just another in a long line of HORRIBLE Day 2 drafts for Hurney and Fox.
Posted by: J Thomas | Apr 27, 2008 11:26:00 AM
This is the @$$hole Jablowmi - you consistently dump on everything Fox and Hurney do. Why don't you go do some more squat thrusts on your daddy's lap, okay? Diggs is aging, special teams still need players, and you can bet your @$$ that Connor is a big part of the future here, probably starting next year or the year after.
SHUT UP ALREADY!
Posted by: Panther Fan in WV | Apr 27, 2008 11:26:02 AM
With four starting caliber Linebackers and a lack of DL talent, John fox has the right players for an awesome 3-4 Defense ..nah, what was I thinking...?
Posted by: moved to Utah | Apr 27, 2008 11:27:39 AM
IT'S SIMPLE... if you needed 25 more cents to purchase a drink and found a dollar bill just sitting there, would YOU still deman a quarter??
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 27, 2008 11:29:19 AM
They did experiment with some 3-4 looks last year, and I would say that the roster is in pretty decent shape for more of the same, so why not give it another shot?
Posted by: KCPanther | Apr 27, 2008 11:30:07 AM
Oh nice, someone from West Virginia is telling ME to do squat thrusts on daddy's lap. Guess you're speaking from experience, huh? Glad you enjoy reading my posts so much, its no secret I'm not a Fox/Hurney fan but I've actually supported most of their moves in Free Agency, guess you missed out on those posts. Too bad...
Posted by: Haywood Jablowmi | Apr 27, 2008 11:33:53 AM
Didn't the Panthers go 6-2 to end the season in '05 with Jordan Carstens starting at DT? I don't think its time to panic about DT just yet...
Posted by: Ashe | Apr 27, 2008 11:37:33 AM
SYRPIS, there's no question about the value of this pick. I just think I'd like it more if we still had our 4th round pick. Its pretty unlikely we'll find anyone in the 5th round or later who can help us immediately at our positions of need. I like that Hurney believes in drafting the best player available but I don't know if that's the best strategy for us this year with as many holes as we have to fill.
Posted by: Haywood Jablowmi | Apr 27, 2008 11:43:16 AM
Ryan up there is EXACTLY right... I've been thinking it ever sense we displayed the 3-4 against the pat.'s in the preseason last year and with us having like NINE LB's on the roster last year (early) I felt and said it then but now... with our IGNORING the DT and DE positional needs and picking yet ANOTHER LB... it looks like the carolina panthers are going to be a 3-4 team on D.
Changes... they are a commin...
Posted by: handyman | Apr 27, 2008 11:49:31 AM
NICE ONE Haywood! WV's got a point, though, dude - you do consistently rag on F & H, no matter what they do. If memory serves, you were low on Beason, too.
Posted by: Cats Rule | Apr 27, 2008 11:51:52 AM
Boy thats a hell of a memory you've got there, Cats Rule! I don't even remember what I thought about Jon Beason when they drafted him, pretty funny that someone else would. I'm pretty sure I didn't bash that pick though, especially considering that we got some extra picks by trading down for him. But once again, always nice to see people enjoy my posts so much...
Posted by: Haywood Jablowmi | Apr 27, 2008 12:22:59 PM
In the last 3 drafts before this one, they made 26 selections. They have gotten 2 starters, Davis and Beason out of those picks. Why should anything change now. Another linebacker, great. Hope he can atleast play special teams.
Posted by: Screaming Sheep | Apr 27, 2008 12:28:10 PM
Come to think of it, I wasn't even a commenter on this blog last year, so in that case I didn't say anything about Beason. Guess you're thinking of someone else, Cats Rule.
Posted by: Haywood Jablowmi | Apr 27, 2008 12:32:14 PM
seward will makes this team unless they trade for him, i would worry about melton, shaw, curry, anderson,jamison,seward is a 250 lb'er the only one on the team and plays great special teams and short yardage defense
Posted by: todd harmeyer | Apr 27, 2008 12:49:14 PM
Screaming Sheep
I count 12 players drafted over the last 3 years who have been starters. You should also count Matt Moore as he was a college free agent that the Panthers followed and hit the jackpot with.
Thomas Davis
Evan Mathis
Geoff Hangartner
DeAngelo Williams
Richard Marshall
James Anderson
Jeff King
Will Montgomery
Stanley McClover
Jon Beason
Ryan Kalil
Ryne Robinson (as kick returner)
Matt Moore
And Jovan Haye, our 6th rd pick from 2006, started all 16 games last year for the Bucs. He just came to us in a year when we were supposed to be stacked on the D-Line so he got cut.
Posted by: Steve | Apr 27, 2008 1:02:05 PM
i think that all the players we have picked were good choices but you forget it's on the player factor in injuries. so yeah we could have made better picks but also it's the players also. jarrett, prime example based on college and everything else he showed he was good value a project but cheap. looks like now he will end up one of NFL's network top ten busts.
Posted by: panta4life | Apr 27, 2008 1:04:44 PM
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