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April 27, 2008
Not many D-Line options
It's easy to look at the Dan Conner pick by the Panthers and say they blew it, that they should've taken a defensive tackle because they have only two on their roster with experience.
In a vacuum, that's true.
But the reality is that after Glenn Dorsey, Sedrick Ellis and Kentwan Balmer in the first round, this was a very weak draft for defensive tackles.
Just take a look at the third round ...The only ones picked were Auburn's Pat Sims, No. 77 to Cincinnati and Marcus Harrison No. 90 to Chicago. Toss Harrison out from Carolina's perspective because he's had some serious off-the-field problems.
Sims isn't exactly a standout player either. He went with the 77th overall pick and was ranked 85th in the Observer's Top 100.
Connor, however, was rated 40th and Carolina got him at No. 76. We've learned that the Panthers had a low first-round to early second-round grade on Conner.
Other DTs still on the board after 100 overall picks included Marlyand's Dre Moore and Texas A&M's Joseph Bryant.
This is not intended to give the Panthers a pat on the back, but to try to bring some reality to the discussion.
It's simply not a good year for DTs in the draft. Don't forget about Attiyah Ellison, a third round pick as a DT in 2005. That was also a bad year for DTs and Ellison never even made the 53-man regular season roster.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on April 27, 2008 at 08:51 AM | Permalink
Comments
I actually like this Conner pick more than I liked the Stewart and Otah picks...great value...load up on a position that is KEY in the Fox/Trgo D and rotate em so you can smash the crap out of the opponent. Charles got a point on the DTs too...OMG did I just say that????
Posted by: whacky cat | Apr 27, 2008 8:59:03 AM
Essentially the panthers have picked up the equivalant value of three first round picks in one year and the fans are still not happy. I understand when need to do something to add depth at DT, but what good does it do to pick someone that really does not have a chance to play. There is still FA.
Posted by: cheerman23 | Apr 27, 2008 9:00:53 AM
Wow, bringing logic and facts in to a discussion? Imagine that?
Posted by: stats matter | Apr 27, 2008 9:05:58 AM
With the Panthers draft so far the team has sured up the RB, O-Line, Secondary, and LB.
The first 3 positions many would not argue were big needs going into the draft, and they filled them with ideal/perfect players for our scheme, in my opinion.
Keep in mind that our Special Teams have not been so special the past few years. So by getting "value" not only gives us GREAT depth, but also potentially better ST play. We got the kicker for touch-backs/field position, depth/quality on ST, and a power run game.
With all that said I hope there is another "value" pick in the 5th rd for us at DT. Or maybe a trade again to move up? Seward/Anderson?
Go Panthers!!!
Posted by: Will Parker | Apr 27, 2008 9:07:09 AM
i think they should try to trade nail diggs and seward since we got a new lb and we could get some extra picks
Posted by: mike | Apr 27, 2008 9:13:40 AM
I'm excited about the picks. We still have free agency to clear up some holes. We can still work that out and we had to take the best player in Conner. Diggs is getting older and that means that we need to be stocking up in that position.
Posted by: JH | Apr 27, 2008 9:14:15 AM
Grady Jackson or Rod Coleman DT!!
Posted by: paul | Apr 27, 2008 9:29:26 AM
Did Conner not have off the field issues?
Posted by: mark | Apr 27, 2008 9:29:44 AM
Conner will probably back up Beason adding depth and fills a special teams need as well. He was a great value where he was taken and insures we don't have the problems we had when Morgan got hurt. Now if Beason should get hurt we have some depth to handle that situation with Landon Johnson being versitile and now Conner there. I was surprised but I can see why we picked him now that I think about it. But we need DT. Dre Moore has fallen more than I thought but I don't know if he'll fall to us in the fifth. Should we try to trade up or be patient and see what happens. I'd like to take Josh Johnson with our fifth but I don't think we can afford to now. Does anybody know anything about this kid from Iowa, i don't know anything really about him other than we plan to move him to safety, why a corner converted to safety again? We did the same thing with 7 rder C.J. Wilson last year. I have no idea where the panthers are going at this point they have not drafted at all like i thought on the second day.
Posted by: str8chillin4 | Apr 27, 2008 9:35:26 AM
Yeah, Conner was such a gangsta, he got sat down for one game for making crank phone calls to ex-coaches. Joe Pa don't play dat yo.
It's a good pick people. There wasn't enough DLine talent to waste the pick on. Get over it. Down the road it will be a great pick. Enough D talent around that picking up some slug to plug the hole won't be much of an issue. Hell Jenkins might even be available after the J-E-T-S take a real close look at him on film.
Posted by: johnlatte | Apr 27, 2008 10:34:50 AM
The problem with the Connor pick is that it revisits a mistake made just last year when the Panthers drafted Kalil when it just signed Hartwig. The draft is a balance of need and value. The Panthers have needs at S and DT that are quite significant. The third round is where you still get starters. Neither of the picks will start. And that is the reality of it. I don't see why Chandler and Olsen are trying to give anyone the benefit of the doubt, when Fox and Hurney have earned being second guessed by the number of mistakes they have made already.
Posted by: Dave | Apr 27, 2008 10:40:57 AM
Dave,
It's called depth
Posted by: JH | Apr 27, 2008 10:46:29 AM
I agree with Paul. I think the Panthers were planning to sign Rod Coleman at DT if they did not draft one in the first 3 rounds. He really wants to come to Carolina and if he passes a physical, it would be a good fit.
Posted by: John | Apr 27, 2008 10:53:42 AM
Rod Coleman is garbage. The guy's close to 40, and he's had 3 surgeries in the last year. That's not a good mix.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 27, 2008 1:02:16 PM
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