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April 27, 2008
Penn State linebacker irresistible to Panthers
The Carolina Panthers used their second third-round pick on, of all things, a linebacker, possibly the last position Carolina needed to address. But the team thinks of this selection as a "value pick," a talent who has dropped so far down draft boards as to be irresistible.
The guy is Penn State's Dan Connor, who was chosen No.74 overall but was 40th in The Observer's top 100. As such, the Panthers' brain trust couldn't resist, on the theory that a team can never have too many good players.
And Connor, the Chuck Bednarik winner as the nation's best linebacker, became a Panther. -- Stan Olson
Posted by Stewart Williams on April 27, 2008 at 10:51 AM | Permalink
Comments
If all your good players are concentrated into just a few positions, you can have too many good players. You can obviously only have so many linebackers on the field at one time. Why does Hurney continue to think that he knows something that other teams don't? Frustrating.
Posted by: jeff | Apr 27, 2008 10:55:13 AM
I guess we are planning on going after some of the older DT's in free agency?
Posted by: typing | Apr 27, 2008 10:56:20 AM
^ yeah, have to think one of the old, broken down guys is going to be a priority now. And even then, sure hope no DT has an injury since depth is going to be non-existent. Maybe Braxton is going to play some DT in a NYG type scheme.
Gave up 3 picks for Otah to play the right side, move Gross to LT where is is not as good and put wharton at OG after signing what seemed like every FA OG available and yet only have 2 NFL DTs on the roster.
Doesn't make sense to me, Otah better be a total stud.
Posted by: John | Apr 27, 2008 11:03:41 AM
Hope he was worth it. We dont pick again until the 5th round. There won't be much D-Line help to be found there.....Maybe we can pick up another team's D-Line trash closer to the season.
Posted by: J Thomas | Apr 27, 2008 11:04:35 AM
Sign Grady Jackson, he is a heck of a run stuffer.
Posted by: ricky | Apr 27, 2008 11:05:29 AM
Surely they know more than we know...?? obviously a trade or a FA signing or something in the works for a DT.
Posted by: evan869 | Apr 27, 2008 11:08:44 AM
No, they lost two picks (2, 4). After all, they got the 1st rnd pick this year rather than next. Considering the rarity of the player and our bazillion problems with RB and OL over the last few seasons, I can't argue with day 1.
-d
Posted by: dugbug | Apr 27, 2008 11:10:16 AM
Grady Jackson DT !!!!!!
Posted by: paul | Apr 27, 2008 11:13:43 AM
They seem content with our DE situation, letting Brayton, Johnson and McClover battle it our for a starting position. Look for them to make a move on a FA DT like Rod Coleman after the draft.
Posted by: Matt | Apr 27, 2008 11:13:44 AM
^ right, that is 3 picks for Otah, who they took with the first rounder they received in the trade. If they didn't do the trade, they would have 3 picks over the next two years - 2nd, 4th, 09 1st.
Certainly not qualified to evaluate Otah, but for all that he better be really good and it seems like a lot considering the team said he's a RT. Maybe he can play some DT.
Posted by: John | Apr 27, 2008 11:14:07 AM
HEY GUYS HERES A SENARIO!
Trade Chris Gamble CB to Eagels for Lito Sheppard CB and take a pick for SS Craig Shetlz?
Posted by: paul | Apr 27, 2008 11:17:02 AM
We need a DT not a LB nor a SS
Posted by: Vernon | Apr 27, 2008 11:18:29 AM
J Thomas... "One man's trash is another man's treasure." See Chris Harris, Terry cousin, Stephen Daves, etc., etc.,... you get the idea.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 27, 2008 11:19:14 AM
I'd much rather have Conner than most of the low ranked DE's and DTs on the board. DT and DE can easily be fixed with FA, plus we have a DE from last years draft that needs an opportunity to play. Its going to make us much better long term. Conner rocks. I think it was a very smart move to get the best player available, versus taking lower rated talent just because that's seen as the biggest need. The draft isn't be all end all. There's some DTs out there that can be had through trades and FA.
Posted by: johnlatte | Apr 27, 2008 11:21:39 AM
They can still grab Frank Okam or Red Bryant in round 5
Posted by: Jared from Jersey | Apr 27, 2008 11:40:54 AM
Why not go with a 3-4 defense now??? A lot of great defenses use it, and we have the great ILB's needed to succeed. Switching to a 3-4 would fix our lack of depth at DT, allow us to add a unique look and different blitzing schemes, utilize Thomas Davis's speed, and perhaps add a spark to jump start Pepper's production. Just a thought.
Posted by: Christian | Apr 27, 2008 11:15:46 PM
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