The 2009 NFL draft is now history. How did the Panthers do?
I'll give them a solid "B" for this one. Here's why:
1) They didn't have a No.1 pick in this draft, but that's because they traded it in 2008 so they could acquire Jeff Otah -- who looked as a rookie like an 8-10 year guy at RT.
2) I like the trade for FSU DE Everette Brown -- the first pick of this draft at No.43 overall. Again, the Panthers were aggressive here, much like they were in the Otah trade a year before. They can only hope Brown has the same sort of start to his career as Otah did. Giving up their 2010 No.1 pick was risky, but it looked like the move of a team that knew what it wanted. As I wrote in Sunday's column, I wish the Panthers played in the fall more like they draft in April -- with some verve and boldness.
3) Going defense with the first 3 picks of 2009 makes sense given the way the Panthers' D too often folded in the late stages of last season.
4) This isn't an "A" because I don't think the Panthers got enough help at offensive line and they picked 2 RBs on Day 2, which doesn't look like a real position of need to me.
Grading a draft right after it happens is a ridiculous exercise, of course -- it's like grading your students on the first day of a 14-week semester simply by how well-prepared they seemed on Day 1. But it's fun, so we do it. Given that, what's your first-impression grade for this Panther draft??
We're moving!
9 years ago
Posts
26 comments:
Well, I'd have to say a "B" as well. I was happy with Brown, I thought that was a steal, I really thought he would be gone way before the first 10 picks of the second round. Drafting Two running backs was a weird thing, but Im thinking they want someone to fill Nick Goings shoes as a jack of all trades, master-of-none, kinda thing. Trully I think the Panthers are primed for a championship run, not many teams can say they have 21/22 starters returning and added a few more guys to pick up the slack. I thought I biggest need was D-Line and I feel they addresed that, b/c honestly that's where the game of football is won, onthe O and D lines. So kudos to Marty and John and that scouting dept.
I'll give it a B-. I was very dissapointed that they reached for Corey Ivin in the 3rd. They should have taken Roy Miller with their original 2nd and then drafted Sidbury in the 3rd since we still dont know whats going to happen with Peppers. Other than that I really liked this draft. Duke Robinson was steal!
It's just another reason is a long line why john fox should be fired (hurney too). He's in way over his head; to give aways next year's number one draft pick for nothing more than an OK player is ridiculous. Fox has a good football if you wanted a good coordinary. As a head coach, I can't see why our courageous owner would continue putting up with his excuses. My guess is: 6-8 this year (at best) and he's gone. Oh, yeah, forget the draft: for hurney and fox to give Jake that kind of contract is even more outrageous. While other teams (certainly Atlanta for one!!!!) get themselves in position to win the division, we stick!!
I would give a B+. I love the E. Brown pick. I'm sure Coach Meeks had a hand in that, not to mention he's a Carolina Boy. Think about it Carolina knows they need to put up a megadeal for Peppers; by not having to pay a 1st round pick for this year and next maybe it allows them to do that. Julius doesn't want to go anywhere thats why he never signed the tender. He just wants to get paid and from a business standpoint, who can blame him? We got Hoover's replacement to solidify the FB pos. for years to come. A BIG OG in "The Duke". The fastest corner in the draft in the 2nd round. Anyone that wonders about the RB, just google Mike Goodson and watch his highlight reel "ThunderQuick"!! This guy will return kickoffs and there is all kinds of stuff you could do with this kid!!! Oh yeah and 1 last thing "Captain". I love it!!Great job Hurney & Fox! Since 2002 Carolina has the 2nd most wins in the NFC. There is NOTHING wrong with Fox as a head coach. It's funny how people forget 1997-2001. We would have done anything for "Cordinator Fox"
This draft is a solid "B". The Panthers got great value for most of their picks, and great athletes with good character. Everette can flat out play, and will prove scouts wrong during the season. He and Corvey Irvin, a DT with enormous upside, fill large voids in the Panther Defensive Line Rush. Sherrod Martin is a fast and quick and can either compete for safety or cornerback, or provide depth and nickelback. Mike Goodson is a hell of a RB, provides depth behind 34 and 28, and is very versatile-may play some WR, Special teams, etc...Fiammetta fits our offensive scheme to a "T" and will most likely be an eventual replacement for Hoover. Duke Rob. is a unbelievable value and needed depth, looks a lot like a mammoth G/T in the mold of Otah. Munnerlyn is a great athlete and will provide depth @ corner, possibly play nickel, and help Special teams. Overall a solid draft...filled some voids, created depth, and picked the best value picks available. Everette, Martin, Irvin, and Munnerlynn should all play some/significantly in some fashion and look to me like the talent needed to make this team complete and well rounded. Overall: B
I wonder if Ronald Swaim even spelled his name correctly (6 - 8?...)
I think Scott is right in that it is futile to grade a draft right after it happens, but I think the Panthers went about their picks aggressively. These guys (Hurney and Fox) know their team and what they wanted.
I am not a professional football coach or scout (and fail to understand why I am not paid to do so) but I personally like the Brown pick, love the FB pick, and think the Duke Robinson choice was great.
Since this is all a crap shoot anyway at this point, the only thing I am really sure of is that I am ready for football season to start!
Go Panthers!
don't know if it's true or not but rumor has it we just signed urfa grahm harrell texas tech qb anyone know if its true?
B+, only because I personally didn't think that the RB position needed so much attention, even with the departure of Goings in mind. However, focusing on key defensive areas with the first 3 picks makes perfect sense, and all three players will have a chance to contribute in a big way.
One thing Peppers has never had, even while Ruckers was in his prime, is a true athletic peer on the defensive line. I would love for Brown to come in and remind Peppers what it's like to "leave the switch on" for every single play. I'd be willing to bet that Fox & Hurney had something like this in mind when then they traded up to get Everette. Imagine two powerful speed demons coming off both edges with their sights set on whomever is unfortunate enough to have the football in their hands! H#ll, maybe Peppers will even realize that the only thing preventing him from "reaching his full potential" is the man in the mirror. Say what you will about Fox and Hurney, but they rarely (if ever) fail to deliver on draft weekend.
Didn't get enough help at OL? Adding a first-team All-American who was graded as high as the first round in the fifth doesn't qualify?
RB wasn't a position of need? Who exactly would our backup FB have been if Hoover goes down? Who else is on the roster to replace Goodson's versatility to play 3rd-down RB, split out wide as a receiver, and return kicks?
Ronald, you sure know what you're talking about. I can tell the way you predict the Panthers to only play 14 games, even though the NFL has a 16 game season.
JK, Irvin has some things going for him, but upside ain't one of them.
11:36-Yes, Harrell is among our early signings:
LB Anthony Heygood (Purdue)
QB Graham Harrell (Texas Tech)
OL Keith Grey (UConn)
OT Gerald Cadogan (Penn St.)
LB Brit Miller (Illinois)
OL CJ Davis (Pitt)
TE Kevin Brock, Rutgers
WR Jason Cherry, UL-L
Well the draft was decent I guess, but I feel like as long as Jake is the QB we not gone get to far in the playoffs anyway.
Panthers
LB Anthony Heygood (Purdue)
OL Keith Grey (UConn)
OT Gerald Cadogan (Penn St.)
LB Brit Miller (Illinois)
OL CJ Davis (Pitt)
TE Kevin Brock (Rutgers)
WR Jason Cherry (UL-Lafayette)
DT Justin Kershaw (MSU)
OT Patrick Brown (UCF)
I got this information from http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2009/04/2009-undrafted-free-agent-signings-list.html
I didn't see about harrell it will be great! we will find out tomorrow
Looks like we didn't get Harrell:
LB Anthony Heygood (Purdue)
OL Keith Grey (UConn)
OT Gerald Cadogan (Penn St.)
LB Brit Miller (Illinois)
OL CJ Davis (Pitt)
TE Kevin Brock (Rutgers)
WR Jason Cherry (UL-Lafayette)
DT Justin Kershaw (MSU)
OT Patrick Brown (UCF)
LS Nick Sundberg (Cal)
QB Hunter Cantwell (Louisville)
RB Jamall Lee (Canada - Bishops)
If you go to the national sports web sites, like NBC Sports, they give the Panthers' draft a D+. Only Dallas and Oakland got lower with a D. There is a lot of difference between a B and a D so guess only time will tell who has the best insight. We can just hope for the best.
yahoo sports gave the draft a "c", have checked other websites. But I thought that was too low. Brown was listed in first round in some mock drafts so this is a good pickup.
Graham Harrell signed with the Cowboys, not the Panthers. Panthers have not signed a QB (yet)
Procton, your best post in the one and a half years ive been trawling these boards.
Fiametta has a brilliant opportunity of learning from a solid technical Fullback who has never had a bad play, never mind a bad game.
I liked the other picks. "El Capitan" was just a safety pick incase sherrod cant make nickel back (but he will)
The least keen was the DT we took, but this years draft had no quality in depth.
I gave the Panthers draft a "D" before I even read some of the national ratings. I know that TSN gave them a "C-". Not having a 1st round pick really hurt. And then giving up next year's 1st round pick made it worse. The team needs to draft a young QB to take over for Jake at some point in the future. They need to quit trying to find a starting QB from waiver wire scraps and the leftovers from other teams.
Scott, you said, "3) Going defense with the first 3 picks of 2009 makes sense given the way the Panthers' D too often folded in the late stages of last season".
I don't know what defense you were watching last season, but they often folded before the first snap. There was no excuse for the points and yards allowed all season. They need all the help they can get.
I like the draft overall, especially the trade at the beginning. However, I think they could have used a solid QB and they could have used their last 7th round draft pick to get Heisman candidates Grahm Harrel from Texas Tech or Chase Daniels from Mizzou instead of wasting the pick on some sorry db from South Carolina that will probably be arrested before training camp starts.
Do all you people forget the Panthers know how to draft. We drafted pretty much our whole team, and we are sick. And Scott we drafted 1 running back and 1 fullback, not 2 running backs. The "Cuse" fullback is nasty and will replace brick hands old man hoover, this season. Everette is a man and will be starting as well. B+
AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT RELIZE OUR QB SUCKS... IT DONT MATTER WHO WE GET, HOW GOOD THEY ARE, IF THEY ARE GONE GET ARRESTED (BY THE WAY, GO TO HELL SCOTT) OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER, AS LONG AS JAKE IS BEHIND THE CENTER WE ARE GONE BE OVERRATED JUST LIKE LAST YEAR. I WANT JAKE TO FALL DOWN SOME STAIRS OR SOMETHING.
Anonymous 1:06 am,
How you feeling this morning? Like little men are hammering away behind your eyeballs?
Jake is our best bet right now. Would you rather we trade to get David Carr back? Give me a break...
Anonymous at the bottom is the only one you fairweather panther fans that makes sense. I don't want Jake to fall down a flight of stairs, but Jake will not take you to the promise land. You always holler Superbowl at the beginning of each season, but half way the season, you guys will be leaving your seats during the 3rd quarter as usual. "WE PICKED A BAD DAY TO HAVE A BAD DAY"!
don't worry this is our year, this year Panthers wll dominate the entire tournament, we have all the new players and a book with several strategies.
My condolences go out to his family, friends, fans, and colleagues at the Observer.
Gilmore Girls DVD | Grey's Anatomy DVD
Post a Comment