NEW YORK -- Here are five pre-draft notes that I came across in New York Wednesday when talking to a bunch of folks at an NFL event:
1. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock really, really does not like North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples, who the Panthers are considering taking with their No.9 pick (or later, if they trade down). Mayock has Coples going anywhere from No.12 to the early 20s in his mock draft, and here’s what he said about Coples when I asked him Wednesday:
“Here’s my deal with Coples: I’ve never liked his [game] tape [from his final season at North Carolina]. I wouldn’t draft him. But I do recognize the talent. He showed it at the Senior Bowl when he was motivated. I get nervous when guys have bad senior-year tape but great Senior Bowls. It tells me there’s a money drive there…. He’s a boom-or-bust guy. He can be an All Pro, and I don’t deny his talent… I just say ‘buyer beware.’”
2. Coples told me Panthers general manager Marty Hurney and coach Ron Rivera visited with him and members of his family for “a couple of hours” Monday in Chapel Hill.
“They came down to visit with me and my parents and got a chance to see my family and get familiar with where I came from,” Coples said. He added that it “would be great” to be drafted by Carolina and that in his mind the talk of his taking plays off is unwarranted.
3. Mayock believes the Panthers will ultimately take Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox with the No.9 overall pick. “Because there are so many offensive players in those first six, seven, eight picks, I think they [the Panthers] might have their pick on defense,” Mayock said. “You can look at [Boston College linebacker Luke] Kuechly. But I think ultimately Fletcher Cox makes a lot of sense there. He’s a 300-pound defensive tackle that can actually play on the edge also. He’s powerful. He’s young, which I like. He played in the SEC. He was dominant at times. His best football is ahead of him just because he is so young and hasn’t even grown into his body yet.”
4. Talk about playing it close to the vest. I talked with Cox – who came to Charlotte to visit with the Panthers – for awhile Wednesday in New York. I asked him a question I’ve asked various players 100 times before and never had it not be answered: “What are some of your strengths as a player?”
Cox said he wouldn’t answer that question. I have no idea why. He did say he liked Ron Rivera a lot.
5. There were about 25 NFL draft prospects at this event, and the one who attracted the most attention – even more than soon-to-be No.1 pick Andrew Luck – was former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. He’s a polished, funny interview, promising to unveil a mysterious pair of socks for the draft and also calling himself a “hopeless romantic” with a love of the music of Luther Vandross. Griffin will almost surely go No.2 to Washington Thursday night.
Now it's off to Times Square to see if Cam Newton ends up on the Madden 13 cover or not (to see how much he wants to be there, read my blog post just below this one).
We're moving!
9 years ago
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15 comments:
UNC-CHeat is not the place to find honest or hardworking players.
take luke,,,,,,cox is good but better value in luke for the next ten years.
Let's take a Dook or UNCC player? Now those programs are complete jokes...and UNCC hasn't even started yet. Lol...Done before they start. Niether school will ever have half the talent as UNC-CHeat..Ha! Ha!!
coples is no peppers.....take luke a proven winner. but panthers will trade down and this is a great move also.
According to what Joe Person wrote yesterday, Coples said his production dropped last year because he was move to right DE, and was going against left tackles instead of right tackles. Translation: his production dropped when he had to go against better players. That statement, far more than the Peppers comparisons, shows what a complete fraud he is. The Panthers should run as far away from Coples as possible.
As a UNC fan, I've seen every football game this guy has played in. Great talent, and could be a Pro-Bowler, but he could also be a bust. He is NOT worth taking a risk on. Let someone else do it. We might miss out, but I think he has more of a chance being a bust than anything. Remember Nick Fairley? The Panthers considered that clown...lazy.
This is a no-brainer..... run from coples. Luke best option for next ten years.
The last person I would listen to though is Mark Mayock. He was completely down on Cam Newton last year before the draft. mayock: “Something tells me that he’ll be content to be a multimillionaire who’s pretty good,” Mayock said. ”And doesn’t get it done for me
I am a UNC fan but sorta hope that they skip Coples. Cox or Luke would probably be better picks for us.
Definitely take Cox or Luke over Coples.
Anon...3:48pm...Are you a 3rd grader? Just wondering, b/c you sound like a moron. Lol...Panthers will beat Tampa twice as well as New Orleans, and split with Atlanta. Mark that down homeboy. Newton on the cover of Madden at 5pm today and proves no "curse: exists. Panthers finish 10-6 and in the playoffs.
I'm a lifelong UNC guy and I wouldn't touch Coples. Way too much baggage.
"Too much baggage" LMAO on that one from a "UNC fan" YEA right. Try again..... Coples is better than half of the Panthers DL now, whether he takes plays off or not.
At least Cox played in a conference with real football talent, unlike the ACC. On BC's defense, heck their entire team, Luke is who stands out- one player. You can't say that about Miss State and Cox certainly has competed against NFL caliber offenses and talent. But what does the SEC know about football, right? Only 6 national championships in a row.
Lord knows, we need help on DEF, but we desperately need another WR threat. Why did we not at least throw a line at Mike Wallace. Can you imagine what it would be like for opposing D's to have to worry about Cam, Steve, Olsen and another stud opposite Smith? Can you say ELECTRICITY! 50 pts a game would sellout and our D can surely hold everyone else to 40 or less.
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