Carolina Panthers team needs
by Jon Dove on Feb 8, 2010 1:40 PM EST
in Mocking the NFC South
Email
PrintCarolina had a disappointing start to the season which killed their playoff hopes. The team struggled to find consistency from the quarterback position which led to teams stacking the box to shut down the running game. The Panthers also were bitten by the injury bug and need to find some depth at positions like defensive tackle.
1. Quarterback
- Carolina needs to find their quarterback of the future, is it Matt Moore? Moore had a few impressive games at the end of the season but this is still a position that needs to be addressed during the draft. Unfortunately, the Panthers don’t have a first round pick which could limit their options.
2. Wide Receiver
- Muhsin Muhammad is aging and a free agent and Dwayne Jarrett has not produced. If the Panthers want to take pressure off the running game and Steve Smith they need to find another weapon on the outside.
3. Defensive Tackle
- Injuries hit this position hard last season, so some depth needs to be found. Look for the Panthers to address this position in the later rounds of the draft.
20 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Is there going to be any attempt to keep Peppers from hitting the FA market?
What do you think will happen with Moore, who is a RFA? Teams that think he’s a franchise QB won’t hesitate to spend the picks to get him (up to a 1st and a 3rd, depending on the tender). Is he a candidate for a franchise tag or will the Panthers try to lock him up long-term?
the Panthers want to sign Peppers to a long term contract but he's asking for a lot
if the price is too much, they’ll probably try a trade to get draft picks (especially since they don’t have a 1st round pick)
Moore will be signed to a long term contract and is likely to be the starting QB next year – the Panthers will still leave some room for Jake Delhomme to try for the spot because competition will help keep Moore focused
Is Peppers any more likely to sign a contract this year than last?
Are the Panthers willing to franchise him for $20 million if he decides that he wants to test the FA market? He’s going to be a highly sought after FA on this year’s weak FA market. He can’t be traded unless he’s under contract and there doesn’t seem to be any more reason for him to sign a deal with the Panthers this year than last.
I'm an editor over at Cat Scratch Reader, SBnation's Panthers blog. I thought I'd share my insights...
Most Panthers fans would put WR ahead of QB on the list of team needs. People are pretty high on Matt Moore and believe he should at least have the opportunity to lead the Panthers in 2010. That’s not to say we wont draft a QB, but it’s highly unlikely you’ll see the Panthers take one in the 2nd round.
Carolina haven’t drafted a QB in the first two rounds since 1995 when they selected Kerry Collins with the team’s first draft pick and I don’t see that changing in 2010.
I fully agree that the Panthers three greatest needs are QB, WR and DT… however I put them in this order:
1. WR
2. DT
3. QB
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
How about LB and safety? I’ve been reading some things that they could look at those positions as well.
McShay, Todd McShay you hear me boy? It's me TJ and I'm coming for your damn job boy! Oh be scared, be very scared McShay.
Safety is a possibility…. LB, I really don’t think so.
Right now the Panthers have Beason at MLB, Thomas Davis at LOLB (who was putting up ProBowl numbers before he was injured) and N’ail Diggs at ROLB just signed an extension. Behind that they still have Dan Conner who is a work in progress.
Safety could happen, but they drafted Sherrod Martin in the second round of ‘09. He was a college safety the Panthers tried to convert to corner but it didn’t really work. When he played FS he shone in limited time.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
okay, okay.... 'shined'
My apologies if sometimes my British English background makes my statements unintelligible.
Cat Scratch Reader's resident optimist.
I thought Davis played ROLB?
But I agree were set on LB till next year. I’m really high on Herzlich.:)
One of South Africa's only Carolina Panthers and fans.
by chinchillas sword on Feb 9, 2010 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
I'd put them in the same order
But I’d add secondary needs of LB, DE, and OT. LB depth is needed, Anderson is a RFA, Diggs is up there in age, and Landon Johnson may not be back. DE we need another warm body, if Peppers leaves. If not the point is moot. At OT, we need someone to play pure LT, I’m not a fan of Wharton there.
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Feb 9, 2010 6:02 AM EST up reply actions
wharton
wharton plays LG. Jordon Gross is our LT. starters are set, with the possibility of RG. Vincent may be let go. I see the cats drafting some mid-late round guys as depth, but that’s really it on the line.
same for LB. 2 spots are set, and diggs is old as you say. I think they’ll bring anderson back with a fairly high tender. between him and dan conner (and diggs) one will be a quality starter next year on the strongside. some mid round depth picks.
charles johnson is a quality player, and everette brown has looked really good. Brayton decent depth. need some more bodies as you say though.
If a quality player falls for DT then we grab one, but I think the cats could be really happy with all the extra players they picked up over the season. They spent picks to trade for some DTs and may want to see how they pan out before spending more picks.
I'm talking about depth at LT
Gross is locked in at starter. Other than LT, our O-line is fine. If Vincent leaves, we got Mack Bernadeau and Duke Robinson, we’re set at guard.
At DE, Brayton was actually a very good starter, he did tend to overpursue at times, but he’s a poor mans Jared Allen, tough white guy with a motor. :D
The early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
by Flowing Willow on Feb 10, 2010 3:12 AM EST up reply actions
I think Moore should be given more of a shot
For every woman masturbating right now, there is a guy masturbating while imagining that woman masturbate.
2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
oh. definitely. I am really high on him. for a UDFA, he really is good. I ended up finding a scouting report on him from scout.com and his strengths are intangibles, field vision and decision-making. All of those things were on display.
I also looked back to his stats in college and in the pros and i think of one word: consistency. He might not ever be a superstar but he rarely has a bad game. I would rather have a guy like him than a rex grossman type where they are a biplar QB.
He is athletic for a QB but is kinda skinny. they also say on scout.com that a weakness of his was arm strength and I don’t think it is horrible. it is definitely better than tony pike’s will be coming out. there is enough zip and he can make most of the NFL throws.
Really?
His main strength with us has been hois deep ball. Before Jake would always over throw or under throw Smitty but Moore has hit Smitty deep quite a bit.
One of South Africa's only Carolina Panthers and fans.
by chinchillas sword on Feb 9, 2010 9:03 AM EST up reply actions
I agree he throws the deep ball well. he does not have cutler’s arm but like I said, he can make all the throws. all I was doing by calling it a “weakness” was quoting scout.com. it might not be his biggest strength but I would not call it a weakness. I think his big weaknesses coming out were experience and build. he is very scrawny for a QB even still and coming out did not have a ton of starting experience.
really
The cats post season moves will directly hinge on how the Peppers’ deal is carried out.
PANTHERS
MOORE WILL START IN CAROLINA
A NEW, TRUE NUMBER W/R IS PRIORITY
IF PEP LEAVES A DEFENSIVE END IS 2ND IN LINE
Caps Issues?
I agree with all of thoughs.:)
One of South Africa's only Carolina Panthers and fans.
by chinchillas sword on Feb 9, 2010 9:02 AM EST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
- Deep Posts: Super Bowl Edition
- Smarter Stats: Super Bowl Edition — New England’s offense vs. New York’s defense
- Puppy Bowl VIII: The Scouting Report
- Giants get ahead of themselves with ‘Super Bowl Champions’ home page … on Saturday
- Smarter Stats: Super Bowl Edition — Giants’ offense vs. Patriots’ defense
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
