Fox and Hurney's comments on our draft

I'm always good for a cut & paste!


Panthers improve through solid draft
April 29, 2007
Panthers.com
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Comments from head coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney regarding the second day of the NFL Draft.

Fox on wide receiver/return specialist Ryne Robinson: In the fourth round, we selected Ryne Robinson who played wide out at Miami of Ohio, but more importantly, he was heavily involved in the return game, particularly punt returns. He was a guy we targeted before the draft right at about where we picked him. We figured that he has some position flexibility in that he can play wide receiver and serve as a returner.

Fox on Robinson returning kicks and punts: If you went through the sequence of guys that had return skills, the guy that went to Baltimore, Yamon Figurs, was probably more of a kickoff guy and probably less of a punt returner. Ryne Robinson is probably more of a punt returner than kick returner but he can do both. He has done both, but has been more extensively a punt returner. At this point, we will evaluate if he will do both punt and kick returning. We have some guys that in the past have done kickoffs. They will compete to see who does it.

Fox on tight end Dante Rosario: Dante Rosario is a tight end out of Oregon, probably more of a move tight end/fullback, H position. He is a guy we thought had outstanding quickness and was particularly good as a pass receiver.

Fox on Penn State linebacker Tim Shaw: Tim Shaw was a guy that we rated high as far as football character. He played linebacker at Penn State and played really more like a rush end this past year. He's very active in the kicking game. He's got excellent size, speed, and toughness. He was a guy we felt we couldn't pass on. He's had packages even as a fullback/running back. He had been a running back in his high school career and even at Penn State as a blocking back. He is kind of an all around guy.

Fox on safety C.J. Wilson: He is a versatile player who has the athletic ability to play both corner and safety. He is a physical player who could help on special teams as well as competing in the secondary.

Hurney on not drafting a safety in the first six rounds: I think you just keep looking. We always say there are a lot of avenues you use to improve your football team, and I think that safety was one spot that just didn't fall right in this draft for us. We feel like there were a lot of other areas on our football team that we did improve on in this draft. We will just keep looking every way we can to try to upgrade that area whether it be free agency, the waiver wire, or trade. We still have rookie free agents left after the draft. So every avenue that we have to pursue, we will do that to try to upgrade that area. If it wasn't that position, it was going to be something else. I don't think anybody fills all their needs in the draft and I don't think anybody feels like all their needs are filled at anytime. You're always looking to improve some part of your football team the entire year. We felt good that we really improved our team in a lot of other areas because we had the discipline to take the best player that were available on the board and really did not reach for any specific need. The good side of that is that we got a lot of good football players, but now we do have to use other avenues to improve the safety position.

Fox on the projected starter at safety: We will address that when we come into mini camp and it will be easily seen at that point, but we will discuss that with the players first. They will compete for that just like any other position. Another thing on the draft, a lot of times where you pick a guy doesn't necessarily dictate their future and their productivity either. We still have a seventh-round pick, and there have been plenty of college free agents that have made it in this League. Tom Brady comes to mind, and (Marques) Colston New Orleans seventh-round pick last year, comes to mind. What draft pick you are really doesn't determine your productivity ahead of time.

Fox on the possibility of moving linebacker Thomas Davis back to safety: At this point, that's not a consideration. Maybe at some point based on injury or whatever happens, we always remain flexible. At this point, that doesn't figure in.

Fox on draft grades: I think things went well, but time tells on anybody's draft. I don't know that you can put a grade because that grade can change quickly.

Hurney on character being a factor in the evaluation process as well as talent: That's been our philosophy. We feel that it pays off in the long run. You do as much research on the players as people as you can. You get to know them better every day you're with them. We have always stressed character and it's nothing new. We just think it pays off in the long run by creating accountability and people you can depend on.

 

That's more detail than they usually say. Not a lot, but at least some.

 

Nice to know Shaw has some experience as a blocker. We need more of that. Sounds like he and Rosario were drafted almost exclusively for special teams, which isn't such a bad thing. No more excuses for Crossman.

 

Fox on draft grades: I think things went well, but time tells on anybody's draft. I don't know that you can put a grade because that grade can change quickly.

And then he added, "It is what it is".

 

I can agree with sentence one, sentence two might not have been necessary had Hurney got down to business and even conservatively addressed it some weeks ago.

I think they feel safe admitting failure in that area because they feel so good about what was added (Yin). But too much Yang can be a bitch.

 

www.firehurney.com

 

Hurney's real profession is being a horrible sports writer..... How can this idiot run a sports team?

www.firehurney.com

 

Posting that broken link, again, is really, really aided by quoting the entire article, again.

Really.

 

.

 

I am satisfied with our draft, but I am curious to see how the Safety position is handled in the up coming minicamps ect.

It would sure be nice to find a diamond in the rough from the annual camp fodder after draft bonanza, but thats probably a bit of a stretch.

As far as this fire marty.com jaggoff,