2012 Panthers Draft prospect thread

how is it decided who coaches in the Senior Bowl? Used to be the top team that didn't make the playoffs. Apparently Rivera wanted in and we didn't get it.

 

Similar to the draft order. Worst teams get first option of sending their coaches.
Our coaches would have done it last year but as you know, we fired John Fox's white ass!

 

both teams are NFC teams, however - MN and WAS.
Weird. I would say it's the two intact staffs lowest in NFL standings but Cleveland would've been in, not WAS, who was third in returning staffs of shitty standing.



Anyway, tonight will be interesting. ALA has Kirkpatrick and Upshaw, both of which I'm interested in (yes, I do think the idea that Davis is staying will keep Upshaw out, unless they think of him as a true end rusher, and I don't know about that), very similar counterpart Dont'a Hightower, SS Mark Barron (who is very Dawkins, but we won't pick him), top RB Trent Richardson.


LSU's got consolation prize CB Morris Claiborne, Sam Montgomery is probably next year's bigtime 3-4 OLB (he's a sophomore), Alex Hurst (huge OT), and a mess of other juniors who could be picked but seem to be headed toward staying.

 

also here's a fantastic article about the inside zone -

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id...nning-game-helmed-nick-saban-trent-richardson

the inside zone and outside zone (which we also use for our option) make up most of our runs.

 

Not terribly impressed with Kirkpatrick. Upshaw is awesome, but just not a fit here.

 

I think you could make room for Upshaw- or maybe later, Hightower - and make yourself significantly more interesting. I mean, it's possible that we just go in with Anderson, Beason, Davis, and probably so, but a legitimate contingency that also includes edge rush takes care of numerous problems.

 

How would you do that because I'm not seeing it. If they went to a 3-4 full-time then Upshaw in the first would be a viable pick, but otherwise it looks like a terrible fit to me. As noted, I do not like Anderson at all at WLB, plus we can't get out of Thomas Davis' contract for now. Upshaw can't and shouldn't be an everydown 4-3 RDE. So you're left drafting a situational player who won't have an obvious starting spot for years to come with the 8th/9th pick overall.

 

I would be excited to see Hightower taken in the second round. Frankly, any player on either line or defense last night would excite me, given they are not a reach for their perceived value. When do juniors declare? I want to say March 15 is the date???

 

you don't like Anderson there, "as noted", but it's not your scenario. I'm willing to get him into that role to get a more solidly built player there that can make plays off the edge. This defense needs that, to a point. I like Upshaw strongside in either front, and hand on the ground only against the pass.

Yes, Davis probably does come back, but this is in the effort of creating a better team, and I'm not convinced that relying on both Thomas Davis and Jon Beason to be on the field a thousand snaps next year is realistic.

 

No kidding, and I expect Rivera won't want to gamble on that. We'll do something.