Blast from the Past: My 2012 first-round "wish"

When I wrote for catcrave.com over on the Fansided network, my then-editor asked all the writers to do a piece on who the Panthers should take with their #9 overall pick.

Since we're currently in "wait and see" mode in the offseason, I thought I'd reprint it and share it with our loyal readers here at CarolinaCatChronicles:

Panthers' Draft Shows Rushing the Passer Reigns Supreme

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"Mel Mayock's" last post got me to thinking about how teams are built, what they do, and why they do it. I'm taking a bit of a bigger-picture look at things here.

One Piece of The Draft Puzzle: Expiring Contracts

Some people see "the Draft" as a weekend event.  In reality, "the Draft" is a 365 day process of intensive evaluation.  This process has many moving parts that all fit together to form a large puzzle-like picture.  Preparations for the 2015 draft are happening as we speak. You can bet Gettleman is breaking the pieces down, whether it is roster composition, contracts, or evaluating free agency options.

One piece of the puzzle is scouting the prospects who will be playing on Saturdays this fall, and we’ll do plenty of that here at #C3 in the coming months.  But another, more understated piece of the draft puzzle deals with knowing your own team.  GM David Gettleman has talked about this a few times and has stated how important it is to know your squad.  I’ve started looking at

Carolina Panthers 2014 Draft Class

The 2014 NFL draft came and went fairly quickly. There weren't too many big shockers this year minus the great Johnny Football falling to the 22nd pick. After the draft ended, everyone scrambled to research their new players and grade the teams on their efforts in the draft. The consensus for the Carolina Panthers draft class grade is at about a C.  

      

As a die hard Panthers fan, I’m torn between this year’s draft picks. Obviously, I’m giving the coaching staff the benefit of the doubt and I will grade the Panthers with a B-.

       

With the first round pick, the Panthers selected Kelvin Benjamin, wide receiver from Florida State University. Although I was hoping for an offensive lineman, I still really like this pick. Benjamin easily has the skills to be a starter at the beginning of the season. He is a huge target for quarterback Cam Newton, who has a tendency to let the ball fly high sometimes. Benjamin also gives the Panthers a different threat in the red zone other than Mike Tolbert smashing the ball down the middle. 

Unleashing the #C3 Podcast

The #C3 Crew, who have faces made for radio, is bringing you Panther media in all forms, video and now audio.  Check out our first Cat Chronicles show converted audio podcast.  It should be easy to access, and as all of our advice....it's FREE.  The podcast will be somewhat intermittent prior to the pre-season.  Once the season kicks off, it will be a weekly produced bit.  So do us a solid and check it out and pass it along!

That Draft's a Wrap.....Now What? Panthers Draft Review and Grades

https://ia902508.us.archive.org/14/items/TheDraftsAWrap...NowWhat/The%20Draft%27s%20a%20Wrap...Now%20What-.mp3

That Draft's a Wrap....Now What?

LIVE TONIGHT @10 pm 

#C3  Crew provides analysis on the Carolina Panthers 2014 draft.   Joined by draft analyst Mel Mayock, aka +Panther Drafter," the Professor" and that "Freakin Puerto Rican" break down all six picks and see how they fit into the personnel plan.  In lieu, of recent events concerning Greg Hardy, the guys can't help but give their two cents on the matter.

#C3 Round 2 Draft Grade: Kony Ealy

As usual, the 2014 draft reminded us that it never goes down the way it was forecasted. So how did the Panthers do? Check C3’s s rundown of Carolina’s 2nd Rd selection, Kony Ealy.  The crew tells you if we got a blue goose or just got stuck with bill some Gray Goose.

Crew Critique

“Mel Mayock” aka @PanthersDrafter-  It was almost prophetic that we selected Ealy at Pick 60 (more on that later).  And trust me, he was in play at 28.  Here is what I wrote back in March for a Draft Simulation that I did

Alternative Carolina Panthers "AfterMock" Draft

The consensus of the 2014 Carolina Panthers draft seems to be that fans like parts of it and don't like others. That much is par for the course, but I think the one thing most of us have in common is that "need" positions on offense weren't addressed adequately. 

Let's take a look at what an "alternative" draft might have looked like, with each of the following picks having been someone on the board AFTER the player we took was picked:

Let's Compare Our Picks to The Real Results

So PantherNation, how did we do?  Let’s compare the Panther Fan led draft on this very website to the one that actually went down.  At this point I have mixed feelings about the real draft’s outcome.  But in reality we won’t know how good or bad it is for at least a year if not longer.  But let’s compare picks round by round anyway:

Carolina Panthers Draft Grade

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I'll just give you a hint to start with: When the draft was over with and Carolina's picks were in, my reaction was "We waited months for THIS?"

Real-time Panthers Fan Reactions to the Kelvin Benjamin Pick

This draft has been anything but predictable.  Check the C3 crew's real-time reaction to the +Carolina Panthers 1st Rd selection, Kelvin Benjamin.

C3 Live Carolina Panthers Draft Party!

C3's inaugural NFL Draft Party.  The crew, with special guests, will commentate the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.  All NFL fans are welcome.  All Panther fans will be at home!  

Panthers Pick Kelvin Benjamin pt 4/4

Panthers Draft Party pt. 1/4

Panthers Draft Party pt. 2/4

Panthers Draft Party pt. 3/4

Time to put a bow on the 7 Rd. Don't Mock The Draft Decide it! Vote Today!

Don't Mock the Draft, Decide It RD 7

Well PantherNation, it has been a blast so far and we are down to the final vote of the 2014 Panthers Don’t Mock the Draft, Decide it!  And your voice was heard and it has decided that you want to add a cornerback with Pick #204.  So who’s going to have their own Island at Bank of America Stadium?  You decide from the five worthy candidates below: 

1-     Loucheiz Pourifoy- This Florida State CB has been mocked by me in the late 6^th early 7^th quite frequently in my DraftTek Mock Drafts.  Good size at 6’0, 190 lbs.  4.6 40 and an unimpressive 6 reps on the Bench Press push his stock down.  But he can play and was 2^nd Team All-SEC. 

2-   Ricardo Allen- Capt. Munnerlyn sized at 5’9, 186.  Four –year starter out of Purdue that returned 13 out of 14 career interceptions for touchdowns.  Punt returner too!  But his 4.61 speed to go with his size push him to the 7^th Round. 

3-    Bene Benwikere- This is a good looking prospect out of San Jose St.  Ideal size at 6’0 193 lbs.  Very clean player with 14 career interceptions but his 4.61 40 pushes him down to this point.

4-   Deion Belue- This Alabama CB also serves as a Kickoff and Punt Returner.  Was a JUCO Transfer but started for the Tide the last two seasons.  Has good size at 5’11 184 lbs. and under performed last year after dealing with turf toe.  This also kept him out of the Combine.  Diamond in the rough?

5-    Nevin Lawson- Another Captain Munnerlyn clone at 5’9 193 lbs.  Very instinctive and tough player out of Utah State.  Adds extra value by playing the Gunner on Special Teams and runs a 4.48 40 with an impressive 16 reps on the bench press.  I like this kid and if we don’t get him in 7^th, I see him as a Priority Free agent.

So now you have your five to choose from.  Who is it going to be?  Make it count and join us Monday night for a recap of your 7 round selections.  Is it draft day yet?  ~@PanthersDrafter

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Cat Chronicles Represented PantherNation in the "Extra Point" with Sharona Fabulosa!

PantherNation give a tip of the cap to the Extra Point's  +Sharona Fabulosa for inviting +Cat Chronicles to rep on the NFC South Draft Preview Special.  I had a great time and talked a lot of good football about the +Carolina Panthers and our divisional opponents.  All C3's family knows how we do, so you'll have to check the sign I brought to the show!

Is the BPA Draft Strategy Really Just BS?

Is the BPA (best player available) draft strategy really just BS? Yea, kind of. No one really thinks that BPA can be applied sterilely in every situation.  If that was the case, GMs would have to take players that wouldn’t start or improve the make-up of their team. The extreme example of a team with a franchise quarterback, like New England or Green Bay, taking a quarterback over a top rated player in a position of need alone dispels sterile application of BPA.

But the Godfather Gettleman has reminded us over and over that is what Carolina plans to do, take the best player available.

Backyard Ballers: Carolina Gamecock Jimmy Legree

Jimmy Legree was a good corner for the Carolina Gamecocks for several years and spent the vast majority of his time as a starter after redshirting during his freshman season. In 2012 and 2013, Jimmy was an integral part of their defensive backfield.

When he came out of high school, he was either a 2- or 3-star recruit. Translation: decent player but probably won't be a star.

Inserted as the starting free safety in 2011 after a strong 2-pick showing in the spring game, Legree struggled and after two games the young player was used on special teams and from the bench.

In 2012, he moved to the cornerback position and that's where he hit his stride. Not letting his uneven play from 2011 keep him down, he got back up and went right at it with gusto. It didn't take him long to prove to the Head Ball Coach that he could cover wide receivers and appeared in every game since then, sharing time at the position with teammate Akeem Auguste.

You've gotta admire a guy who faces adversity, gets knocked down, gets back up, and is better than ever for it. It demonstrates character, resilience, and a can-do attitude that every NFL team desires in their players.

Pick Another Toy For Cam in Round 4!

Don't Mock the Draft, Decide It RD 4!

So far, PantherNation has selected Mach 7 Brandin Cooks in Rd 1, Hog-Molly Jack Mewhort in Rd 2 and top-flight Corner Pierre Desire in Rd 3.  Now you have spoken again and overwhelmingly want another toy for Cam to play with on Sundays.  Taking a look at the current roster, Cooks provides the deep threat and home run capability, Cotchery and Avant provide the steady and experienced veterans that will teach the young guys how to be Professionals.  Now we need a guy that can grow with Cam that can be that go-to guy in terms of being able to convert on third down and can grow along with Cooks and Cam. 

This year’s WR Draft class is the deepest in recent memory.  Take a look at the below five quality candidates that we can nab in the 4th RD.  All would look good in Carolina Black & Blue.  So who’s it going to be?  It is highly doubtful that the Panthers take three Wide Receivers so make this vote count. 

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1.      Michael Campanaro-  This “Backyard Baller” out of Wake Forest reminds this analyst a lot of Wes Welker.  Camp once caught 16 passes in a single game and would complement Cooks, Avant and Cotchery nicely as he brings a different dimension.  He has been worked out by the Panthers and is going to be interviewed live on this website on Monday April 14^th at 10:00 PM EST.  Tune in and learn more. For now, watch this and “Camp out with Campanaro:”