#C3 5th Round Draft Grade: Bene' Benwikere

Crew Critique

“Mel Mayock” aka @PanthersDrafter- So Bene Benwikere (pronounced Benay- Bin-wik-eree) is a guy that wouldn’t be playing CB if it weren’t for the competition he faced.  This guy was on the same high school team in California as Robert Woods (2nd Round Pick now with Buffalo), Paul Richardson (2nd Rd Pick now with

Seattle) and Marqise Lee (2nd Rd Pick now with Jacksonville).  This forced the high school WR to switch sides of the ball and the rest is history.  BB had 14 INTs while at San Jose St. and played both corner positions, safety, and nickel.  He is also a special teams standout.  This versatility, along with his intelligence is why, Dave Gettleman traded our 7th Rd

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.

How Carolina's Division Influences Their Draft Philosophy

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A wise man once said that the first thing you have to do as a NFL team is win your division.  It's really the only way to control whether you get into the playoffs or not.  Shooting for a wildcard spot leaves team disappointed more often than not. (See the Arizona Cardinals who won 10 games last year and sat home during the playoffs.)  If the Panthers don’t win the NFC South in 2014, Carolina will be competing with the likes of San Francisco or Seattle, along with those Cardinals, and others like the Packers or Bears for those final spots.  Two spots is not a lot.  Now maybe that will change to three spots, but still there will be a lot of quality teams vying for a few spots.

Who do the Panthers have in Jason Avant?

A Character S-Avant?

Part 2: Who does Carolina have, and what do they got?

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How does a guy with modest on-field production keep a roster position with the same NFL team for 8 years?  He doesn’t drop the rock and he strengthens the team in ways other than just catches, yards, and touchdowns.  This is how Jason Avant kept an active roster spot with the Eagles, and why the Panthers brought him to Carolina.

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:

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 Broadcast: Don't Mock the Draft Decide It!

Tonight @6 pm!  It's the Last Mock.  The Mock that Broke Google!

+Cat Chronicles has partnered with Drafttek.com expert analyst, Erin Ford, to bring you the premiere, fan focused, Carolina Panther draft mock up--DON'T MOCK THE DRAFT, DECIDE IT!  This was  massive 14 phase project, where fans chose the position drafted in each round and the the player the the Panthers should draft in that round. After PantherNation drafted their guy, Drafttek.com Panther analyst Erin Ford provided a custom player profile and draft analysis for each draft choice.  This was 14 phase process, where you controlled the discussion--because without the fans, football is just a kids game!

Panthers Working Hard Scouting Allen Robinson in Hours Left Before Draft

Late 1st-Rder RT @Rand_Getlin: The #Panthers are traveling for a last minute meeting with former #PennState WR Allen Robinson, per a source.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) May 3, 2014

Dave Gettleman said that the scouts wouldn't have any time off before the draft.  Looks like he wasn't kidding.  The Panthers need to have a strong draft this year to build on the momentum of last year's success. With a receiver core full of aging vets and unproven and mysterious rookies, the Panthers will certainly need to make some important additions to the offense.  C3 has been on the Allen Robinson bandwagon for sometime.  Prior to the combine, we forecasted him as Carolina's potential 1st Rd pick months ago.  His poor combine performance sent hurt his stock substantially. He would be a great value at #60 if he was still around, and it looks like Carolina recognizes that potential. He is a big body play-maker that can blossom into something special catching balls in Carolina.   Check C3's write-up on the Penn St. prospect, "Carolina Panthers' 1st Rd Draft Surprise: Allen Robinson, WR." 

What do you think about this tweet?  Do you think this means that we are not looking at receiver in the 1st or that we may be willing to expend a 1st Rd pick on Robinson?  Kind of hard to read, but I will be happy if Robinson lands in Carolina!  I'm just not sure if he will still be hanging around when the +Carolina Panthers are on the board at 60.

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!

Panther Fans Select a Mammoth Tackle in Round 6!

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Don't Mock the Draft, Decide It RD 6: Cornelius Lucas, OT

This PantherNation Fan Draft is turning out to be one that should make David Gettleman envious.  We can only hope it goes this way.  And thanks to the guys here at CCC for organizing such a great way to see who PantherNation wants. 

Ya’ll (or is it all ya’ll?) have selected: Mach 7, Brandin Cooks, at Pick #28, then a Huge Man in Jack Mewhort at Tackle in Round 2, an incredible up and coming CB in Pierre Desire in Round 3, Back-Yard Baller in Michael Campanaro in Round 4, hometown standout LB in Prince Shembo in Round 5 and now a mammoth diamondin the rough in Cornelius Lucas in Round 6.  I’m telling you this guy is a “Blue Goose” in the late rounds.  Had he not fractured his foot while training for the Combine, he would easily be projected in the top 100 Picks.  To me, that is what you do in the late rounds, you take someone that slid due to temporary setbacks. 

Think about this, he is 6’8, 316 lbs. with 37-inch arms and an 88-inch wingspan.  Watch the clip below to see how he moves very well for a man his size and how he gets out and finishes blocks.  Oh, did you hear he was recently cleared by Dr. James Andrews?  He’s ready to roll now and I’ve been grabbing him anywhere from the 5^th to the 6^th Rounds in my weekly DraftTek Draft simulations.  Check me out there at www.drafttek.com and follow me on Twitter @PanthersDrafter. 

Now let’s turn our attention to Round 7.  What position do you want to see, Panther Fans?  We could use a Safety, a Corner, another Olineman or a Dlineman.  Your call.  Let me hear you!

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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.

Decide The Draft Don't Mock It! Prince Shembo Coming Home To The Panthers in Round 5!

Don't Mock the Draft, Decide It RD 6

Hey Panther Fans, think about your draft so far:  Round 1- Playmaker Brandin Cooks  Round 2- Hog Molly Jack Mewhort Round 3. The Pierre Desir Island Round 4.- WF Standout and Back-yard Baller Michael Campanaro.  And now at Pick #168 in Round Five, PantherNation has spoken and have called one of our own home.  Audrey Kell High School product and Notre Dame standout, Prince Shembo, is the choice.   That is a First-Class Draft so far.  Let’s take a little deeper look at the new Prince of BOA: 

Prince Shembo had 86 tackles, 9 sacks, two forced-fumbles and two fumbles and two interceptions as a Junior at Audrey Kell.  Now that is some impressive numbers at that age.  Last season as a Junior at Notre Dame, he racked up 55 tackles as well as 7.5 sacks.  He lined up all over the field and has the strength to set the edge in the run game and to drop into coverage.  He’s the prototypical size too at 6’1, 253 lbs. with a 4.62 40 time.  Look for him to contribute on special teams right away while earning future playing time at linebacker.  Great Pick PantherNation.

Now, we have to turn our attention to Round 6.  We need more depth on the Offensive and Defensive Lines as well as our Secondary.  So vote today for what position we focus on next:  Offensive Lineman, Defensive Lineman, Safety, or Cornerback.  And follow me on Twitter for ongoing draft discussions at @PanthersDrafter.com

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Time to Pick a Linebacker in Round 5!

Don't Mock the Draft, Decide It RD 5!

With four rounds in the rearview mirror, PantherNation realizes this is the part of the draft that wins championships. (Click here to see picks 1-4)   Though a close vote in the latest Carolina Cat Chronicles poll, you want to see the Panthers take a LB at pick #168.  Good choice, we need depth behind Thomas Davis and Chase Blackburn.  We have AJ Klein who shows promise, but we need more depth for sure.  And in the 5^th RD we are also looking for that Special Teams Ace if possible.  Below are five candidates for your consideration.  Vote today.

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Why the Panthers will Draft an Offensive Tackle in Round One

People that have been paying attention to David Gettleman and his ways have noticed one thing about him so far. He isn't shy about pulling in lower-end free agents.

There is quite a list of names there, including Ted Ginn, Jr., Drayton Florence, Quentin Mikell, Mike Mitchell and many others last year while pretty much anyone at WR with an NFL catch on the roster right now was signed just this this year.

Fans can "fan"tasize about the shiny newest model-of-the-week WR toy for Cam but after having signed what appears to be a "normal" haul of low-enders, Mr. Gettleman so far has neglected one area of great interest...and that is one of offensive tackle.

I'm not blaming him because the reasons are simple: There is a premium placed on pass rushers and even more of a premium on those who can stop most of them.

Have you noticed how, in recent years, the RB position has been devalued? The trend should continue in 2014's draft but instead of making a mistake in the top-five with a Trent Richardson (and a top-5 RB pick is an anomaly these days let alone to whiff on it), I would be very surprised to see any RBs taken in the first round at all.

The top-3 left tackles will be long gone by #28 overall. Even questionably-positioned tackle Zack Martin of the Fighting Irish should be gone. 

Backyard Ballers: Furman's Dakota Dozier

Hey gang. So far in our "Backyard Ballers" we've had two from S.C. and just Monday my fellow friends here at C-cubed did a great job interviewing Wake Forest WR Mike Campanaro.

Today I'm going to take a look at a guy who has a lot working against him - small school, unsexy position, and learning a new position in the NFL.

Dakota Dozier played left tackle at tiny Furman University - it's a small school in the upstate of South Carolina which has actually been a powerhouse over the years in their area of the pond.

Like many smaller-school tackles, Dozier is a guy who projects as a guard in the NFL. Remember, Amini Silatolu was the same way from Midwestern State and each season the NFL sees several college tackles coming in being drafted as interior linemen. 

Camp Coming To Charlotte According To PantherNation

Michael Campanaro is your overwhelming selection for Cam’s now weapon in Rd 4.  And I for one think it is the right call.  Camp, who was interviewed on this site Monday night, brings a unique combination of Wes Welker-like sneakiness and Antonio Brown –like completeness.  He’s not the biggest WR out there, but he does run a 4.44 40 and knows how to get open and very rarely will you see him drop a pass.  One eye-popping stat on this young man

CAMP FEARLESS with Michael Campanaro Monday at 10 PM

Join "the Crew" Monday night as we interview former Wake Forest WR and "Backyard Baller" Michael Campanaro.  "Camp" is a big time talent that Cat Chronicles believes just could be a hidden gem in the 2014 draft.  He’s a fearless player that we think would fit perfectly with Carolina’s tough-nosed, gritty character under Ron Rivera. He will join us by phone during this week's show to talk about his combine performance, the draft, his NFL future, and you can bet we won't let him go without asking him about potentially catching passes from Cam Newton in 2014!  Be sure to join us for #CAMPFEARLESS, Monday 4/14 at 10 PM.  Leave a question in the comments section below for this Backyard Baller.  

Have Faith, Panthers Fans - Gettleman and Rivera on Top of their Game

It's a bit of a stormy Saturday afternoon outside and one I don't want to dabble in and got to thinking.

Yes - in my case, a mind is a terrible thing, but putting that aside for the moment, please humor me with a few minutes of your time to help calm your fears over recent events regarding the Carolina Panthers.

I just wanted to share my impressions of some of the things I've been seeing and hearing over the past couple of months regarding the roster and wanted to try and help keep the "fanship" on a bit more even-keel by pointing out a few things that we DO know and see where that leads us, hm?

Okay.

Please forgive any "rambling" here, but I'm trying to tie together a number of angles and it must necessarily be a bit wordy. Lots of information looked at, I promise. Bear with me. I gave up half a Saturday for you, so cut me some slack on this one okay? ;)

Despite any PC-like quotes Rivera may or may not say about a specific player, like DeSean "We'd be interested in looking at him" Jackson, General Manager David Gettleman has made things very, very clear on numerous occasions. In short, he wants to be able to have the ability to keep our home-grown "Star" (pun intended SO much) talent in Charlotte, and past the rookie four to five-year deals they start their careers there under.