Get to Know Prospect Shawn Oakman

Conventional wisdom says the Panthers need to grab either a Left Tackle or a Corner Back in the next NFL Draft.  One thing to remember (and that I hold fast to) is you fill team-needs through Free Agency and you take the Best Player Available when your team is on the clock.

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!

Backyard Ballers: Interview with Jimmy Legree, former Gamecock Corner

LIVE MONDAY, 4/28 @10 PM!

BACKYARD BALLER JIMMY "INSTINCT" LEGREE

Jimmy Legree, former SC #Gamecock  and NFL prospect, joins the C3 crew to talk about his college career, preparing for the NFL, the #USC  pro day, and the #Carolina  #Panthers. Check C3's player profile on Jimmy Legree from our "Backyard Ballers" series. 

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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You Have Spoken and PantherNation Chooses Pierre Desir in Rd. 3!

DON'T MOCK THE DRAFT, DECIDE IT RD 3

PantherNation is on fire!  After taking the electrifying Brandin Cooks in Rd. 1 and Hog-Mollie Jack Mewhort in Rd. 2, you have decisively selected Pierre Desir.  This big-time prospect out of little Lindenwood College has future star written all over him.  He is a great size at 6’1 198 lbs. and has great speed in the 4.4 range. 

But here’s why I love the pick:  Put a guy with natural athletic ability and fluid mechanics behind our mythical D-Line and there is the opportunity to have the next great player on our hands.  Greatness needs opportunity, support and talent, this situation lends to all three.  Watch how natural his turns are and how fluid and low his back pedal is.  The Panthers have worked this young man out and assuming he is there at Pick 92 you will hear this Panthers analyst erupt with excitement.  I can only imagine how good he will be with our front seven.  But a word of caution Panther Fans: Be patient.  He hasn’t faced the top-line competition that we will see week in and week out in the NFL.  He may falter early but the sky is the limit for this kid.  Great pick PantherNation! 

Want more highlights? 

Now on to Round 4.  The middle rounds are what separates the men from the boys, so let’s get this one right.  Vote for the position you want. Make your voice heard.  And follow me, Erin Ford, on twitter @PanthersDrafter

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Carolina Panthers Backyard Ballers: USC's WR Bruce Ellington

Backyard Baller: Bruce Ellington 

In this series' initial installment, I took a look at Clemson's offensive lineman Brandon Thomas and how he may project to the NFL, but the recent bad news on him is that he tore his ACL in training.

Now, we move to in-state rival University of South Carolina and have a look at one of the "other" players on their roster....someone whose last name doesn't rhyme with "frowney."

I did attend South Carolina's Pro Day last week, so I got to see him run his routes and catch some passes from QB Connor Shaw, so at least I did get an unfettered view of him in a comparison with his fellow WRs and the guy did stand out with crisp routes in general and smooth in his cuts.

That said, you have to give anyone's game tape a lot more weight than a few "backyard" pass patterns in shorts and a t-shirt without defenders. That was about the only drill he did, positional or otherwise, that I was able to see very well. There were literally hundreds and hundreds of other people all over the field.

We all know about Jadeveon Clowney, undoubtedly the premier athlete at ANY position in this year's NFL draft. In fact, it has been a number of years since such a freakish, productive college football player has entered his name into the hat for the next level.

But football is a team sport - again, as we all know - and several Gamecocks have been slowly but surely creeping up the draft board since the NFL combine.

Ellington is one of those guys.

First, let's review his vitals: He's only 5'9" but weighs in at 197 lbs, making him a very solidly-built young man very reminiscent of ex-Carolina Panther Captain Munnerlyn (5'8" 195 lbs.).

Bruce ran a 4.45 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, demonstrating very good speed for the position. He recorded 15 bench press repetitions at 225 lbs, showing very nice strength for a wide receiver prospect which puts a number of sorts on his frame and his strength for his stature. With a 39 1/2 inch vertical jump, ten feet even on the broad jump, a sub-4 seconds in the short shuttle and a very quick 6.69 seconds in the 3-cone, he shows agility equal  to his strength and speed.

Put this all together, and he compares well to another ex-Panther named Steve Smith.

Usually, smaller guys like Ellington (or Smitty) are relegated to the slot at the NFL level, but Ellington's strength may mean he's an exception to that general rule. It all depends on what team and system he finds himself in.

With that in mind, let's take a look at his strengths and weaknesses.

PantherNation Chooses Corner Back for Round 3!

DON'T MOCK THE DRAFT: 3rd RD 

Panther Nation’s closest vote yet came to a close and our choice is for a Corner Back in Round 3.  There is no denying this unit needs an infusion of talent.  So who’s it going to be Panther Nation?  Vote now from the below candidates to have the next Carolina Island named after him:

1.      Stanley Jean-Baptiste- This WR converted to Corner Back out of Nebraska is the  prototypical “new-age” Corner Back made en vogue by Seattle.  Long and instinctive defender measuring in at 6’3, 218 lbs.  He’s a little stiff in the hips but has a knack to make the big play and will be a hot commodity on Draft Day

2.     Keith McGill- Another lengthy and physical athlete out of Utah.  At 6’3 211, he runs a sub 4.45 40.  Look for McGill to rise up the board on Draft Day

3.     Pierre Desir- This is another long corner back at 6’1 198 lbs.  Exceptional athlete with solid mechanics.  Small school product that may take a little time to adjust to elite competition, but very high ceiling.  Recently met with the Panthers

4.    Marcus Roberson-  This Florida Gator is a very talented and intriguing prospect.  Also good size at 6’0 191 lbs. and is flying under the radar due to missing much of last season due to injury.  But look for this fluid athlete to turn heads in his rookie season

5.    Victor Hampton- This Charlotte native isn't the ideal size but is very effective.  At 5’9 197 lbs., this sparkplug plays with a chip on his shoulder and would instantly become our Nickel Back and is a punt returner as well.  Captain Munnerlyn 2.0?

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Make this vote count Panther Nation.  Who is going to be the guy to shut down Julio Jones, Vincent Jackson and Marques Colston for years to come?  Follow me on Twitter @PanthersDrafter for updates and ongoing Panthers discussions.

At Pick #60 PantherNation Selects Hog-Molly Jack Mewhort

Don't Mock the Draft, Decide It RD 2

PantherNation has spoken clearly once again.  Though a tough choice, your selection for our 2^nd Round Pick is All-American Ohio State Buckeye, Jack Mewhort.  At 6’6 and 309 lbs., this Hog-Molly sure looks the part.  I love this pick at #60, as he is known as a powerful blocker with a lot of traits that the Panthers covet:  He is naturally big with an absolutely huge wing-span of 80 ¼ Inches.   He was voted Team Captain by his peers, is very durable and can play all five positions on the line.  He does need to learn to play lower, as he won’t be able to overpower everyone in the NFL the way he did in college.  But take a look at what Coach Urban Meyer has to say about his “tough guy,”and look for him to immediately upgrade our line and make a big difference. 

Again, great job making your voice heard PantherNation.  Now you have to decide what position we pick at Pick #92.  Another Wide Receiver, Offensive Lineman, Defensive Back?  Vote now.  Then follow me on Twitter @PanthersDrafter and read my Panther Picks at www.drafttek.com.

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Carolina Panthers: Trading Experience for Hope

The Carolina Panthers aren’t known for making a whole lot of noise in the off season. Being the second youngest team in the NFL, they tend to just sit back and prepare for the draft. That’s exactly what was expected in the 2014 off-season, but what Panther fan’s got was the complete opposite.

Carolina ended the 2013/14 season with a winning record and a trip to the playoffs, where they were embarrassed on their home turf against the San Francisco 49ers. It’s a tough loss that will haunt the team and fans forever.

On the bright side, the Panthers finally had a solid foundation to build an excellent football team. However, due to egos, politics, and money, the Panthers successfully got rid of half of their starters, including the man who brought passion and fire to the offense, Steve Smith. Nobody will ever know the truth about what happened behind closed doors, but from a fan’s perspective, it looks as though the Panthers are giving up already on next season. With the export of players exceeding the amount of players imported, the Panthers need to really do their homework and make every pick in the 2014 NFL draft count. The Panthers need to focus on the later round picks to try and sniff out the talent that might be flying under the radar, such as a Michael Campanaro from Wake Forest. 

Carolina Panthers' 1st Rd Draft Surprise: Allen Robinson, WR

Jaws would drop. Fans would stand shocked as Roger Goodell announced, “at 28th pick the Carolina Panthers draft Allen Robinson, wide receiver from Penn State University.”  What? With a name like Benjamin, Cooks, Landry, Beckham, Jr., or Matthews still on the board and Gettleman’s love of the “hogmolly,” how could the accomplished, but rather unacclaimed pick from Penn jump into the 1st? McShay and Kiper will talk of Robinson’s talent and upside, how they like what they saw from him, but they will also drone endlessly that Robinson could been grabbed mid to late 2nd Rd.  

Ludicrous, right?  I mean the team’s 1st Rd. pick on a guy who would be the #3 option for the season.  Shouldn’t the Panthers look for a more immediate impact player? It just wouldn’t make sense—at first glance that is.  Fans may be stunned if Robinson was picked at #28, but they wouldn’t be disappointed.  

There’s a lot overlooked about Robinson that has prevented him from infiltrating top wide receiver draft boards. Robinson has the characteristics of a star NFL wideout: big, good hands, a good route runner, smart, hardworking, and can jump out the gym. Not to mention, he doesn’t appear to have any diva, so often associated with wideouts.  What is most overlooked about this potential star is his road to the draft.  His football past, or lack thereof, has contributed to draft prognosticators’ skepticism.  Robinson could just leap into the 1^st Rd, become the #1 receiving option in Carolina after Smith retires and, in the end, be one the best overall talents of 2014 NFL draft.  

If he is so good and has so much potential, why isn’t everyone talking him up?  I mean his draft stock should be trending up by now.  Outside of Pennsylvania, people just haven’t seen enough of him yet to draw national fanfare.  

Robinson’s Road

Robinson wasn't one of those high school kids that had the big press conference on college signing day.  His high school career didn’t garnered that much attention from big college programs.  He had played more basketball than football, missing a full football season from growing pains.  Yea, growing pains! Robinson grew 6” inches just before his sophomore year gained more than 35lbs before he left St. Mary’s prep.

The three star recruit who wasn’t seen as a starter, let alone a star, recorded only 3 catches for 29 yards his freshman year. Still skinny for his height, Robinson continued to grow both physically and as a player when Bill O'Brien took over the troubled program.  Robinson exploded during his sophomore and junior season in O'Brien’s pro-style offense, “winning back to back Big 10 receiver of the year awards.”  Robinson opted to enter the NFL draft, a year too early according to some, after O'Brien’s departure.  

Reasons Robinson Will Succeed

Work Ethic and Football Intelligence:

Robinson wasn’t ordained a star from the beginning.  He had to work hard to prove his worth to the Nittany Lions after a 3 rec/25 yds freshman year.  Instead of becoming downtrodden, Robinson used this as motivation in the offseason, pushing himself mentally and physically.  Commenting on his determination and improvement, Bill O’Brien stated:

“He worked extremely hard on his own game, getting stronger, getting faster, and getting quicker. He worked hard with Christian when he arrived here. You have to give him a lot of credit for the year he’s having. He’s done a really good job to date this year.”

Robinson has a lot of skill, talent, and physical ability.  Nevertheless, it’s his maturity and level-headedness that really makes him a special player.  He has a collected demeanor that seems unshakable and isn’t above putting his head down and working hard to get better.  These characteristics usually differentiate talented prospects from top NFL talents.  Former coach O’Brien, now Houston Texan head coach, praised,

“Allen Robinson is a very smart guy. He’s very football smart and he’s very smart off the field. He’s just an intelligent guy. He really worked hard this offseason to improve his individual skill set...“He works extremely hard at the game, studies the game. He’s a fantastic kid.”

Skill Set and Potential

 The hard work paid off in Robinson’s sophomore season, when he became the best wide receiver season in Penn St. history.  After surpassing names like Bobby Ingram with 77 catches in his sophomore campaign, he shattered his own record by catching 97 balls from a freshman during his junior season. He has great size (6’3, 208), with room to get bigger. He’s a surprisingly good route runner for what was a very short college career.  Oh and did I mention the boy can has great hands and can jump out the gym? I mean look at this catch against Michigan.

Final Assessment

It will come down to Robinson’s 40 yard time at the combine.  Everyone wants to know, does this kid have NFL speed?  There are varying reports on his 40 time.  One Penn St. resource unofficially clocked at 4.43 and CBS has him listed much slower at 4.56.  GMs will be looking at this measurement during the combine. He will only get stronger, more refined, and he has the ups, but is he fast?  Can he be a threat downfield? Few are expecting Robinson to a 4.36, but if he clocks a 4.46, he should be a 1st Rd draft pick!  I would be ecstatic if it were the Panthers who landed him. Robinson has the ability to contribute now, that’s not what excites me most about him.  Robinson has the potential to be great.  He’s got it physically and mentally. I’d love to see it happen in Carolina!