“Not to call those guys
[Carolina] out, but their secondary is probably their weakest link on their
defense
--Santonio Holmes
Holmes caught more flack
than footballs for his comments while in Carolina, not because they were
disrespectful, but because he was right.
Crazy talk huh? The #2
overall defense, supported by the #6 pass defense, could only be so weak you
would think. The truth though is that Carolina’s secondary played better than
they really are in 2013. It’s foolish to expect this caliber of play regularly
going into 2014 from a piecemeal squad of war-weary veteran journeymen, thought
to be bust and cuts, an undrafted free agent, and a tenacious miniature man.
Sorry, the truth hurts.
The secondary is the
weak link. I can’t remember any game where I wasn’t nervous that
Carolina’s pass rush may be bottled up, leaving the secondary to fend for
themselves. The chance of being torched was all too real. Remember
Seattle. Buffalo. Arizona. New Orleans. Oh and San Francisco?
Fan chatter to this
point has mostly harped on signing Greg Hardy to establish potentially one of
the best defensive lines ever, getting Cam more protection, and adding a potent
wide receiver to the mix. Fans have seesawed consistently between
offensive tackle and wide receiver when speculating about Carolina’s 1st Rd
pick. Speculation concerning Carolina strengthening the secondary in the
draft has been sparse.
Here’s a peek at 10
cornerbacks the Panthers will surely have their eyes on at this weekend’s
combine.
1st Rd Stunners: Not many fans believe that Carolina will pick a
CB at #28 given Gettleman’s professed love for hogmollies and the glaring need
for a WR. There’s more depth at offensive tackle and wide receiver than at
defensive back, however. If strengthening the secondary turns out to be
Dave Gettleman's top priority, he may have to look to the 1st Rd for a sure
impact.
Marcus Roberson, FSU- (6’0, 195 lbs) The Florida cornerback, who was courted by
Auburn, chose to stay close to home, playing a significant role in Florida’s
resurgence over the past two years. He’s a big, physical corner, who has the
tendency to get a bit handsy. He has quick feet and hip movement.
He isn’t the greatest tackler, and durability will be a concern for the
Panthers while evaluating Roberson. He missed five games in 2013 with
knee and foot injuries. The combine will be important for Roberson. There are
some minor character concerns, so Roberson will have to interview well and
check out well with the doctors. He doesn’t have the fanfare of other corners,
but there is a big upside to him if he can stay healthy.
Bradley Roby, OSU (5’11, 192 lbs) Has good size and amazing speed. Word
around Ohio is that Roby once ran a 4.26/40yd and consistently runs 4.3 speed
in practice. This is the type of speed can’t be taught and would allow Roby
compete with speedy wideouts like Mike Wallace, who torched the Panthers
secondary in 2013. He has great ball skills and instincts, and isn’t afraid to
jump a route, step up in rush coverage, or layout a big boy. The great news is
that Roby has a lot of room to improve, but demonstrates the talent to become a
top NFL corner. He had a humbling last year in Ohio that I think will pay
dividends in the NFL. Roby has seen how the hype can dissipate quickly.
He has already been introduced to the idea that people’s views of a
player’s potential and value hinges only on what they did in the last game.
Expect Roby’s stock to rise after the combine. His sheer
athleticism will impress and #28 may even be a stretch.
2nd Rd Realities: Not many fans believe Gettleman will go after a
corner in the 2nd Rd. Cornerback is one of the harder positions to fill at the
pro level. Generally, the drop off is distinct from the 1-2 round prospects and
round 3-4 players. Often if you are going to grab a corner that will make a
difference quickly, it happens by the 2nd round. This may be the factor that
forces Gettleman to consider a defensive back ahead of a wide receiver or
offensive tackle.
Kyle Fuller, VT (6’0, 194 lbs)- He may just be the hidden gem of the draft.
Fuller is a hard worker, has a solid game, and has been predicted by some
to be the #3 overall corner in the draft. He’s tough, fast, big, and has
the chops to make it in the pros. He isn’t graded as a first round
talent, but he has the upside of one. He predicts routes well, plays the ball,
and has the speed to keep up downfield. Fuller did have a serious groin tear
that ended his senior season early. He doesn’t always have the best
tackling technique, but he is tough and aggressive. Durability will be the
concern for NFL GMs evaluating Fuller. His season ending injury may depress his
stock enough for the Panthers to make a move in the 2nd Rd.
Louchiez Purifoy, FL
(6’0 190)- Here’s a guy that
could legitimately be on the board at #60 who probably shouldn’t. He
has an NFL physique, Bradley Roby like speed, and good football instincts.
Purifoy had a standout sophomore season in 2012, registering 51 tackles, 3
INTs, and 5 PDs. His junior year wasn’t as impressive, notching only 27
tackles, 0 INTs, but he did force three fumbles. His pass breakups also
went down significantly...to zero. Purifoy’s performance is somewhat puzzling
and there are some questions surrounding him that GMs will be trying to answer
in combine interviews. Purifoy was suspended a game to start the season
after being arrested for marijuana possession. The charges were eventually
dropped, so the offense appears rather minor, but it won’t help his draft status
in light of diminished production. Purifoy also left a year early under some
bewildering circumstances. Some
have suggested that both he and Florida were ready to part ways, causing him to enter the draft early, despite
a less than stellar junior season. Purifoy has some real potential and,
with 4.37 40yd speed, he will be hard to pass up in the 2nd.
3rd Rd Reaches: Most fans believe the Panthers will draft an
offensive lineman or wide receiver in the 1st. If Carolina does draft a
hogmolly first, the likelihood of drafting a corner in the 3rd increases
significantly. No matter how deep this receiver class may be, once you get to
the 3rd round it becomes exponentially more difficult to land a receiver that
can be an immediate contributor. In this case, Carolina will likely look to add
a receiver in the 2nd to avoid taking on a developmental offensive prospect in
the 3rd. Here are a few guys that could be helpful 3rd round additions if a
secondary need has yet to be addressed. .
