Is There Any Fantasy Value on the Panthers other than Cam?

The ESPN Top 200 and The Other Panther’s Early Fantasy Outlook

In the ESPN Fantasy Projections Pre-rankings, after Cam Newton’s third round appearance, there isn’t a lot of Carolina on the list for a while. Clearly the all knowing, infallible, and never long winded Matthew Berry has very little faith in the Panther’s offense. I’ve never been shy about saying that I’m not a huge fan of the Talented Mr. Roto, but I do respect his faith in Cam Newton over the years. That being said, there are definitely some Carolina fantasy gems that slipped through the cracks into the later rounds. In a Twelve Man, standard scoring, normal setup, sixteen round snake redraft league, that isn’t auction or IDP, the first half of the draft is mostly QBs, RBs, and WRs, and the Cats have exactly one (Least in the NFL).

But if you are feeling nerdy like me and after most people’s mock draft has automatically switched to auto-pick, Greg Olsen comes nexton the list at #86, ranked TE9. This is statistically about where he ended up at the end of last year, as the whole TE list is essentially a copy and paste of last year’s scoring leaders, just substitute Gronk for Gonzo. Personally, I think that saying Olsen is barely draftable as a TE1 is a joke. Cam is going to have to throw more than run on that ankle (especially early on), Olsen is a great receiving tight end, and he is practically the only player on the team Newton has thrown a touchdown to. In football we talk about building a rapport with your receivers, and as of a few weeks ago, Greg was the only passing target Cam Newton had even met, and now he will spend most of the offseason on an exercise bike.  Of all the tight ends in the top ten, Olsen and Jordan Cameron are the only ones whose value has shifted significantly in the offseason, and I feel that the rankings do not reflect that. I have him ranked at TE6, making him round five value, available in the eighth.     

#C3 Podcast "Divisions Run Deep--A Look in the NFC South Schedule"

Panther fans, #C3 bringing you that fan focused +Carolina Panthers podcast.  This was a power-packed show that looked at Carolina's divisional match-ups in the context of the season schedule.  Not only was the discussion raging, but the round-table was full of #C3 stars (+Ken Dye, +Panther Drafter, +Patrick Newton, +Joe Riollano, +Cat Chronicles).  Check it out!  Download, stream, share...watch the vid.



Need a download link? Click here to download #C3 Podcast

Want the video podcast?  

#C3 Pops Through the Black and Blue Podcast (Give this a listen....TeamBoydTV.com runs it)

We had the privileged to jump in the Black and Blue Podcast with +Bigg Q TeamBoydTV and talk Carolina Panthers.  PantherNation needs to check TeamBoydTV.com, these guys run it on YouTube, Spreaker, Twitter....BiggQ and his boys are the coolest.



Here's another link to make sure you check out this podcast.  It is a must listen if you like being a Panthers fan. http://www.spreaker.com/user/teamboydtv/11-cat-chronicles-take-over-show

Divisions Run Deep: Carolina Panthers Divisional Schedule Analysis

Join us live at 10 pm as we look at those we hate the most--our divisional rivals! #C3 will look at divisional match-ups in the context of the schedule and season.  Tweet us at the hashtag #C3 during to the show to voice your dislike for our divisional foes.  Divisions run deep....don't forget that! 

Joe picked up some sweet gear at The Fanzone in Charleston today.  He'll be showing it off in tonight's show! 

Carolina's Receiving Corps Isn't the Worst, It's Just Unknown

I have been looking at Carolina's receiving corps and trying to see what we have among so many unknowns. Last year, before training camp, we started out with Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, David Gettis, Lamont Bryant, Domenik Hixon, and Ted Ginn, Jr. I thought LaFell would really have some competition, but Bryant suffered an off-field injury, Hixon struggled with his hammy, and after 3 good preseason games Gettis got hurt during warm ups during the  last preseason game. Fast forward through through the first 4 games, and I was amazed at how well Cam was playing in spite of our 1-3 record. A lot of blame could be put on Shula and his conservative approach when trying to figure out what Carolina had. In the Bills and Cardinals

A Look at Cam Newton's Early Fantasy Outlook

The ESPN Top 200 and Cam Newton’s Early Fantasy Outlook

Well Panthers fans, the draft is over, OTA's are underway, the mock draft lobbies are open, and the official ESPN standard scoring pre-draft fantasy projections rankings are out.  Several sites have released their lists, but I chose to look at the ESPN list both because of its immense popularity, unquestionable influence, and unwavering conservatism.  Obviously this early on there are some kinks to work out; Josh Gordon's #19 rank comes to mind, but overall the list is pretty solid.

#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

Perception Is Not Always Reality When It Comes To Our Panthers

Most of us have been Panther Fans for a long time.  We love our team, we love our city, and we love our Preseason predictions.  This got me thinking; so I asked a few die-hards on Twitter what they thought our strongest positional group (other than DE) would be this year.  Some interesting responses were given such as fullback, defensive tackle, and the obvious linebacker.  One die-hard even joked offensive tackle:

@PanthersDrafter @Cat_Chronicles @JoeRiollano @sdanner52 @clyde1784 @CPantherfan LB for sure. Followed closely by OT. Just kidding
— Brad Hayes (@aidendrakesdad) May 25, 2014

Almost every year a perceived weakness is stronger than though, and a

Wondering about the Wonderlic Test? Here are some Answers

Every year around draft time, we hear about some vacuous, "wonderful" Wonderlic test....and those who scored low scores on it.

First of all, what exactly is it? Well, there are a few different versions of it.

The following is from test-prep online.com:

Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Tests are among the most widely used tests for pre-employment aptitude testing and for academic admissions tests. They are also famous for their use in the NFL draft.

Panthers' Draft Shows Rushing the Passer Reigns Supreme

#105999328 / gettyimages.com

"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.

The Only Time Derek Anderson Ever Clowned Charles Johnson

It’s not every day that Derek Anderson gets to clown an NFL defensive end, let alone a quarterback eating monster like Charles “Big Money” Johnson. Anderson made the most of a rare opportunity yesterday when he joked on Panther defensive stud, Johnson, about being a fat running back that ate his way from the offense to the defense.

How Carolina's Division Influences Their Draft Philosophy

#454333173 / gettyimages.com

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?

#83624777 / gettyimages.com

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.

#C3 Round 4 Draft Grades: Tre Boston

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 4th Rd selection, Tre Boston.  The crew tells you if we got a blue goose or just got stuck with some Gray Goose, mmm makes me thirsty.

						Tackles					Def Int					Fumbles
Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Solo	Ast	Tot	Loss	Sk	Int	Yds	Avg	TD	PD	FR	Yds	TD	FF
*2010	North Carolina	ACC	SR	DB	10	24	8	32	1.0	0.0	1	2	2.0	0	5	0	0	0	2
*2011	North Carolina	ACC	SR	DB	13	48	22	70	1.5	0.0	3	20	6.7	0	5	0	0	0	1
2012	North Carolina	ACC	SR	DB	12	49	37	86	1.0	0.0	4	38	9.5	1	10	0	0	0	0
*2013	North Carolina	ACC	SR	S	6	49	45	94	4.5	0.0	5	19	3.8	0	8				0
Career	North Carolina					170	112	282	8.0	0.0	13	79	6.1	1	28	0	0	0	3

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CFB: View Original Table
Generated 5/19/2014.

Crew Critique

“Mel Mayock” aka @PanthersDrafter- I really think we were targeting Pierre Desir at this spot and we just missed out on him to Cleveland.  I think this is where Gettleman should have traded up to ensure we got the man we desired (get it?).  But Tre Boston is a guy that I like a lot.  He played four years and every spot in the defensive backfield.  You also want a guy that got

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. 

#C3 Round 3 Draft Grades: Trai Turner, G

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 3rd Rd selection, Trai Turner.  The crew tells you if we got a blue goose or just got stuck with some Gray Goose, mmm makes me thirsty.

Crew Critique

“Mel Mayock” aka @PanthersDrafter-  We said we wanted cornerback Pierre Desir in the 3rd Round, but instead we got great value in guard Trai  Turner.  Carolina still almost nabbed Desir in the next round, missing him

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

Greg Hardy 911 Call

Click the link below to listen!

Greg Hardy's 911 Call 

Reactions? You can almost hear the money flying out of his pocket. 

They Don’t Call Charles Johnson “Big Money” for Nothing

#105999328 / gettyimages.com

Carolina’s premier pass rushers, Charles “Big Money” Johnson and Greg “the Kraken” Hardy, couldn’t have more polar personalities. Described as the “Odd Couple,” the two differ in nearly every respect.  Big Money, or “Chuck,” has the big contract and reticent personality. Not known for being particularly vocal in the locker room, Charlotte News and Observer’s Joe Person describes Johnson as a reluctant leader, and his teammates color him as “professional” and as a “normal guy.”  In contrast, teammates describe “Little Money” Hardy as a “guy who is a little off.”  Hardy’s alter ego, “the Kraken,” highlights his cavalier and domineering personality, which starkly contrasts the unsung hero Charles Johnson.

Greg Hardy Arrested

The Kraken has been arrested on suspicion of domestic violence involving an incident with his girlfriend, reported WSOC Charlotte today around noon and confirmed by numerous sources. 

We have received confirmation that #Carolina #Panthers defensive end, Greg Hardy, was arrested on domestic violence charges.
— Amanda O'Hara (@OHaraFOX46) May 13, 2014

The charges are misdemeanor. #Panthers
— Amanda O'Hara (@OHaraFOX46) May 13, 2014

This was just a preliminary report, which hopefully will be followed by details shedding further light on the matter. Reports suggest that these are misdemeanor charges, likely resultant of verbally accosting the victim.  Panther fans have already demonstrated dismay by the Kraken's arrest.

#C3's 1st RD Crew Review

Like it or not, the Carolina Panthers completed the 2014 draft.  The draft reminded us that it never goes down the way it’s forecasted. So how did we do? Check C’s rundown of Carolina’s 1st Rd selection, Kelvin Benjamin.  

Crew Review- B-

“The Professor”- This was a safe pick.  There were a lot of guys on the board who are more dynamic right

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

#154077550 / gettyimages.com

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?"

Why Mock Drafts Fail

We've all seen them and we as writer-bloggers have all held them. I've done more than I'd like to in an entire lifetime.

I'm talking about "mock" drafts. They're ALWAYS, without exception, WRONG.

Why?

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.

Round One has the Usual Surprises - Here are the Ones I See

FINALLY the much-hyped first round of the NFL draft is done with! David Gettleman selected Kelvin Benjamin, a very raw but very big talent from last year's national championship team, the FSU Seminoles.

Now, heads turn to rounds 2-3 this evening at 7 pm. Carolina drafts at numbers 2-60 and 3-92 after a wild, strange round one. It seems like every draft, we make our "mocks" which are always ALWAYS wrong, but do serve several purposes: They're informative as to team needs and illustrative of overall thoughts about the talent level of the players involved. There are always some surprises and and some head-scratchers.

Let's take a look at some of the more surprising choices as I see them:

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

Hold Up, the Bucs Ain't Champs Yet! A Pre-Draft Evaluation of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

#460993349 / gettyimages.com

There's been a lot made of the Tampay Bay’s offseason free agency activity, especially hiring of Coach Lovie Smith.  The media had fawned over these additions, some already deeming the Buc’s the new division leader.  It has been busy offseason for Tampa with 17 total new faces on the roster. While there have been heaps of praise, I don’t think there has been enough coverage free agent departures and problems with important components of the team’s roster. Here's a couple of issues I see pre-draft for the Buc’s.

Defense:

Secondary: Tampa is playing 3 strong safeties without a true free safety. Dshon Goldson, Major Wright, and Mark Barron all have issues in coverage and are best playing in the box. I’m interested to see how they fit in a Tampa 2 base defense. The newly added Alterraun Verner is a good solid corner who fits the Tampa 2 defense, but he's not an upgrade over Revis. 

Big questions also loom with Mike Jenkins, Jonthan Banks, and Michael Johnson.

Linebackers: Tampa has an excellent outside linebacker in Lavonte David, but then what? Mason Foster is horrible in coverage. This position has to be addressed in the draft.  I’m guessing this will be a position Tampa Bay will look to upgrade in the draft given Lovie’s history with beast linebackers in the middle, such as Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.

Defensive line: Consisting of Gerald McCoy, Clinton McDonald, Michael Johnson, Da’Quan Bowers, and Adrian Clayborn, this line is a mixed bag of goods. McCoy is an outstanding player, but what about the rest?  Big name free agent, Michael Johnson, was brought to shore of last year’s lack of defensive push. Johnson showed promise in 2012 compiling 11.5 sacks with the Cincinnati Bengals, but that figure dropped to a mere 3.5 sacks in 2013. The Bengals do one of the league’s premier pass rushers in Geno Atkins, so it's not like Johnson didn't have help. It unclear why his production dropped so dramatically.  Some think Johnson should flourish in Lovie’sdefense, but we haven’t seen much consistency yet from the league’s, now, 4th highest paid defensive player. McDonald, a backup defensive tackle for Seattle, had 5.5 sacks last season. He could be valuable in passing situations. Bowers has yet to live up to his acclaimed draft status, and Clayborn’s future with the Bucs is a question.

Offense:

Who Do the Carolina Panthers Have in Jerricho Cotchery?

Who Do the Carolina Panthers Have?

Part 1: Jerricho Cotchery

#459727041 / gettyimages.com

Much to do has been made of who the Panthers lost this offseason.  The exodus of Panther staples, such as Steve Smith, Jordan Gross, and Captain Munnerlyn has left fans uncertain. The uncertainty of the unknown has caused fans to flail for something to help them get their bearings, particularly on the offensive side of the roster. 

This is part one of a series meant to explore Carolina’s unknown, well less known anyway.  The series will first focus on the Panthers’ unknown receiver core because that has been the greatest cause of fan angst. Followed by an analysis of offensive additions, we’ll look at new, but more familiar, defensive players, such as Roman Harper, Antoine Casson, and Thomas Decoud. Fans need to know who we have to understand what we need.  The series will conclude with a who we added group of articles, producing the final product of: 

Who the Panthers have, who did they add, and what do they got? Let’s look at some of those mysterious wide receivers first!

Jerricho Cotchery: Panther fans, welcome back a familiar star! The

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!