Panther selections ESPN Bios

1st rd Jonathon Stewart RB Oregon

Strengths: Is a compactly built back with excellent body control. Shifty and quick; he runs low to the ground and has good change-of-direction skills. Shows very good initial quickness and also displays a second-gear when he gets through the line of scrimmage. Has made significant strides in terms of vision and patience as a runner throughout his career. Displays reliable hands as a receiver. Gets up the field quickly after the catch and can be a huge weapon when he catches the ball on the run in space. Has size and strength to anchor (when in position) versus blitzing linebacker in pass pro. Displays excellent potential as a kick return specialist and was one of the nation's best when allowed to spend time in that facet of the game.

Weaknesses: Durability is a big concern. Has battled injuries throughout his career. Always seems to be nicked. Has limited experience carrying the full load. He's compactly built and strong, but he's not a power back. He doesn't look to initiate contact much and he will run out of bounds instead of lowering his shoulder for extra yards on occasion. He goes down a bit too easily at times, as well. Not overly physical as a blocker. Still has room to improve in terms of awareness as a pass blocker. Will take some poor angles and doesn't always appear to be confident in his assignment.

Overall: Even as a freshman reserve in 2005, Stewart was able to make his mark, scoring nine touchdowns on just 72 touches as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner. Despite injuries, he played 13 games in 2006 and ran for 981 yards and 10 TDs. He also had 20 receptions for 144 yards and another score. In 2007, his first season as Oregon's feature back, Stewart established new school single-season marks in rushing yards (1,722) and all-purpose yards (2,481), leading the Pac-10 in both categories. He finished his junior season with 13 total touchdowns, adding 145 receiving yards on 22 catches. In three seasons, he averaged 28.7 yards and scored two TDs on kickoff returns. Stewart has battled durability issues throughout his career, but he also has shown toughness playing through several injuries. If he can avoid the injury bug at the next level, Stewart has a chance to emerge as one of the premier playmakers at the running back position. He is a compact runner with an outstanding combination of quickness, vision, body control and open-field burst. He also brings versatility to the table with soft hands as a receiver and an outstanding collegiate resume returning kicks. Stewart should be one of the top-three running backs selected in the 2008 NFL draft  likely in the mid-to-late portion of the first round.

 

If he can avoid the injury bug at the next level, Stewart has a chance to emerge as one of the premier playmakers at the running back position. He is a compact runner with an outstanding combination of quickness, vision, body control and open-field burst. He also brings versatility to the table with soft hands as a receiver and an outstanding collegiate resume returning kicks. Stewart should be one of the top-three running backs selected in the 2008 NFL draft  likely in the mid-to-late portion of the first round.

Im liking that right there!!

 

sportingnews

Inside running: Has the size, strength and balance to absorb hard hits and break tackles. Keeps legs churning and does not go down easily, consistently gaining yards after contact. Is not an aggressive runner; does not attack defenders or deliver hard blows. Lacks explosiveness to get behind the defense quickly. Grade: 7.5
Outside running: Lacks explosive burst to get to the corner on his own or consistently bounce outside when the middle is clogged. Is most productive when following blockers, cutting off their blocks and using strength, balance and power to fight for extra yards. Is a smooth, fluid runner. Grade: 6.0
Blocking: Is big and strong. Is solid in pass protection; knows assignments, and picks up the right defender. Bends knees well to pass block with good base and technique, standing up pass rushers with surprising ease. Grade: 8.0
Hands/routes: Shows good hands to reach out to pluck passes out of the air. Runs strong after the catch, but is not elusive and lacks the explosiveness and elite speed to make big plays. Grade: 7.5
Durability: Got plenty of reps at Oregon. Has the size and strength to be a durable NFL back, but battled injuries throughout career. Grade: 6.5 Bottom line: Stewart, a junior, made a smart decision to declare for the '08 draft. After struggling with injuries in his first two seasons at Oregon, he had a huge season; if he returned for senior year, he'd run the risk of his draft stock plummeting if he got hurt again. We always are wary of big backs who do not run aggressively and lack explosiveness, but there is a place in the NFL for them. Stewart also could help as a receiver out of the backfield and kickoff returner.

 

1st rd 19th pick
Jeff Otah

Strengths: Is a massive, mauling right tackle type. Has a huge frame with very long arms (35.3 inches). Not a great athlete but does play with good balance. He has a massive base. Will get low and uproot DL. Does an excellent job of anchoring versus the bull rush. Shows very good overall strength. Rarely loses a battle once he is locked on. Will drive his legs and create a new line of scrimmage as a run blocker. Still learning technique but is intelligent and continues to improve with more experience and coaching.

Weaknesses: Below average athlete. The more space he's in the less effective he becomes. Lacks ideal initial quickness out of his stance and struggles to get set in time versus speed edge rushers. Struggles to reach the second level as a run blocker. Will have trouble hitting moving targets in space. Hands are smaller than ideal (9.2 inches).

Overall: Otah was born in Nigeria, came to the United States when he was seven years old and did not play organized football until his senior season of high school. He attended Valley Forge (Pa.) Military College in his first two years out of high school (2004-'05), making 17 consecutive starts at left tackle. He also averaged nearly 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Valley Forge basketball team. Otah transferred to Pitt in 2006 and made an immediate impact, starting all 24 games of his junior and senior seasons with the Panthers. He was an All-Big East first team selection in 2007. The Nigerian-born Otah lacks ideal playing experience and is still unpolished. While he is not a great athlete, he is not as slow as his combine workout numbers might indicate, as he participated despite an ankle injury. Otah is a massive mauler with the size, power and short-area quickness to develop into a good starting right tackle in the NFL, which is why we grade him as a mid-to-late first round prospect.

 

So we got a backup RB and kick returner at 13?

 

VALUE

 

Charles Godfrey 3rd Rd
Strengths: Is tall, very well built and possesses outstanding top-end speed for his size. Shows good quickness and is sudden coming out of his breaks. He plants and drives well and shows closing burst coming forward. He has the long speed and size to keep up with most NFL wide receivers, so long as he gets a shove in at the line and turns on time. He competes hard and brings a lot of energy to a defensive secondary. He is tough and physical. Fills hard versus the run and will deliver some big hits. A fiery competitor. Plays the game hard but also has been mostly durable throughout his career (missed only one game in four seasons). Comes with some versatility, having played SS, FS, CB and several different roles on special teams while at Iowa. Has excellent experience on special teams and won Iowa's Special Teams Player of the Year award in 2005. Covers kicks very well and possesses the speed to excel in that area of the NFL game.

Weaknesses: Hips have some stiffness and loses too much in transition when turning and running vertically. He's not fluid enough to keep with quicker receivers on double moves if he doesn't get a shove in. Continues to improve his recognition skills and confidence but still can be a bit hesitant at times. He's not fluid enough to recover on certain occasions when he's slow to react. Ball skills are improving but still below average. Needs to do a better job with his hands in press coverage and when attempting to disengage from blocks. Also needs to take more consistent angle in pursuit and break down more consistently in space as a tackler.

Overall: In his first three seasons at Iowa (2004-'06), Godfrey appeared in 35 games (16 starts) and had 95 tackles (three for losses), one forced fumble, two interceptions and five pass breakups. He moved from safety to cornerback before the '06 season, and as a senior in 2007 he started all 12 games turned in 65 tackles (one for a loss), five interceptions and nine pass breakups. Godfrey is still a work in progress. He will never have the quick-twitch athleticism or fluid hips of a pure man-to-man cover corner. He also is still developing his recognition skills, which are vital to a defensive back playing in space. However, Godfrey's upside  thanks to an outstanding combination of size, straight-line speed and toughness  is hard to ignore. Eventually he should emerge as a No. 2 starter at cornerback  or simply a sub-package defensive back  in a zone-heavy scheme. In the meantime, he projects as an instant impact player on special teams. Godfrey should be an early Day 2 selection.

 

Dan Conner LB 3rd rd 74 pick
Strengths: Is tall with adequate bulk and room on his frame to get bigger. Displays very good natural instincts. Is physical, tough and aggressive, but also disciplined. Plays with a mean streak and his motor never stops running. At his best when he's protected and playing in space. Reads his keys quickly, takes solid angles in pursuit and shows good closing burst to the ball carrier. Does a fine job of using his hands to keep blockers off his body when flowing to the ball. Shows good upper-body strength. Reliable tackler; he breaks down effectively in space and consistently wraps up with good power at the point of attack. Gets good depth on his drops and displays adequate-to-good range in zone coverage. Displays good ball skills for his position. Has a nose for the ball and always seems to be in on big plays. Is an instinctive blitzer with good closing burst to the QB when he gets through the line.

Weaknesses: Plays a bit high at times. Stronger upper body than lower body. Plays with somewhat of a narrow base and will struggle in some phone booth matchups versus bigger blockers. Good quickness laterally and coming forward, but takes a bit too long in transition when turning and running. Makes up for it with instincts in zone but he will have some trouble sticking with quicker RB's one-on-one in coverage. Needs to improve his array of pass rush moves. Character issues need to be looked at (suspended for three games in 2005 after being cited for harassing phone calls) but are unlikely to cause him to slip in the draft.

Overall: Connor appeared in 33 games (24 starts) in his first three seasons (2004-'06), registering 274 tackles (19 for losses), 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and an 18-yard fumble return for a touchdown. In 2005, he was suspended three games after placing a series of harassing phone calls. In 2006, he suffered a broken right hand but didn't miss any games. As a senior in 2007, he started all 13 games and finished the season with 145 tackles (15 for losses), 6.5 sacks, six pass breakups and an interception. Connor was a first team All-America selection in 2007 and a second-teamer in '06. He played both inside and outside linebacker with the Nittany Lions. Connor's brothers, Jim and Mike, both played college football. Connor has experience playing inside and outside linebacker. From what we see on film, his best fit in the NFL will be at middle linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. Connor will need to add some bulk and improve his ability to take on blocks in the phone booth. He also has some room to improve when it comes to his technique in man-to-man coverage. However, Connor displays excellent natural instincts  versus the run and in zone coverage  and he has the speed to play sideline-to-sideline when protected from the linemen in front of him. Connor is a bit more physical and fluid than former Nittany Lion teammate Paul Posluszny (2nd round to Buffalo, 2007), which is why we expect Connor to come off the board earlier in this year's draft  likely mid-to-late portion of the first round.

 

Don't be foolish. Both DW and Stewart will be back deep.

 

Well, at least we addressed a need and drafted two special teamers with our third round picks. I'm sure both will be dynamite once Crossman teaches them everything he knows.