Fletcher Cox

Not at 9.

 

so we would have a cox & a johnson?

 

Who is the nose? I don't know any Panther DT that is a space eater.

 

I think I disagree with the "no Cox at 9" camp. I'd rather have him than Coples. Coples has out-right admitted to taking plays off last year. I can't imagine that will be any better with a signing bonus in his pocket. While Coples has shown more ability, the bust potential is simply too great. Cox is at worst a long-time NFL starter.

 

Cox only had sacks in three games out of eleven, and you already said yourself how he plays too upright and could get dominated by NFL guards at the point of attack. Sure, he has a high motor, but he's not an elite talent. You don't take a guy in the top 10 because he has a high motor. Moreover, you're misrepresenting what Coples said. Anyone have a link to that article someone posted about how dominating Coples was when lined up outside the tackle as opposed to lining up over him?

 

He does play too upright and still got good rush. Sacks alone don't tell his story. He consistently squeezed the pocket, and while that doesn't always result in sacks, it does affect the opposing QB's comfort and throwing motion. I feel that his upright posture is something that can be corrected with good coaching. I don't have the same confidence on coaching having an impact on a players motivation. You either want to play or you don't.

 

Give it up. WE WILL NOT PICK A DT #9. Its not there. There is no DT worth a 9. 2 3rd rounders and a FA from last year on the payroll. Wishing for one and trying to find the diamond in the rough aint makin it happen. Outside of QB RB and MLB we need to draft a STARTER for this year. We are not a DT away from a SB with a guy like Suh on the board. No it aint happening.

 

Disagree. By this point it's extremely hard to change pad level, which is why guys who get too high almost always do the same thing in the NFL. I do like Fletcher, but only in the bottom half of the first round. He's just not enough of a playmaker to really make a difference for the Panthers' defense. Instead he's the type of guy who could make a good defense even better.

And yet Coples was a much, much, much more productive player than Cox.

 

would you draft Coples with the thought of moving him to DT? I thought i read that he played there better in 2010 than when they moved him to DE.