Thoughts on Anderson?

MLB looks pretty thin. Other than a top pick, I'm betting Seward has a better shot at taking over for Morgan.

 

which, if we get preseason Seward and not Atlanta Seward, I could deal with. Preseason Seward was fucking lights-out, even starting. I still think he has ability, and would almost have liked to see him strongside if Davis had been weakside. I think he's good in space, good range.

I don't like Waters' risk. I like Harris in 2, I like Blades but might be willnig to let him drop further. Davis is a positive, and we've never been afraid of short LBs. I don't mind Desmond Bishop if we're going on into day 2.

Either way, I think Seward makes the roster. Either way, I'm glad we're rid of Ciurciu.

 

What's up with DE's being so tall? Is that beneficial or is that the only way to have the weight wanted/needed and still be quick?

 

Its beneficial. It helps to block the QB's line of site.

 

He was a monster for us this past year in AR. Everytime you turned around either him or Keith Jackson were on the QB. All the technical stuff is pretty much covered anywhere you want to read it. Just saying as a hog fan, he was great for us.

 

He really ate up the Vols this year. He got to know Crompton well.

He's raw, but he has a motor. Rucker was a little raw coming out, and needed strength, but he always had a drive to go get to the ball.

Height works two ways. Brain is right, tall lineman get batted balls. But they lose leverage at times. Julius usually plays with pretty good bend, but when a lineman gets into his body, it's hard for him to come off and he just starts to body press.

 

He moves like Peppers. Not saying he is as fast or athletic or anything, just mean there is a real fluidity to his motion like Pep.

 

That is what I was getting at. I seems like the heavier ends get their weight by just being taller, not more stout.

btw...I'm not intending this as a comment regarding Anderson or Peppers. It was more of a tangent.

 

ends hold contain. On run downs they can see v/s a big tackle. On passing downs, they can be around batted balls, they can block view, and again, they can see. They're not just in their tackle's face or buried in their chest, they know where the QB is. And as always, height = ability to put on weight without getting musclebound, height = wingspan, big hands, etc.

Height isn't usually that big a concern in linemen. Most want it, other than the squatty, compact tackles. Pad level is technique as often as height.

 

Speaking of which:


IN MY OPINION
Draft overblown, but it needs to yield 4 starters
TOM SORENSEN
What I think: If Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson is available when the Carolina Panthers make their first draft pick, Anderson becomes a Panther.

Carolina has to protect Julius Peppers, who was swarmed by blockers last season. Beat one guy, and another awaited. Beat him, and another arrived. Peppers wore down as the season wore on, his body and his incentive.

Anderson, 6-foot-6 and 288 pounds, is Julius Lite. He grew up a receiver and a basketball player, so he doesn't know his position as well as some of his peers. But he knows how to move and maneuver and flat-out get to a quarterback. Stick him opposite Peppers, and Carolina's pass rush becomes considerably more interesting.

What I know: The Panthers have to get four starters from the draft. Along with a defensive end, they need a linebacker, a safety and a receiver who will do for Steve Smith what Anderson would for Peppers.

Carolina receiver Keyshawn Johnson will work the draft for ESPN. Be interesting to hear his reaction if the Panthers select Ohio State receiver and return man Ted Ginn Jr.

Keyshawn: "They what? Those ..."

The Panthers have to be good Saturday because the four starters they require will arrive in the first three rounds rather than the bargain bin -- CDs only 75 cents! -- rounds Sunday.

But wait. If the Panthers have only three picks in the first three rounds and they need four starters, what do they do? Trade down, trade Kris Jenkins, parlay later draft picks into an earlier one, or a combination of the above.

As everybody has been writing and saying, the 2007 draft is the most important draft for the Panthers since -- well, you'd have to go all the way back to 2006. We always make too much of the draft. The draft is like the Super Bowl. After the conference championships, we get two weeks to think about the Super Bowl, and unless one of the quarterbacks is Rex Grossman, we expect a game so brilliant that it's practically worthy of the hype.

We apply the same expectation to the draft. We have so much time to assess, analyze and argue that we daydream players into more than what they are.

Suddenly, safety Reggie Nelson of Florida has missed only two tackles in three seasons, and safety LaRon Landry has missed only one in four seasons at Louisiana State, and tight end Greg Olsen of Miami is like a big Steve Smith, and linebacker Patrick Willis of Mississippi is like a fast Dick Butkus.

We allow ourselves to be mesmerized. Then when the rookies show up at Panthers minicamp next week, we're shocked when they look human.

So let's not make too much of the draft.

As long as the Panthers come out with four starters, they'll be fine.

IN MY OPINION Tom Sorensen


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Sorensen: 704-358-5119;