Lets get it started... (13,45,74,108,189)

don't know about that specifically. And I haven't seen the sweeps, etc that Henning used, or the lead plays.

 

The most I saw of the zone blocking was on the opening drive of the first preseason game. I'd wouldn't call them a zone team at all.

 

My UFAs - keep Gross, bring in random vet WR - let's say Johnson from AZ. Doesn't matter. That slot is filled from FA without massive financial obligations, which is part of what I see in Johnson anyway.
For something interesting, I put in a Foster cut. Goings is the 2nd back.
Keep Lewis at DT.
Sign Gibril Wilson, Tony Richardson. Keep Hoover, for shits and giggles.

13 Ryan Clady OT - The versatile, stout guy over the thinner, more experienced Baker. I don't think we specifically need a left tackle type, because once you're not the elite LT it doesn't matter in the Zone scheme. Clifton in GB, for instance. Very good tackle, who most thought a guard. At any rate, this is still with the idea that Gross is at RT, but they can be interchangeable.
If I knew a guy like Otah is there at 45, I probably take Gholston.

45. Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt - your new RG, and a certain resolve to force us to be as good along the line as possible (and, certainly, to stay young - the two new guys, and Kalil, make a very young but smart OL).

Other thoughts: Terrell Thomas, CB - with thoughts of moving him to safety or just making him a dynamite reserve, I really just think a lot of him more than that we need this player. Red Bryant's out there, as our run stopping DT I want; Rashard Mendenhall also got some thoughts here but there are a lot of solid big back types in this draft; honestly, Williams was a creative solution as well. There's Tommy Blake, the undersized end who took time off this year for questionable, erratic behavior.

I just don't like anyone that much of what's around at 45 right now. It's part of what's kept me from getting my thoughts going, each time I get through to the 2nd, I'm at a loss.

74. Kentwan Balmer, DT, UNC - he and Pressley are both intriguing. Balmer, to me, seems a better fit. Also like Chris Ellis here, he'll be moving up from here.

108. Wallace Gilberry, DE, Alabama - active, effervescent, hard working, and one of the better rush ends over 260.

Owen Schmitt is a fan favorite, for good reason. Heath Benedict is everyone's favorite project guard - some even profess to having seen Newberry this year, whereas I don't know where the fuck Newberry is, what level it is, what conference it's in or what he did there. For all I know, Heath Benedict is a joke and I'm the only one not in on it. He sounds good, though.

189. Peyton Hillis - FB/RB/TE/H-back/WR/PR, Arkansas - a very versatile guy, punishing special teams player, good route runner. The last two are roles he played at UA, but are listed just to be a smartass. He was their primary PR for 2006, rare for a utility blocker in theory. Good outlet receiver, certainly able to play end. With Richardson, Hoover, and certainly Goings all aging, this is your future fullback, but for a year he'll be an asskicker on return teams and a punisher on cover teams.

 

Maybe they didnt use all of Hennings plays, but they seemed to use alot of them. Maybe Davidson was mostly limited to plays that were in Hennings book. Or maybe he just talked a good game, but couldn't draw up plays of his own. We may never know. But the bottom line is I agree we didnt see much of the zone blocking.

 

They traditionally don't.


Same FA scenario using GBN: Wilson, Richardson, keep Gross, etc.

13 Gholston, DE
With Clady above this, Gholston and Campbell are the clear guys. You could say we could trade down, hope Campbell or Baker would still be there. Who knows.

45. Chris Williams, OT
Still do like Williams, as above.

74. Martin Rucker, TE
Certainly better than what we have and won't be here, but this isn't about where people think he'll go, so I'll take the value. Good all-around TE, with the obvious connection, but more than that, a hard worker and good player.

Red Bryant at DT is an alternate choice since Rucker won't be there.
Widebody, and that wasn't what I was after - but I feel strongly about getting a guy who can stop the run, and Bryant's that guy. He's situational anyway, and can play the nose, but can penetrate.

108 Duane Brown, OT - to be moved to guard. Good footwork, upper body control, hands.

 

The plays were already drawn up. And like I said, I don't remember seeing the typical Henning plays. I just think we went man blocking a lot more than was talked about. We used it again more when Williams was the starting back, so maybe something's there. Foster as the starter, we used a lot more man, and Foster ran a lot more inside with Williams taking the outside plays.

 

I think the whole zone blocking thing got a little blown out of proportion by the beat writers and the fans...the Panthers said from the beginning that they were not going to be like those Falcons or Broncos teams that used zone blocking all the time.

 

In this scheme, you either want an athletic guard that can still move people, or IMO, you want a young tackle that can get some push, because you're essentially going to get that. We're not going to be picking a 350 lb guard, and there aren't that many top notch athletic guards out there for me, right now.

Good point that I haven't picked a guard despite wanting one. I thought Williams to be a better lineman than the guards out there, and better than the DL out there. Plus, another tackle is depth for tackle.

I also expected to go get a solid big back, and didn't pick one in either scenario. I could come back after the fact and say that we could put out Mewelde Moore or Michael Pittman in the scenario, which would be nice, but it's kinda weird to do that after the fact.
Certainly I put out a theme of expecting a lot along the line, in the hopes that we'd come up with the veteran help at the skill spots we need (WR, FS, etc) and can come up with the youthful asskicking we need.

 

I thought they said they were not going to be like them in that they wouldn't integrate cut blocking on the backside.