Byrne: Panthers Need A QB

[chaz]

Kerry Byrne has an interesting statistical argument for the Panthers selecting a quarterback:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/kerry_byrne/03/25/panthers/index.html?eref=sihp

Stats don't tell the whole story, of course: lame duck coach, kindergarden receiving corps, O-line regression, key injuries, lack of veteran depth. But the gross evaluation is spot-on.

The Panthers didn't score because they couldn't pass the ball.

 

[magnus]

schefter predicts Newton is locked in at #1. God help us.

 

[Collin]

Not knocking you for posting the link, but that guy is a joke. I read SI.com pretty regularly, and it blows my mind every time one of his articles goes up because it's inevitably junk masquerading as statistical analysis. A lot of those numbers sites popped up after FootballOutsiders gained prominence, and it's mind-boggling that this one actually got SI's attention. "ColdHardFootballFacts.com is dedicated to cutting-edge analysis and to the "gridiron lifestyle" of beer, food and football."? Really?

 

[Abusive]

schefter predicts Newton is locked in at #1. God help us.

Did Paul Rudd's twin put that in writing, or just spout it on ESPN?

 

[Dbag21]

schefter predicts Newton is locked in at #1. God help us.

interesting take given the Observer said Gabbert the same day...lol
Schefter on No. 1 pick

1:45PM ET
Carolina Panthers

• Top
• Email
• Comments
• http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php

The Carolina Panthers have three basic options with the first overall selection in the NFL draft:
1) Take Patrick Peterson, the consensus choice for the draft's top player, but at a position (cornerback) that is on the lower end of priorities for most teams;
2) Take one of the potentially dominant defensive linemen available (Marcell Dareus, Da'Quan Bowers, Robert Quinn, Nick Fairley);
3) Gamble on one of the quarterbacks, filling the most important position on the field, but taking a player with plenty of question marks.
ESPN NFL expert Adam Schefter says option 3 is the most likely outcome, and the Panthers might have already decided which quarterback they'll take:

- Vince Verhei​

Adam Schefter

Cam's the man.

"Last week I sensed Blaine Gabbert would be the No. 1 overall pick; this week I'm more on the Cam Newton bandwagon. The more I hear, the more it sounds like Newton is the player to beat for the No. 1 pick. The Panthers play in the same division as Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Josh Freeman, need improved quarterback play and need to create buzz to sell some tickets -- no player can do that as well as Newton. A lot can change in the next five weeks, but I believe Carolina goes quarterback at No. 1. And today, based on what I'm hearing, I'm leaning Newton over Gabbert, the player I initially thought would go No. 1."​

 

[Abusive]

damn. and shefty's like the only dude who always gets his shit right.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...redicts-cam-newton-will-be-no-1-overall-pick/

 

[Black&Blue]

 

[magnus]

Shefter was all over it with NFLNet. Has he been more than a joke with Mortensen?

I don't know. I also wonder who this consensus is that says Peterson is the best player. Best athlete? Yeah, certainly. But given that it's a draft top heavy with QBs and defensive linemen, that's not saying a ton, and there aren't any RBs.

 

[Thelt]

Not that I agree with the logic but they keep saying the NFCS has all these great QBs so we need to draft a QB. If we really want to draft in response to the other teams in our division and they all really have great QBs wouldn't we want to draft a corner or a pass rusher?

 

[DireWolf]

Not that I agree with the logic but they keep saying the NFCS has all these great QBs so we need to draft a QB. If we really want to draft in response to the other teams in our division and they all really have great QBs wouldn't we want to draft a corner or a pass rusher?

I agree with that and reaching for a quarterback can blow up in your face like Leaf or Shuler. Even "steals" can blow up in your face like Weinke or Clausen. Still, you have to have a quarterback and the Panthers don't. I sure wouldn't mind Dareus, Fairly or Peterson with the first pick. I think they're safer picks. But I can understand that we're more likely to find a starting DL and DB in the third round than we are to find a starting QB. It's just a really bad time to need a QB.