Byrne: Panthers Need A QB

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.

 

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

 

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?

 

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

 

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

1:45PM ET
Carolina Panthers

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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."​

 

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/

 

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.

 

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.