CB's Panther prospects.

I watched all the favorites yesterday (other then Vasher) and they're all falling in my book, come on Michael Clayton fall to the Panthers.

 

If were thinking CB in the first I would think one of these three would be in our range depending on combine results.

Derrick Strait, Oklahoma: 5'11 194 - Aggressive, good tackler, gambles at times

DeAngelo Hall (JR), Va Tech: 5'11 200 - Pure speed, playmaker w/ return abilities, needs better technique

Dunta Robinson, South Carolina: 6'0 185 - Playmaker w/ smooth hips, needs to be more decisive

It's too early for me to endorse anyone 100%, but if I had to choose I'd go with Strait. His over all play has been more consistent than Hall or Robinson who both have some things to work on.

Here's a couple guys I like in the 2nd or 3rd rounds:

Will Poole, USC: 6'0 190 - Good size and has a nose for the ball, character a concern

Keith Smith, McNeese State: 6'0 182 - 4.4 speed and good strength, hasn't played against any elite talent.

Corey Webster, LSU: 6'0 201 - Athletic ballhawk, raw. Will need a good combine to get into day one.

 

I still like Hall of the guys who could be available. The difference? Just in reading. People talk about Dunta being a little slower accelarating after he opens his hips in the turn.

 

Hey Mags, you see anything on this Keith Smart kid out of McNeese State? I like what I have read, which isn't much, but haven't seen anything with my own eyes.

I haven't seen enough of Robinson to form an educated opinion of his ability. The one game I did see, they didn't throw at him at all, which would be a positive statement.

 

I haven't seen him.
I did read about him at, I think, GBN, but I don't know that we'll need a second corner in the draft and don't think a small school guy is the right fit. That's being dismissive of him, since it outlaws him without knowing him well enough, but I don't think a small school guy will be a starter next year.

Yeah, it's hard to get good film of Dunta just watching him. He doesn't get many targets, saying a lot for the SEC. And when I've seen him, he's been able to make some nice hits. One hit made Sportscenter, which is big considering that nobody gives a damn about USC.

 

I didn't mean to imply we'd draft 2 CB's, but if the value isn't there and we pick a different direction in round one or two? It could be a 2nd or 3rd.

Smart probably lacks experience against NFL talent. In fact, the one thing I read was that he dominated every WR at that level. When I read that I think of a few different names.
Tillman in Chicago, who has played very well as a rookie. Better than Jammer did last year.
Rashard Anderson also comes to mind, a small school guy who struggled out of the gate.
One thing that makes Smart interesting at this point is the 4.4 speed. Although, I would imagine that he has succeeded with that more than technique to this point. At any rate, an interesting name to watch as the post-season progresses and I'll be looking for him in the college All-star games.

 

I think, by third, we're not filling the need right. A third rounder isn't going to be that special player we need. So I'd have to look at that player as depth. Honestly, we need to fill this in FA, keeping Howard or not.

Luckily, first round corners often come more ready to play than anyone else, with some exceptions, and it seems as if you pay for what you get. Decent value. Hopefully, with the amount of defensive line that go in the first round, we can get better value there than normal.
So if we don't get the right FA, we can make that pick in the first.

Honestly, I'd like to see CB, and if we feel the need to let go Muhammad or Steussie, then we should replace with veterans there as well. Then the draft is from amongst WR if wanted, and LB, and OT depth.

 

One guy y'all don't talk about much is LSU's Corey Webster.
Actually, Piper mentioned him.
Granted he's new - been a corner for two years, which kinda sucks because I prefer to have guys who are experienced over simply being athletic. But he's got the skills - prototype size, great hands, and acclaim - 2002 all-SEC, should be all SEC again this year; he's got a Nagurski player of the week and is a Thorpe semifinalist, naming him one of college football's 12 best defensive backs.
Some list him as a junior, but only because he could petition for more eligibility.

 

Yeah. Just looking at a guy with measurables and athletic ability, Webster's a riser. He made a lot of plays last night, so he has the insticts for the position, and he's aggressive, which frankly we lack.

 

I like Webster, he just doesn't seem to be on the radar for some reason. Haven't seen him play much, but what I saw I really liked from an upside perspective. If he works on his technique he'll move up the boards come draft time.
Right now I think he has been over shadowed by bigger names. He's not particularly flashy, but solid in almost every aspect of the game.
In the grand scheme of things, he could be a first rounder when all is said and done. However, he'll have to turn alot of heads to move that far. I'd estimate late third at this point, but a good bowl showing, some good play in the all-star tilts & a good combine will do lots for his positioning come April.