Joe Menser Draft article on the Panthers

[PantherPaul]

Joe Menzer occassional host on FNZ article. Nothing earth shattering
2006 Panther Draft

 

[Collin]

Too much of a homer.

"[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]tight end Mike Seidman, cornerback Ricky Manning, safety Colin Branch and defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead - have to varying degrees filled important roles over the past three seasons."

Aside from Manning in the '03 playoffs,



2002:
Julius Peppers - Home run pick. Think about how many fans wanted Joey Harrington.
DeShaun Foster - Decent gamble. He has the ability, but all his perceived college weaknesses have followed him into the NFL.
Will Witherspoon - I can't remember anyone being impressed with this move and there were a number of bigger name linebackers available, but this turned out to be a very good selection.

2003:
Jordan Gross - We most certainly did not "[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]hit big" with Gross. I hate to admit it because I was completely behind selecting him, but Gross is a relative bust.
Bruce Nelson -
Mike Seidman - bust
Ricky Manning - Great for a couple of playoff games, but not much else.
Colin Branch - solid player
Kindal Moorehead - well, he did have 5 sacks last year

2004:
Chris Gamble - progressing well, but still needs to improve
Keary Colbert -
Travelle Wharton - solid, to my surprise
Drew Carter - decent gamble

2005:
Thomas Davis - to be determined
Eric Shelton - *sigh* Still has time to prove he's something
Evan Mathis - Fans seem to be higher on him than the team
Atiyyah Ellison - *shrug*
Stefan Lefors - Looking forward to the Doug Flutie talk again this pre-season
Adam Seward - might have something there


Overall draft grade: C
Peppers is the only great pick, and in retrospect, it's hard to see how the team could have gone in any other direction given the P.R. disaster that would have followed passing on the hometown hero (especially after the backlash that came with passing on Vonnie Holliday for Jason Peter). Witherspoon and to a lesser extent Wharton have both returned better value than they were expected to bring, but other than those two guys it's hard to name any selections where we exceeded expectations and we have had far too many busts.
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[chipshot]

I read that article and was wondering how he could spin the team's recent draft history that positively. The greatest acquisitions since they got here other than Peppers & Spoon have been made in FA not the other way around like he seems to be saying. I'd like and expect to see a few more pleasant surprises like Witherspoon.

 

[Bunky]

we drank alot of beer this past friday, so maybe that's it.

 

[FAN01]

I don't know. Superbowl appearance, 2 NFC championship games. We're set to be the creme of the NFC again. They got to be doing something right.

Everyone thinks if a pick doesn't turn into a Hall of Fame guy, he's a bust. I think that if the guy turns into a quality starter or contributes to the team he's not a bust.

It never happens that every 1st round pick is better than a 2nd who is better than a 3rd. You hedge your bets based on everything you know about the guy.

I hope they keep on drafting this bad.

 

[Piper]

>>Gross

He's been disappointing to those that hoped he'd be an elite LT. What makes it worse is that their were a bunch of solid players taken right behind him, though Gross did play well on a good line his rookie year any many of those did not.. But it could be worse, he could be Jimmy Kennedy. Gross is a solid RT with strength and mobility and fills a need. I'll rate this one an OK pick.


I'd add we got our value out of RMJ. He was good his rookie year, and thought he did well in the nickle package this year and on special teams. Otherwise, I agree. We've been spotty.

 

[Collin]

I don't know. Superbowl appearance, 2 NFC championship games. We're set to be the creme of the NFC again. They got to be doing something right.

You need to understand the difference between evaluating their drafts and evaluating their entire body of work. Their drafts have not been good and there's nothing wrong with pointing that out. Doing so does not mean you're overlooking the results of their coaching efforts.

Everyone thinks if a pick doesn't turn into a Hall of Fame guy, he's a bust.

No, people (and especially me) know enough to say whether or not a guy has lived up to his draft position. A guy taken 9th overall might be a starter and might even be a decent player, but if that's all he is after being drafted that highly, he's a bust. To have been drafted as high as he was, Gross should at least be an above average tackle and he simply isn't.

I hope they keep on drafting this bad.

Then you're a fool. If we keep drafting as poorly as we have in recent years, we won't continue to be competitive. We need to get more starters and more quality contributors out of our drafts instead of perpetual busts, especially in a round as critical as the second. We've done a great job of overcoming our draft mistakes thus far, but that can't continue. The front office needs to do better.

 

[PantherPaul]

Collin if you know so much as you profess why are you not in the league evaluating talent.

 

[lde]

I thought Menzer's statements about Whites SLOW 40 times in recent workouts were typical. Joe, buddy, you have interesting insights, but you make up 10% of what you write as you go. He didnt run at all.

 

[rake]

Collin if you know so much as you profess why are you not in the league evaluating talent.

Since we are all just enthusiasts with opinions (including Menzer, though he’s paid) I don’t see why Collin wouldn’t be able to do justice to that type of gig . . . Except for the assumption that his lack of apparent people skills might keep him from getting hired, or holding the job once he got it.)