Panthers won't draft 1st rd. QB.

translation?

 

meaning, maybe our powers that be on draft day are not so keen on this "best player availble" thing (see Nelson and Siedman)

 

Seidman wasn't too bad... he just got hurt

 

ya'll need to stop bitching about them drafting nelson. they really seem to know what they are doing. peppers is peppers. foster has shown flashes of being something special. gross looks like he's going to be holding down a spot every year at the pro bowl. we've got a starting corner next year in RMJ. Seidman played solid until he got hurt. moorehead looks like he could replace buckner in a couple years. we got spoon in the 3rd round, and he's had people call him one of the best at his position (will back)

maybe they know what they are doing? i mean, hell, we're going to the super bowl

 

i'll say this -- they've got a free pass from me in this upcoming draft. if they think that booshoo malamaa from east bumblebump state is the shiznit, then i'm on board.

 

Amen! Nelson filled in admirably when Mitchell was hurt. He'll be right there if Donally retires. Nelson was a good pick and we should be happy if we can get a couple more like him this year.
I think there's a real tendancy to underrate offensive linemen on this board. I think Maser has done a great job with what was available. Better offensive linemen would mean we don't settle for a field goal away with three shots inside the three. It's just not as easy as people want to think. Just ask Doug Brezinski.

 

well, not in my opinion, anyway. A pick is a pick, and if they win seventeen Super Bowls in a row I'm still going to judge Bruce Nelson on Bruce Nelson's work. So far, he hasn't been worth it, and if he stays at center, he won't have been worth it. We had a fine center, and at best it's planned obsolescence for two more years down the road.

I liked Seidman, and Manning as well, felt we paid too much for Manning and just didn't like that we'd drafted a TE without any speed at all. But Branch? Shown nothing. He showed so little that Tillman's out played him.

>>I think there's a real tendancy to underrate offensive linemen on this board.

That's probably a reflection of what I've been saying, and if so let me clarify. I love linemen. I love building from the trenches. But that doesn't mean it should be the first need every time. Gross was a great pick because one day he'll be left tackle, and we'll have had him with experience already. I don't feel the need for a first round right tackle, any more than any other position, and certainly don't feel we need to cut a veteran to make room for another rookie.
But I do want line here. I want to draft a guy we can develop for RT for a year. And I want a guard, since I've given up on Nelson being a RG. Who's to say, maybe that's all draftable in one guy for right now.

>>I think Maser has done a great job with what was available.

Most definitely agree. Which is why I don't feel like we need to make a hole to put a first rounder in. I like building line, but feel like we have stronger needs. The line was probably the biggest strength we had all year, over even DL - which could disappear at times because of max protect - and RB, where Davis faded at times, but more importantly Foster couldn't

Anyway, with a line coach this good, the need for a blue chip player all over the line isn't necessary. You can develop players. While I'm talking about a second, third round tackle, remember what Maser did with a 6th rounder in Jeno, and remember that Mitchell's one of the top five centers in the league and he was a 5th (?). Some guys are players no matter where they are drafted.

>>Better offensive linemen would mean we don't settle for a field goal away with three shots inside the three.


Maybe, but I strongly disagree that it's a guarantee. No matter how good your line is, you'll never block nine with seven and get an extra two yards every carry. You still have to have good play calling, you still have to keep the extra defenders out of the box, and you still have to be able to pass.

 

I think Nelson will turn out better than most people think. He's played well when he's filled in. The big knock on him was his lack of strength. Give him the offseason to see what our strength guys do. Who knows, he may end up being a solid lineman.

The only thing I haven't understood with the draft was the TE selection. We passed up better TEs in the draft, because Seidman was suppose to be the better blocker. But then we end up throwing to the TE more than we did last couple of years under Henning. So my question is, if we were going to use the TE more in the offense, then why not draft a better receiver. Don't get me wrong, I think Seidman played solid before his injury, I just think we would've been better served by a TE with better receiving skills.

 

I can only hope, on Nelson. I don't want him to fail, certainly. And, one day, he'll be a good center. Just think that if we wanted a guard, we shoulda gotten a guard.

Seidman's receiving skills are good. His route running is sloppy, and he lacks the speed I wanted (since we do like to run the TE up the seam a little bit) and I don't know that he's going to get any faster, obviously.

I've been kinda lobbying for a first round TE.
Or, I guess, a veteran would do the same job. TE's the only thing I can think of where we could use a rookie to compete for a start, where a LB and a corner (if FA goes where I want at CB) wouldn't start.

 

How ‘bout we steal Jim Kleinsasser from the Vikes? I could be wrong but he’s probably a better blocker than any of our current TEs. He’s a load at 275 but he might not offer the speed you’re wanting toting all of that. From what I remember of him the guy is a player and a productive TE. If we go for him, how much is he likely to cost?

>>>Jan 05 2004 - Vikings owner Red McCombs indicated that the team will let Jim Kleinsasser test the free agent market this off-season. The team used their franchise tag on him last year but they won't overspend to keep him<<<<<