team neads?

Mags, maybe you could sticky this for a little while (or not)

as we approach the time when we'll start going mock draft crazy, I'm wondering what everybody, particularly the fans of teams not named "Carolina Panthers" think their team needs are? or what some of you draft gurus think other teams needs are?

 

We need to beat the Giants

 

yeah, February. Team needs to beat all takers until then.

 

OT, DT, RB, WR, WLB, OG

 

Fans that can spell.

 

- A legitimate WR threat other than Smith. While Carter has the potential to be that after some development, he's definitely not there yet, and would probably be served best as a Joe Jurevicius slot type receiver until he reaches that point.

- An upgrade at RG and Center. As I said earlier before to Morgan its possible Wharton could be moved back to Guard, or Mathis may be a potential future starter there, but it needs to get better than Reyes. If Wharton moves, of course you also need a LT at that point. Mitchell has lost something this year. That to me sucks because it makes me wonder if it was the roids that made him a solid player, but it could just be age catching up. So there needs to be an upgrade of some kind at Center. Not sure what to do there, because I don't really think Hangartner is ready yet.

- A BIG run stuffing DT, preferably a young one, but if you can't find a young one then at least a solid leader type guy. Someone that will help collapse the middle of the pocket better allowing the Ends to play up to their potential.

- A future replacement for Rucker.

- A former starting backup QB with a few years experience. It took Rodney Peete NOT being here for me to understand his value. He seemed to be the calming influence that Jake needs when he's playing. Jake's game was better due to Rodney.

- A solid RB that fits the system. The system seems unwilling to adapt to the back so one is needed that fits. Ahman Green would fit, but is too old and beat up at this point. Shaun Alexander would be perfect, but Christmas has already come and past so the chances of that are next to zero, but whether it be in the draft or via Free Agency, or even the chance Shelton actually shows something, there needs to be a SOLID acquisition at this spot.

- An upgrade at TE would also be nice, but I don't consider this to be as much of a necessity as I do the others.

 

One thing I've been thinking about Shelton: We talked about him not having that burst through the hole in preseason, but that seemed to be the same problem Davis had all season -- then Foster had those couple of games where he couldn't muster anything up the middle either. That lends me to believe it wasn't all Shelton. The O-Line and the playcalling should shoulder some of that "blame" too.

Just a thought. Maybe he doesn't completely suck.

 

Some of us have expressed that. Hard to know the scoop on Shelton but one thing I remember was he wasn't learning his blocking assignments.

 

A bigger question is what Panther veterens are holding a large cap spot that may be in trouble

 

That was a minor problem, but not in the top few. The team hinted at him having problems with the protections, etc., but more than that he had problems with running low, hitting like a 250 lb back should, and so on. He took hits, ran upright, ran much better outside than in, and looked good in the open field, but couldn't do anything from scrimmage. You don't want that in a big back, because he doesn't have the raw speed or burst that a Foster brings, and yet he seems to play just like Foster.