Travis Minor

[magnus]

So we almost drafted him as a returner/back. We got Smith instead.

Let's negate what Steve's done here and simply put Minor in this team's spot. Would he have beaten out Huntley, especially as long as it took Richard to get on the field?
Would he have been the feature at the end? And would we be looking for a feature now?

 

[T_Schroll]

At the most, me'd have started last year and we'd be looking gor another RB this year with the new offense, A smaller RB unless he's Curtis Martin is not what Fox is looking for IMHO.

 

[Piper]

I don't really think Huntley would have been here last year. We'd have had Minor and Goings last year.

Minor showed flashes, but I don't think he'd be the feature, particuarly if he was the returner. He'd be splitting the reps.

Going in the draft this year, we'd probably be looking for a reciever more, assuming Smith is still here, which is a safe assumption.

 

[LarryD]

minor is NOT a kick returner. he's a productive workhorse back with good hands. he only showed outside speed in his senior year -- and really on just one play where he bounced out and picked up a key first down. everyone was kinda like, "damn! where's that been?!"

why the talk of minor? is he available? he'd definately be some great depth to have on the roster. solid, but not spectacular. curtis martin is a fair comparison. this o-line should do well for the backs.

 

[magnus]

No. Like I noted, Minor was supposedly the pick in the 3rd for us, because he could be a RB but they felt he could return kicks, and then they decided to go with Smith instead. I was hoping to get a feel for what would have happened, and Piper noted that Huntley wouldn't have been around anyway, which answered my question basically.

I guess I'm also wondering whether or not Miami's going to go with him from here on out.

 

[LarryD]

yeah, i hope he doesnt get stuck behind williams until he's a free agent. i wanted a smith-type player from the beginning (screw you, santana moss! ) and i wouldn't trade him for anyone. he's exactly what the panthers need -- gamebreakers.

that and solid playmakers.

 

[magnus]

yeah, you were high on Moss. I was wondering what the fuck that was about. Not when he was drafted, did I make the connection on Smith. Not when he was bigtime returning did I make that connection. When I saw the Steve Smith jerseys in the team store, I made the connection. And no doubt, for only a third.

Heh, "only". How many people were so utterly bitter about that pick for months? It took the third TD to shut most people up...and I'll be honest. I stayed quiet on it. Gotta see a pick like that work before you can back it.

 

[LarryD]

i'd have to go back and check, but i think that smith is everything i had hoped for in moss. a guy who puts fannies in the seats -- except when he's on the field, then they are standing up to see what he's going to do.

 

[magnus]

I remember those comments and I remember speaking against them - mostly because of Moss and value, not the concept
and basically, what you wanted in Moss was what we got in Smith.