SBNation.com User Blog: Jaxon

CSR Saturday Night Open Thread

Jaxon — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:30:45 -0000

This is Now an Open Thread!

Steve Smith on QB: "He Sucks"

Jaxon — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:11:56 -0000

He wasn't talking about our own Jimmy Clausen. He wasn't talking about his former QB Jake Delhomme though we do know he wasn't a big fan of Delhomme's passing ability. As it turns out he was talking about NY Jets QB Mark Sanchez, a QB he has never played with. I found his comments quite curious:

Steve Smith of Panthers rips Mark Sanchez: 'He sucks' - NFL.com
"He sucks," Smith reportedly said Wednesday on WFNZ. The receiver went on to add, via the Sporting News and ProFootballTalk.com, "I wouldn't let Mark Sanchez throw me a paper bag sandwich."

It's an out-of-left-field insult from a guy who's never played a snap with Sanchez. Is it a fair shot for Smith to take? Smith has seen his share of bad quarterbacks in Carolina -- and Sanchez, admittedly, exhibits some of those traits -- but picking apart the Jets passer is easy sport here in May. Too easy.

'Throw me a paper bag sandwich'? Err...does he mean throw me a sandwich in a paper bag? We get the point though I'm chuckling more at Smitty's mangling the analog. One of my biggest and growing wishes is for Smith to go into radio after he is done with football because he pretty darn funny and obviously isn't afraid to say what he thinks. I didn't listen tot he whole interview so I'm not sure what led to the comment but Sanchez is an easy target.

To Sanchez's credit he took the high road in his response:

UPDATE: Sanchez responded Thursday. USA Today's Mike Garafolo reported the quarterback said of Smith: "I wish him and his team a healthy, successful season."

I mean what else is he going to say? It's not like Sanchez wants any part of the NFLs toughest WR! I think we may have just added a new one to the NFL's Rules & Regulations:

Rules & Regulations #29: If #89 Says 'You Suck' then you probably do!

Steve Smith on QB: "He sucks"

Jaxon — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:54:58 -0000

He wasn't talking about our own Jimmy Clausen. He wasn't talking about his former QB Jake Delhomme though we do know he wasn't a big fan of Delhomme's passing ability. As it turns out he was talking mark Sanchez, a QB he has never played with. I found his comments quite curious:

Steve Smith of Panthers rips Mark Sanchez: 'He sucks' - NFL.com
"He sucks," Smith reportedly said Wednesday on WFNZ. The receiver went on to add, via the Sporting News and ProFootballTalk.com, "I wouldn't let Mark Sanchez throw me a paper bag sandwich."

It's an out-of-left-field insult from a guy who's never played a snap with Sanchez. Is it a fair shot for Smith to take? Smith has seen his share of bad quarterbacks in Carolina -- and Sanchez, admittedly, exhibits some of those traits -- but picking apart the Jets passer is easy sport here in May. Too easy.

'Throw me a paper bag sandwich'? Err...does he mean throw me a sandwich in a paper bag? We get the point though I'm chuckling more at Smitty's mangling the analogy. One of my biggest and growing wishes is for Smith to go into radio after he is done with football because he pretty darn funny and obviously isn't afraid to say what he thinks. I didn't listen tot he whole interview so I'm not sure what led to the comment but Sanchez is an easy target.

To Sanchez's credit he took the high road in his response:

UPDATE: Sanchez responded Thursday. USA Today's Mike Garafolo reported the quarterback said of Smith: "I wish him and his team a healthy, successful season."

I mean what else is he going to say? It's not like Sanchez wants any part of the NFLs toughest WR! I think we may have just added a new one to the NFL's Rules & Regulations:

Rule #29: If #89 Says 'You Suck' then you probably do!

Cat Scratch Radio Tonight 10pm EST: Rookie Mini-Camp Edition

Jaxon — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:42:01 -0000

Note: The show must be getting popular because we have been getting trolled. In response one change to the format of the show is we will be muting all callers until called upon by the host or you submit a request to speak via the chat interface. Our apologies for this inconvenience.

=================

To join the call here's what you do:

1. Follow this link to listen, chat or even join the conversation through Talkshoe. You'll need a headset with a mic to talk if you don't dial in via land line (see below). A cell phone will work but usually the quality of the call presents a problem. If you don't plan to talk please self-mute your line to reduce background noise.

2. Dial in via land line at (724) 444-7444 ...Call ID: 94648 to just listen or talk as well. You can also follow the chat at the same time through the link above. If you join the chat please take time to include your user name. You can do both as well, chat via Talkshoe and dial in via land line to talk. Again, if you don't plan to talk or have background noise please mute your mic on your end.

All Callers Welcome!

If you should miss the show you can always download the first hour of any past show and listen by following this link.

Tonight's Hosts: Jaxon, James Dator and BW Smith.

On tonight's docket:

Rookie Mini-Camp
Recent Roster Changes
Other Panther news & discussion
Best of CSR for the last week

Radio Program Change:

We will continue with a 90 minute show tonight after which we will open up the mic for the after party [adult language probable]. We will have a hard stop around midnight.

So join us for a little fun and Panther camaraderie!

Keep Pounding!

Panther Paw Prints: Rookie Mini Camp Edition

Jaxon — Tue, 14 May 2013 01:52:02 -0000

So who are the coaches saying had a good camp? Of course the focus is on the rookie draft picks so here's a few links we haven't already singled out this week:

Barner impresses Panthers coaches - NFL - SI.com

Barner, who rushed for 1,767 yards and scored 23 touchdowns (21 on the ground) as a senior, was one of 59 rookies participating in the camp. That included the Panthers' other four draft picks, as well as 18 undrafted free agents and 36 tryout players. Rivera says of Barner: "If he continues to grow and improve and flash like he's been doing, he's got a real good chance to help us.'

More on Barner who many considered a value pick:

Carolina Panthers News: Kenjon Barner, Cam Newton - NFL Spin Zone - A General NFL Blog providing you all the NFL News, Rumors, Updates, and National Football League News.

While head coach Ron Rivera did not offer any more clues as to what Barner’s role will be in Charlotte, he did call Barner and fifth-round Iowa State Cyclones linebacker A.J. Klein "value picks". From the Charlotte Observer, ""We really do feel that was a value pick. We feel our last two picks (Klein and former Oregon RB Kenjon Barner) were value guys."

Only time will tell... We hear this every year from some rookie draft pick. Let's see if Barner backs it up:

Kenjon Barner opens Carolina Panthers' minicamp with chip on shoulder | OregonLive.com
You know, in my mind I knew nothing was guaranteed," Barner said. "So I never hung my hat on what I heard, because I knew on this stage that anything could happen. I didn’t want to get stuck on being a fourth-rounder or anything like that, because I’ve seen in years past what can happen — and what has happened to guys who were supposed to go earlier and then didn’t. "So was I disappointed? Yeah. But it just gave me something to work for. I’m here now. Every day is a work day. I’ve got to play with a chip on my shoulder. Every day I’m going to remind myself that 181 people went before me."

We have a couple UDFAs that have a shot to help the secondary, guys we singled out (here too) the night we signed them:

Panthers Notebook: Pair of DBs stand out to Rivera | Carolina Panthers | NewsObserver.com

"The two guys we felt really good about, who we thought were draftable was the safety from Alabama… and I really liked Melvin White," Rivera said after the two-hour session. "He’s another guy we felt had a chance to get drafted and didn’t unfortunately. I think those two guys really showed well today."

The rookies from cooler climates are always in for a jolt when the y hit the Carolina heat, and it's not even hot yet:

Similar positions, different roles for Panthers | NFL (AP) | Latest news and video on the Dal...
"We both didn't work out, so there wasn't too much to look at," Lotulelei said. "We were on the sideline talking. He was a real cool guy over there and it's carried over here." Panthers defensive line coach Eric Washington wants Lotulelei and Short to spend time together outside the meeting room and practice field. Despite Lotulelei's low-key demeanor with reporters, Short said their conversations are far from one-sided. "We sit there at meetings and barely say anything. We focus and try to learn our playbooks," Short said. "But when we go to lunch or something, he's talking and he's opening up." Their discussions this week have been about pass protections, alignments and the speed of the pro game. "Ten times faster than college, just the tempo and coming out here in this heat," Short said after the second of two practices Friday at the Panthers' rookie minicamp. "It's not usually this hot outside at Purdue."

I love to hear these guys are being competitive already, in a good way of course.

I quick look back at the draft and a lagging review:

2013 NFL Draft: Carolina Panthers Draft Grade - NFL Mocks - 2013 NFL Mock Draft, Fantasy Football, NFL News, and NFL Mock Draft Databases
2nd Round 44th Overall — Kawann Short DT, Purdue — A As I said, the Panthers really needed help at DT. While Lotulelei isn’t a great inside pass rusher, Short has shown that pass rush, but needs to get more consistent. Lotulelei and Short should give the Panthers a feared DT tandem for years.

Moving on the big cheese, Mr. Cam Newton. This first one comes via Mike Shula, Panthers OC:

Panthers coordinator Mike Shula wants to see Cam Newton stay on an even plane emotionally - The Washington Post

"We want him to make quick decisions -- and the right decisions -- and get the ball out," Shula said. "That helps the receivers and the offensive line and keeps people off of him. I think he’s gotten better each year. I feel better about him now than I did last year. You can’t substitute anything for the experience he’s gotten. The ups and downs. You are going to be better because of it. As we feel like we have guys surrounding him that are poised to have really good years." "The big thing is now that he’s had an opportunity to look at the guys and use it to the best of his ability," Newton said. "I think going into our third season and Cam having the type of offseason he has this season is going to be really exciting." As for the offense itself, Shula said Newton will still be used as a ball carrier but wouldn’t say how much the team will use the zone read option that Chudzinski used so frequently. Newton carried the ball 127 times as a rookie and 126 times last year. "You would be foolish to say you’re not going to use it," Shula said. "We’ll do things differently to keep things off balance."

Panther Mini-Camp Day 2 Gallery

Jaxon — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:35:45 -0000

View this gallery here.

CSR Saturday Night Open Thread

Jaxon — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:11:43 -0000

This is Now an Open Thread!

Kuechly Ranked #79 on NFLN Top 100 Players

Jaxon — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:23:06 -0000

Now he gets a little more respect from the national pundits by landing on NFL Networks Top 100 players in the NFL:

Carolina Panthers LB Luke Kuechly Ranks 79th on NFL Network’s ‘Top 100′ List | Panthers 101 | Sports Media 101
Last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year was named the 79th best player in the NFL on Thursday's episode of "The Top 100 Players of 2013," which unveiled the players ranked 71st through 80th. The rankings are determined by the results of an offseason poll organized by the NFL, through which players vote for their peers based on the previous season's play and how they believe the player will perform during the upcoming season. Steve Smith, who was named the league's 84th best player on the previous episode, was the first Carolina player showcased on the countdown.

So who else should be on the list? Certainly Charles Johnson should be on there somewhere and of course Cam Newton. C Ryan Kalil probaly will not be there because he missed most fo last year with injury. LT Jordan Gross might be there but couldn't be much higher than Kuechly I would imagine.

Thoughts?

Panthers Rookie Camp in Pictures

Jaxon — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:16:18 -0000

Here's a couple more pictures of Star and then just pictures of various players, starting with our draft pics. I think finally seeing him in a Panther practice uniform is bringing the reality home!

via cdn1.sbnation.com

via cdn2.sbnation.com

DT Kawann Short

via cdn2.sbnation.com

LB AJ Klein

via cdn0.sbnation.com

RB Kenjon Barner

via cdn0.sbnation.com

Bryan Jean-Pierre

via cdn0.sbnation.com

QB Colby Cameron

via cdn2.sbnation.com

QB Matt McGloin

via cdn1.sbnation.com

OG Justin Wells

via cdn1.sbnation.com

WR Lamont Bryant

via cdn0.sbnation.com

CSR Congratulates the Winners!

Jaxon — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:05:42 -0000

A lot of people picked either Short or Lotulelei but no one guessed we would get both of them. That was just too far fetched right? You are welcome to check back and make sure I didn't overlook someone.

Congratulations to our winner Panthers316!

We also had a Panthers draft fan poll contest where players selected a Panther draft class based on a formula and a pre-selected big board. I admit we need to tweak the formula next year as this was our first attempt at something like this.

The winner who got the most number of Rec's is djkono who collected 13 Rec's for his draft class of:

Mine

1. DeAndre Hopkins WR, Clemson (41)
2. Jesse Williams DT, Alabama (45)
4. Alvin Bailey OG, Arkansas (101)
5. Sanders Commings CB, Georgia (156)
6. Zeke Motta SS, Notre Dame (189)

Total: 534
Top 3: 187

by djkono on Apr 17, 2013 | 10:09 PM rec (13) flag actions

I have to admit that still looks like a good class IMO. So that thought led to the fan poll below.

There was one other entry with 16 Recs but I disqualified him for using his various member names to vote for himself. We are watching...always watching ;(

Congratulations to djkono!

Poll

Would you rather have the Panthers actual draft class or the one in djkono entry?

Panther Paw Prints: Pre-Rookie Camp Edition

Jaxon — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:16:40 -0000

I have to start with Panthers.com's rebuttal to Adam Shein's critical piece on the Panthers prospects for 2013:

Panthers going somewhere with Rivera, Newton
Here’s another noteworthy portion of Moore’s article: "Newton's statistical accomplishments through the first two seasons of his career will be the most prolific of anything we've seen in the NFL, ever… The writers bending their words to please them should stop and take a look at what's happening on the field. Newton has performed to a level nobody could possibly expect out of a quarterback at his age and development point in his career. To see what Cam Newton has done in his first two seasons and call it anything other than fantastic is lunacy, or worse."

This was easily Max Henson's best work on Panthers.com since they brought him in. He rally hits each point and I have to include this paragraph he gives from the locker room after the week 17 win over the Saints:

Newton suffered rib and ankle injuries. He was examined by doctors and played on. The Panthers won, 44-38. That game meant nothing in terms of postseason qualification. It meant everything to Newton’s teammates and coaches.

Here’s a quote from a vet, left tackle Jordan Gross: "Cam coming back in today was just awesome. It made my day. Cam has just continued to impress me this season with his growth, his leadership, his attitude, his play, his game management."

I’ll also share this: As a writer for Panthers.com, I’m able to enter the locker room with the players and staff immediately after games. After that Week 17 win over New Orleans, head coach Ron Rivera was emotional as he addressed the team. Newton put his arm around his coach and grabbed the attention of the room (pictured above).

"Everybody in this locker room, none of you gave up," Newton said. "Coach, we didn’t give up on you, man." Newton raised his voice. "There are a lot of things that happened in games this season, where we were this close. We could have done just a little bit more. We could have given just a little bit more. You all know it. I know it. Think about that this offseason."

That was the final locker room speech of the season. Newton was the voice of the team. And everybody in that room was listening.

Very good stuff right there. Hopefully it will carry over into the 2013 season.

We may have already covered this piece but its a nice segue from the first link above.

Carolina Panthers: Ron Rivera on the Hot Seat Entering the 2013 Season
"This is a performance-based industry, and I understand that," Rivera said Monday, via the Winston-Salem Journal. "I understand that Mr. Richardson has to sell tickets and put people in the stands, and the only real way to do that is to win. . . . Now we have to take the next step, and I understand that. We have to get over the hump, and I get that. But I do appreciate the opportunity I have, and with the development of these players and the improvement we are showing, we are going in the right direction."

I'm sure part of Rivera's confidence comes from knowing Cam Newton is working hard as I write this and is showing the leadership many that he would never possess. Which's brings to a piece detailing what Mr. Newton has been doing with his free time this offseason:

Panthers’ Cam Newton back in school, in Auburn and Charlotte | Carolina Panthers | NewsObserver.com
"Showing my face only two or three times a week for my teammates to see, but at the same time going back to school was important," Newton said. "I was trying to stretch my appearances out to a degree. Being here in Charlotte, then driving back to Auburn, then driving back to Charlotte on multiple weeks was very challenging."

Newton indicated he dropped a few pounds this offseason while working out with a personal trainer in Auburn. As for the Panthers’ offseason program, Newton said he was pleased to see new receivers Domenik Hixon and Ted Ginn at the workouts. "Those guys have been making an impact already in OTAs (organized team activities), coming with a mind frame to work," Newton said. "And having the mentality, the outlook we have had with people showing up to OTAs, really meant a lot to this organization and also to the coaches."

Forget vacation and staged media appearances for this rising 3rd year superstar. It's all charity events, working on his degree and joining teammates for private workouts in Charlotte for this hard worker. Regardless the media types will continue to try and prod him into saying something wrong, but he so far does not bite:

New QBs motivate Cam Newton of Carolina Panthers to improve - ESPN

"No, by no means," Newton said in an interview from his school-pride event for students in Charlotte when asked whether he feels like a forgotten quarterback after the success of Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson. "I'm a fan of those guys. Colin Kaepernick, I got an opportunity to know him well; we were roommates at the combine when we were coming out. RG III, he's won the Heisman. Andrew Luck -- those guys came in this league and took it by storm.

Am I envious? No," Newton said. "If anything it challenges me to get better and just remember about this league that if you're not getting better, you're getting forgotten."

Envy? Ha!! They will be envying him before long! Damn I love Cam...

Though we covered K John Kasay's recent retirement ceremony as he retired a Panther here is a quote from Kasay that I really loved:

John Kasay returns home to retire with Carolina Panthers - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN
''When we came to Charlotte, our oldest son was about 6 weeks old,'' Kasay said in a statement released by the team. ''To be able to watch your family grow, not only in number, but also in stature, it gives us a long-range perspective on as blessed as we were and have been by Mr. Richardson to be able to come live in this community, this city, and really the North Carolina and South Carolina region that has been so good to our family and has given way more to us than we've ever given back.''

Though it will take five years we will see John in bronze outside BoA stadium some day. If they want to capture his essence in the statue it will be Kasay lining up to kick a game-winning FG!

One last bit of NFL news, Minnesota's Governor has now weighed in the Chris Kluwe cut and honestly, he doesn't do Kluwe any favors:

Chris Kluwe release not fair, Minnesota governor says - NFL.com

I can't say for sure," Dayton replied. "But if you're going to check and see who's the better kicker under the pressure of an NFL season, seems to me you at least go into the exhibition games and have them both kicking under that kind of pressure. If you're to have true competition, that's how I would think you'd resolve it in a straightforward way. But that's their decision to make. They don't give me political advice. I don't give them coaching advice."

I couldn't agree more with his last statement, which begs the question why he was making a statement on the issue at all.

Keep Pounding!

Did the Panthers Get Real Value in This Draft?

Jaxon — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:34:21 -0000

First I have to mention I am of the camp that you cannot objectively evaluate a draft class immediately after the draft. It takes at least 2 or 3 seasons of on-the-field data to get anything valid. But trying to evaluate anyway we must so I will.

We all have our own 'value' scale but I'm betting yours is defined by the national pundits and their 'big boards' you prefer to give credence too. To keep this simple I've selected three that I like. The analysis below is simply this: Calculate the difference in number of draft picks between where the Panthers selected each of their five picks and the average of the big board ranking for each. Since the difference could be up or down the board, for this analysis a negative difference indicates a 'reach' or a player selected earlier than ranked. A positive number indicates getting a player lower than ranked and would therefore indicate an increase in value.

So here are my results:

Pick Name	Picked at	Dan Kadar (MTD)	CBS Sports	Drafttek	AVG	Delta
Star Lotulelei	14	2	5	7	5	9
Kawann Short	44	57	59	37	51	-7
Edmund Kugbila	108	200+	272	300	250+	-150
AJ Klein	148	124	109	135	123	25
Kenjon Barner	182	119	153	162	145	37

Value Summary:

Star Lolulelei was obvious value at #14 though its only nine picks behind his ranking. Anytime you get a player most people had ranked in the top 5 at #14 its huge value, theoretically anyway.
DT Kawann Short was essentially picked right around where he was ranked though on paper it would appear to be a difference equal to Lotulelei's. It's not near as close those since we are talking about the middle of the 2nd round versus the top 10. If you asked the Panthers though they feel they got great value with this pick as well.
OG Edmund Kugbila is easliy the biggest reach of the draft as two of my selected big boards didn't even include Big Ku. If there is a bust in this Panther draft class the odds would have to be on Kugbila. I'm hopeful the coaching staff knows something the national pundits missed.
LB AJ Klein is another apparent value pick though in this analysis its not quite as much value as some people have suggested. Though some had him projected in the 3rd round, on average Klein had a 4th round grade and we got him in the 5th. Not a huge amount of value but a good bit.
RB Kenjon Barner on average had a late 4th round grade and he slide to the 6th for us. He just might be another 6th round gem for the Panthers in due time.

If the name of the game for you is getting real 'value' from a draft and you can't wait a couple years to make an analysis then this is the analysis for you. The net result is three of the Panther picks represent good to great value for the pick used, one is on par for the pick used and one looks to be a huge risk.

Worst Case Scenario: Kugbila busts, Klein and Barner become capable back-ups and STers and Star and Short become serviceable starters.

My Homer Prediction: Star becomes a PBer, Short, Kubila and Klein become quality starters and Barner becomes a ST stand out.

The Panthers certainly rolled the dice in this draft. They resisted trading up to get a player they covet and appear to have been rewarded for their jurisprudence. They also rolled the dice by selecting a couple players that might require us to wait a couple seasons to see if they were wise selections or not. Check back as I'm sure we will be monitoring their development here at CSR.

Cat Scratch Radio Tonight 10pm EST: Kasay Retires Edition

Jaxon — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:20:05 -0000

=================

To join the call here's what you do:

All Callers Welcome!

If you should miss the show you can always download the first hour of any past show and listen by following this link.

Tonight's Hosts: Jaxon, James Dator and BW Smith.

On tonight's docket:

John Kasay Retires
Schein hit piece
Post draft musings
Other Panther news & discussion
Best of CSR for the last week

Radio Program Change:

We will continue with a 90 minute show tonight after which we will open up the mic for the after party [adult language probable]. We will have a hard stop around midnight.

So join us for a little fun and Panther camaraderie!

Keep Pounding!

CSR Welcomes the Lotulelei Family to Our family

Jaxon — Mon, 06 May 2013 00:42:32 -0000

When I saw that Lotulelei had elected to spend draft night with his family just as LB Luke Kuechly did a year ago I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike many draft picks, Star has already started his own family as he is already married with children and you could tell from the family's reaction they are a tight-knit group. In my view that fits very well with the Panthers desire to create a football family on and off the field. They appear to covet players with a strong sense of family and hopefully we will see that play out on the football real soon.

Here's a new Panther blogger on the block that is thinking the same way I am at the moment:

NICKBOLICK3's blog
I will start off by saying this: Lotulelei comes from humble beginnings. He chose not to attend the draft and stay home with his family. When his name was called he immediately got emotional and hugged his family while simply wearing a t-shirt and shorts, not a designer suit and tie. This is by far the Panthers best pick in the draft. Star can contribute immediately and have the biggest impact in the 2013 NFL season. A couple of months before the draft most thought Lotulelei would be a top 5 pick until a heart condition presented itself at the combine and forced Star out of action. It took the Panthers a mere 30 seconds to lock in their pick. That sends a strong message that they got their guy.

Here's another point Nick makes that runs counter to some of the pre-draft knocks that surfaced on Lotulelei after his heart condition issue. That being that his play was inconsistent at times:

One of most impressive aspects of Lotulelei's game is his durability that is unmatched by any other player in the draft. At times, he played up to 85 snaps per game at Utah. He is 311 pound beast in the middle. He will command a double team every play he is out there. There are qualities that will not show up in the stat sheet.

Pushing the pocket. He may not get 10 sacks this year, but he will consistently make it difficult for opposing QB's to get the ball off cleanly. With Lotulelei's dominance, it might even allow DE's Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy see single coverage at times.

Somebody has to be single blocked. If Star becomes a concern up the middle then you can bet it means less attention will be given to the edge. That is real bad news for QBs on the Panthers schedule.

Ever since we at CSR started tracking Star's heart condition scare here on CSR it has been a case of wishful thinking. But in the end it appears that maybe the false positive test was just what was needed to get a team like the Jets to pass on him for another player. That was all it took for the dream to come true.

If you aren't excited yet then try one last link:

CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Star Lotulelei, the Panthers' first-round pick from Tonga, is a quiet family man - Football Wires - MiamiHerald.com
"Essentially when he's in the game, the inside run game's nonexistent," Whittingham said. After sitting out the combine following his heart diagnosis, Lotulelei did 38 reps in the 225-pound bench press at the Utes' pro day, matching SMU defensive end Margus Hunt's total that was the best among all combine participants.

Whittingham said Lotulelei is an unselfish player who never complained. And though there were louder players in the Utes' locker room, few were better leaders than Lotulelei, a team captain his final two years.

"I'm a real quiet person. I wasn't the rah-rah captain that's going to yell at everybody and try to get them hype like that. I try to lead by example," he said. "Personality-wise, outside of football, just real laid-back, easy to get to know and just a real easy-going guy."

Team captain, leads by example, commands double teams, never complains, strong as an ox, family man. Lotulelei is simply a perfect fit in Carolina... on and off the field.

CSR Saturday Night Open Thread

Jaxon — Sat, 04 May 2013 22:38:38 -0000

Let's talk Panthers and whatever else floats ya...

This is Now an Open Thread!

Panther Draft Pick Profile: OG Edmund Kugbila

Jaxon — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:50:35 -0000

There was no other Panther draft pick from last month's NFL draft that garnered more question marks than the Panthers pick of OG Edmund Kugbila from Valdosta St. in the 4th round. Yet as we discussed on CSR radio last week the Panthers did their homework on this prospect. In fact, when you peel this onion back, you actually find Big Ku is the perfect prospect to fill the Panthers huge need at RG.

To get a good understanding of where this Division II prospect comes from, you have to go back to his childhood:

Valdosta State's Kugbila to participate in Falcons' local workout | Atlanta Falcons | www.ajc.com
"At this point, I just want to be on a team where I can play football again," said Kugbila, who moved to Georgia with his family from Ghana at age 10. "I don’t really care where I go."

He started playing in the seventh grade at age 13 for the Lawrenceville Youth Association. He didn’t like it much, but his mother Lucy talked him into sticking with the game. "I thank my Mom every day for talking me into staying with it," Kugbila said. "I just have to get used to a three-point stance, but that’s not going to be difficult," Kugbila said.

Kugbila was described as a late bloomer who bloomed just in time to garner interest from some of the top programs in the country. Schools like Alabama where Nick Saban was very interested in the big kid from Atlanta. So how did he end up at Valdosta St?

"I was highly recruited and was a Gwinnett County All-Star, but I was just 10 points short on my SATs," Kugbila said. "Valdosta State came in and it was between going to a JUCO and Valdosta. I visited Valdosta and loved it."

So even after a couple seasons at Valdosta St., rather than transfer to Division 1, Kugbila preferred to stay where he felt at home. So did he regret staying at the small school located in the southern Georgia plains? Well, considering he won a National Championship his senior season I'm thinking 'no':

Panthers take VSU’s Kugbila in 4th round of NFL Draft " Blazers Blog " Valdosta Daily Times
"My heart is racing and it feels like the national championship but even more exciting," said Kugbila, who helped lead the Blazers to the 2012 Division II national championship this past December. "I can’t talk right now. I am just speechless."

After he helped lead the Blazers to the 35-7 win over Winston-Salem State in the national championship game in Dec., Kugbila did not return to Valdosta State for classes this spring. He, instead, moved home to Gwinnett County and began working out, training for the NFL.

He participated in the NFL Combine in Feb. before returning to Valdosta for his pro day on April 18. Kugbila then worked out for several NFL teams, including the Panthers. But he still had no idea the Panthers would be calling his name in the draft.

"Their O-line coach came down to work me out after pro day, and I talked to them a little bit, but that was it," Kugbila said. "I had no idea they were going to take me."

Hopefully Kugbila will return to finish up his degree in future summers but it would seem his preparation for the draft paid off. One of the big questions about about the Panthers 4th round pick was whether he would have still been available in the later rounds since he had a 6th-7th round grade from most evaluators. My hypothesis is that the Panthers were afraid the Falcons were also targeting Kugbila, and the Falcons had two picks at the end of the 4th round.

So can Big Ku come in and grab the RG slot right out of the gate? He has some things to work on first:

"They say that it’s harder to run block out of a two-point stance and I was doing pretty good. I just have to get used to a three-point stance, but that’s not going to be difficult," Kugbila said. Out of a three-point stance, I should be able to do better. I just have to work on that and try to get better."

Kugbila comes from an offense that has its linemen essentially playing from a pass protection stance most of the game. The good news is that supposedly it's harder to play RG from that stance; hence, he should be able to adapt pretty quickly to the 3 point stance.

Edmund Kugbila | Valdosta State, OG : 2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile
04/28/13 - A closer look at the Panthers' picks: Round 4/108 -- Edmund Kugbila, OG, 6-4, 317, Valdosta State...The Panthers need some depth on their offensive line, and Kugbila could immediately compete at guard. The native of Ghana may have lasted another round, but Carolina obviously saw enough in him to not risk waiting. - The Sports Xchange

During some of the post draft interviews Panthers GM Dave Gettleman said one of the things they look for in prospects from smaller schools is, 'Did they dominate at their level?' Looking back at his college career before his senior year, you see a steady trend upward in performance:

Valdosta State - Edmund Kugbila - 2012 Football
AS A JUNIOR IN 2011: Played in all 10 games, starting eight of those contests ... Earned third team All-America honors from Don Hansen's Football Gazette while also being named unanimous choice first team All-Gulf South Conference ... Started each of the last eight games of the year ... Saw action on 662 plays on the year, with a positive grade on 594 ... Graded out positively on 89.7 percent of his season plays ... Recorded a team-best 43 knockdown blocks while surrendering only two quarterback hurries and no sacks.

AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2010: Played in all 11 games, starting 10 of those contests ... Only non-start came in VSU's Senior Day game against West Georgia Nov. 6 ... Saw action on 539 plays on the year, with a positive grade on 418 ... Graded out positively on 77.6 percent of his season plays ... Recorded 65 knockdown blocks, second-most on the squad.

AS A FRESHMAN IN 2009: Played in all 10 games, all as a reserve ... Was involved with 316 plays on the year, grading out positively on 193 of those ... Earned a positive grade on 61.1 percent of his plays ... Tallied 15 knockdown blocks on the year.

Other comments about Big Ku encountered during the post-draft evaluation process, though I don't have links for all of this:

Dave Gettleman contacted Nick Saban about his impression of Kugbila from his recruitment process
Kugbila is very family-oriented and is excited to be staying fairly close to home
He has the 3rd fasted short-shuttle of the OGs at the NFL combine
Given the Panthers O-line coach John Matsko worked Kugbila out personally, he had to be 'banging the table' for him

Though he didn't garner a lot of attention at the NFL combine, a look back shows a performance well worth a 4th round pick:

Here's the measurables, and you just have to love his size and arm length:

Height: 6'4"

Arm Length: 34 7/8"

Weight: 317 lbs

Hands: 10 1/2"

Workout Results:

40 Yard Dash: 5.31 sec

Bench Press: 23 reps

Vertical Jump: 22.5"

Broad Jump: 105" (8' 9")

Three Cone Drill: 7.72 sec

20 Yard Shuttle: 4.65 sec

While his short shuttle time excited the coaches, for fans the 23 bench press reps was a red flag. A year in an NFL weight training program should improve that easily. Also he has the frame to add more weight if needed.

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Edmund Kugbila
Kugbila was picked to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, but this wasn’t likely the most fortuitous selection in his family’s history. Kugliba’s parents Cletus and Lucy, won a visa lottery that allowed their family to move to the United States from Ghana. Kugbila and his family moved to the U.S. in 2000 when he was 10 years old. His younger brother Romauld, an Archer grad, is a freshman on the West Georgia football team. Edmund began playing football in the seventh grade. His size and talent attracted schools such as Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt and Florida, but a low SAT score prevented him from academically qualifying for a Division I school.

His parents won the lottery in 2000 to immigrate to the US and then just won it again this past draft. Might it actually be Panther fans who won on that fateful day in 2000 We've needed a mauling RG for the running game for as long as I can remember. Even if it takes a year for him to adjust and make an impact I'm still excited at his potential and the positive impact he can have in the future.

So again, please welcome Edmund Kugbila to the Panther family!

Keep Pounding!

Skipping Senior Bowl No Longer a Sound Strategy

Jaxon — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:56:10 -0000

QB Geno Smithy is an obvious example of the peril of not attending after sliding from a predicted top 10 to the 39th pick. It was Geno firing his agent that made me realize how the Senior Bowl is about to change in prominence. I think you will see more top Senior prospects participate in the game and take that opportunity to bond with a decision-maker.

Forget the combine, going forward it's the Senior Bowl that will be the prime pre-draft event!

The 1st round is littered with Seniors who made the most of their Senior Bowl experience:

Senior Bowl standout OT Eric Fisher jumped over non-Senior Bowl attendee Luke Joeckel
LT Lane Johnson (#4) jumped to a 3 way tie with Luke Joekel and Eric Fisher
Detroit made no bones of their love of DE Ziggy Ansay (#5)
The Rams traded up to #8 to get WR Tayvon Austin
DJ Hayden (#12) was invited to the Senior Bowl but did not play due to injury.
EJ Manual (#16) was drafted way ahead of Geno Smith after being named game MVP

In fact, 94 Senior Bowl attendees were drafted in 2013, the highest total to date. The game recap include more risers in the 1st and 2nd round:

Game Recaps 2010s : Game History : The Game : Senior Bowl
SOUTH 21, NORTH 16

MVP: E.J. Manuel, Florida State

NORTH COACH: Dennis Allen, Raiders

SOUTH COACH: Jim Schwartz, Lions

TOP PLAYERS: Ziggy Ansah, Kawann Short, Eric Fisher, Lane Johnson, Desmond Trufant, Markus Wheaton, Datone Jones, Jamar Taylor

So I'm predicting that going forward fewer top prospects will skip the event though I'm sure some will, mostly due to injury though. EJ Manual honestly didn't necessarily have a great performance either. None of the QBs had a noteworthy performance yet we still saw Manuel improve his stock.

The counter argument is that the game hurt some players, in particular Nassib and our own Kenyon Barner. Yet I would argue their performance did not hurt their chances, it merely didn't help. That is a risk future prospects will need to make because all it takes is for one GM to fall in love with you.

Cat Scratch Radio Tonight 10pm EST: Post Draft Edition

Jaxon — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:10:16 -0000

To join the call here's what you do:

All Callers Welcome!

If you should miss the show you can always download the first hour of any past show and listen by following this link.

Tonight's Hosts: Jaxon, James Dator and BW Smith.

On tonight's docket:

Draft Results and more draft results
UDFA signings
Other Panther news & discussion
Best of CSR for the last week

Radio Program Change:

We will continue with a 90 minute show tonight after which we will open up the mic for the after party [adult language probable]. We will have a hard stop around midnight.

So join us for a little fun and Panther camaraderie!

Keep Pounding!

Utes Blogger: Panthers Got the Star of the Draft

Jaxon — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:06:43 -0000

Doug Kimmel with Scout.com and their Utes blog Inside the Utes sent me the write up below giving his impressions of Star Lotulelei and the impact he predicts he will have on the Panthers defense and NFL in general. Doug is not only a long-time Utes fan who attends every game but he is also a Panther fan who knows our team as much as any of us. So here is his take broken up a little where I decided to insert some of my own comments.

The Star of the Draft

by Doug Kimmel with www.InsideTheUtes.com

No offense to Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel, or Chance Warmack, but I am confident that the best player in the 2013 NFL draft was Star Lotulelei. I believe Fisher, Joeckel, and Warmack will all enjoy long careers littered with trips to Hawaii (assuming that exist in five years) and will be foundations to their respective organizations for years to come. Yet, the impact that Star will bring to Carolina is unparalleled by any other player in the draft!

If I was Luke Kuechly, Big Beast, or Thomas Davis I would just be coming down from my natural high the #14 pick of the 2013 draft brought to me. Hell, Star won't be blowing blockers for me for the foreseeable future and I am just beginning to come down! Carolina might not know what they have yet, but after covering Star and the Utah Utes for Fox Sports/Scout.com for the past year, I believe they have the next great thing!

I think I'm still riding that 'high' that will soon turn to thanks for all the pundits that helped Star slide to us.

I watched Star's stock take a hit when he had the heart scare at the combine, to which I totally understand, but what I didn't understand is the critics that began to emerge when Star was momentarily down and out. I began hearing analyst say things like "even if Star didn't have the heart condition, I still don't believe he is worth a top pick, his motor is suspect..." Suspect!? I went to every Utah game this year, and I saw Star taking on 2-3 blockers on every single play. Number 92 players 92% of the plays this year, and never once did he take a play off.

More came from the woodwork during this time to point out Star's "inconsistent play" during the 2012 season... like I said, I went to every Utes game this year, and Star was about the one consistency the Utes had! Game in game out Star gobbled up his double and triple teams, and was able to come away with five sacks and 11 TFLs. Star was consistent enough to make it to six All-American teams and built on his 2011 campaign where he won the Morris Trophy (awarded to the Pac-12's best defensive lineman by vote of the league's starting offensive linemen). In 2011, Star was a dominant space-eater, in 2012 Star built upon that by becoming a dynamic playmaker, adding to his repertoire.

I also came across some early profiles that said Lotulelei was a tireless worker who never came off the field so I wondered what had happened for some many to recently claim he was inconsistent. I mean, if a guys job is to take on multiple blockers play after play and he still puts up the stats Star did then how does that reconcile with 'inconsistent'? It doesn't.

I cannot think of a weakness in Star's game... I have heard national pundits say he isn't a skilled pass rusher; once again this is not this case. Why didn't Star Lotulelei ever manufacture sacks like Warren Sapp did over his 13 year career? I highly doubt it, BUT I could see Star racking up 5+ sacks or more a year. The guy certainly doesn't need to come off the field on 3^rd downs.

Though I expect him to rotate it is nice to know he is conditioned enough to not come off the field on 3rd down. We need his ability to collapse the pocket from the middle of the line.

Scheming for the Carolina Panthers front 4 went from a challenging to damn near impossible! Both Charles Johnson and the Kraken already demand extra attention, throw in Star into the mix and there is no winning for the opposition. At the very least, Carolina will have three guys who are worthy of double-teaming, and then a solid vet player in Dwan Edwards, a potential homerun in Kawann Short, and Frank Alexander who I believe could be the best third defensive end in football after 2013! I am sure Drew Brees and Matt Ryan are sleeping easy now, but come when the Fall rolls around... I wouldn't want to be them despite their hundred millions!

Doug might sound like he's being rhetorical here but money cannot replace your spleen after it gets crushed by the Panther front four!

Star Lotulelei will end up the most valuable pick in the 2013 draft. He may not have the sex appeal that ESPN is looking for, but Carolina Panthers have never really had that, nor do they want it. I have no doubt in my mind that his worth will exceed Dion Jordan, Ziggy Ansah, and Barkevious Mingo, all of which have a high potential to be busts. With Star, I have seen a lot of comparisons to Kevin Williams and Ndamukong Suh and I can totally see it. I personally believe Star is a blend of Casey Hampton and Haloti Ngata- Star has the ability to eat blockers and take up space as well as Casey Hampton, but he also has the explosiveness to destroy a play in the backfield like Ngata does for the Ravens.

So teams will need to double him very play or risk a bull rush to the backfield! Have no mercy Mr. McDermott, bring him every play!

David Gettleman has been preaching "big hog mollies" since arriving in Carolina, Thursday night, he landed THE hog of all hogmollies. The entire Carolina defense should be eager for the 2013 season, their lives just got a lot easier. Star will never create the attention like Cam, he will never display the fire of the Kraken, and he will never rack up the stats like Kuechly... but come 2015, I truly believe Star Lotulelei will be the most valuable player on the Carolina Panthers.

With a hellish 2013 schedule, a secondary that is suspect, and a 23-41 record since 2009 the Panthers are on very few radars... Star will change that faster than you can say "lo-too-leh-lay!"

'The Star of Hogmollies!' might just be the most overplayed phrase of the past week or so but I'm not tired of it just yet. I'm hoping every team the Panthers play leaves wondering what hogmollie truck they just got run over with!

A big CSR thanks to Doug Kimmel for sharing his thoughts on the Panthers lucky star selection at #14!

Keep Pounding!

Panther Rookies Get Their Jersey Numbers

Jaxon — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:29:44 -0000

Our newest Panthers have picked some numbers we should be familiar with:

#Panthers draft picks' jersey numbers: Star Lotulelei, 96. Kawann Short, 68. Edmund Kugbila, 70. AJ Klein, 56. Kenjon Barner, 25.

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 29, 2013

#96 - Star's number was most recently worn by Rod Edwards and before him DE Tyler Brayton.

#68 - Short will wear the number most recently given to Andre Neblett. Though Neblett beat the UDFA odds I'm thinking Short will last longer.

#70 - Kugbila will wear Travelle Wharton's number 70. Let's see if he can earn it.

#56 - LBs Thomas Williams and Kenny Onatolu recently wore #56. Before them it was LS Jason Kyle. Going from memory I believe Lamar Lathon wore #56. AJ Klein gets the honor in 2013.

#25 - Barner gets to follow up CB RJ Stanford with #25. The number was also worn by S Nate Salley briefly.

Panther Paw Prints: Post NFL Draft 2013 Edition

Jaxon — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:44:02 -0000

Starting with one that seems to barely scratch the surface:

Picking apart this year’s NFL Draft | The Salt Lake Tribune

Carolina Panthers • B+ Getting Star Lotulelei at 14 was a steal, plain and simple. After that, there were some curious choices, like adding Oregon running back Kenjon Barner to an already stacked backfield.

It's about roles, not a perceived depth chart. Barner's planned role will be very limited in 2013 but expand down the road if he can handle the jump to the NFL.

I guess sometimes the result of a private visit is you get taken off of the teams board. The Panthers brought this guy in for a private visit but he landed elsewhere as a UDFA:

Undrafted free agents 2013: 10 best signings - SBNation.com
Alvin Bailey, OG, Seattle Seahawks No team has done a better job of uncovering high-talent, low-production college players and turning them into quality NFL players than the Seahawks. Can they do that again with Bailey? He's big, agile and doesn't shy away from contact, but was often beaten by stunts and had a lot of trouble with consistency. Like Nixon, if he can tap into his considerable physical tools, he can be an impact NFL lineman.

Bailey was one of the Panthers 28 known private visits but they were apparently not a match. Quite the opposite result from Kawann Short's visit, who openly admitted the Panthers were at the top of his wish list simply as a result of his visit. Before you fault the Panthers for not getting Bailey 30 other teams passed on him as well.

Another positive grade for the Panthers:

2013 NFL draft grades: An 'A' for effort goes to ...
Carolina Panthers: They only had five picks, but new GM Dave Gettleman appeared to get impact players. DTs Star Lotulelei (Round 1) and Kawann Short (Round 2 with Round 1 talent) could form one of the league's scariest lines in between DEs Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy. Sixth-round RB Kenjon Barner could be a slippery change-of-pace option who could potentially allow Gettleman to trade Jonathan Stewart or DeAngelo Williams down the line. GRADE: B+

I'm not ready to put this kid under that kind of pressure. He has to prove he can hold on to the ball first.

I think people give 'B' grades when they just don't want to spend the time doing a real evaluation:

Grading the Draft: NFC South Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints | The Pigskin Report
Carolina Panthers- In 2011 the Panthers drafted two defensive tackles and repeated the procedure in this draft, this time hoping for better results. The Panthers might have gotten a steal with DT Star Lotulelei falling to 14. They added Kawann Short in the second. Grade B

That one is a little short on details. I'd give it a 'B' as far as draft grading ability goes ;)

I might like this 2014 1st round pick for the Panthers if I could get past the position in which we are picking:

2014 NFL mock draft: Teddy Bridgewater, Jadeveon Clowney lead the way - SBNation.com
11. Carolina Panthers: Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson Watkins has been a star at Clemson since his freshman year and is a legit No. 1 wide out. At the start of the 2014 season, Steve Smith will be 35. Just how productive can he be at that age?

I think it would be safe to say Ron Rivera would be shown the door if the Panthers are picking eleventh overall.

So I found a few sources panning the Panthers draft:

The lack of getting a WR seems to be the common sticking point with the pundits. The Panthers must feel a lot better about the WR position that pretty much everybody else, myself included.

Again, panned for not drafting to all needs:

2013 NFL Draft Grades: Carolina Panthers
Worst Pick: Kenjon Barner, RB/Oregon The Panthers have both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart who are under contract until 2016 and both running well. The Panthers needed a wide receiver but failed to take one thanks to spending that pick on Barner. He’s not a bad prospect, but he blocked the Panthers from drafting a true need.

Analysis: Carolina needed defense and they specifically needed help on the defensive line. They wasted no time in filling that need, double dipping on defensive tackles and taking two of the best prospects at the position in the draft. But the swing and miss on wide receivers is a massive oversight here and may end up biting the Panthers hard. 2013 Draft Grade: C+

No mention of Barner's skills to justify the 'worst pick' label though I would agree he is not a perfect prospect. Still how is it not obvious Barner has a different skill set than Williams and certainly Stewart or Tolbert?

How many balls would a rookie WR really catch in this offense in 2013? This is an offense that I hope throws the ball more to its backs and Tolbert in particular in 2013.

It's apparent the Panthers are satisfied with the WR trio of Smith-LaFell-Hixon and back-ups like Pilares and maybe Gettis. Don't sleep on LaMont Bryant who showed some real promise last TC. He's flashed very good body control when going up for the ball so at his height he could be a real red zone target.

Regardless of whether the Panthers final three picks pan out like they hope, I think once the seasons starts we will love Lotulelei and Short so much we will look at the last three of icing on the cake.

Keep Pounding!

Panther UDFA S Lester Has a Good Chance to Make the Roster

Jaxon — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:04:37 -0000

TiqIQ's job is to find you the best deals and seller on the market, and to get football tickets for the 2013 NFL season, you may want to check out Primesport.

Lester is known for a good work ethic and he seems to have the right attitude about going undrafted:

Thanks so much Panther world for this opportunity I promise you wont regret it!!! #NFLBound!!!
— Robert Lester (@RobertLester_37) April 28, 2013

He's just happy to have the chance. He's officially my favorite UDFA at the moment, at least until TC that is!

Here's a couple draft profiles I found on Lester, starting with a very glowing one that came out prior to his Senior season:

2013 NFL Draft Prospect Notes - Robert Lester, S, Alabama - SBNation.com
From 2012: Strengths: Very smart, hardworking player - Like most Alabama players, Lester is intelligent and hardworking. You can see this by his good physical shape and the fact that he is usually in the right place on the football field Great center field ability - In his two years as a starter for Alabama, Lester has shown the ability to play center field. He has 10 interceptions in the 2 years and most of them came when lined up in deep zone and just reading the play Always around the ball, creates a lot of turnovers - This ties in with the point above. Lester is in the right place at the right time and has the ability to make big plays after the INT.

Great coaching - This is a given with any player from Alabama Solid in coverage on slot WRs - Lester has shown the ability to cover slot WRs in his two years at Bama. He does not get beat very often and has good technique

Scheme versatility - He can play zone or man (ties in with the above point). Nick Saban uses him in a variety of ways similar to Troy Polamalu. At times you see him in the box. Other times you see him dropping into a deep zone and other times he is lined up on a slot WR. Good athlete - Lester is athletic and has good speed. He is not going to blow you away with speed but he has above average speed for a safety.

Yet apparently Lester did not live up to his high billing and subsequently took a hit in his draft status:

Robert Lester Draft Profile – NFL.com
STRENGTHS NFL-caliber size and length. Possesses strong hands, height and vertical to high-point passes in jump-ball situations. Can also drop to the ground quickly to get his hands underneath low throws. Sticks his nose into the run game, drops his hips to stop the momentum of churning running backs up the middle. Finds creases to explode through as a blitzer. Uses his long, strong arms to trip up and wrap up ballcarriers coming into his area or wrestle them down from behind. Good hustle in coverage, will track down receivers over the middle.

WEAKNESSES Not a quick-twitch athlete. High and stiff in his backpedal. Does not have elite hip flexibility to break down quickly as a tackler or turn and run with receivers downfield. Takes time to get to the sideline at times in cover-two and will take incorrect angles to the ball as a tackler and in coverage. Won’t catch faster receivers in trail coverage over the middle. Often doesn't take the proper angle to the ball in the run and pass game. Inconsistent.

NFL COMPARISON James Butler

BOTTOM LINE Lester posses length, toughness, and ball skills. Lester has made some impact plays over his career at Alabama, but he also been troubled by maddening inconsistencies. His draft stock has dipped a bit throughout the season, but he will still be selected in the middle rounds.

Here's another that seems to echo the weaknesses:

Robert Lester, SS, Alabama, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
STRENGTHS: Possesses a long, lean build well-suited to today's pass-happy NFL. Reads the quarterback's eyes and is a smooth accelerator, showing a burst to close on underneath routes. Times his leaps well in jump-ball situations and extends his arms to make a play at its highest point. Excellent ball skills, including the ability to track the ball over his shoulder, extend to catch away from his frame and the ability to sneak his hands under the ball to corral pass deflections. Athletic enough to occasionally drop down to cover slot receivers. Has the long arms to re-route receivers and is balanced enough to cover short distances. Reads run quickly and flashes aggression to support. Long, strong arms for the pull-down tackle and occasionally will lower his shoulder for the big hit. Highly respected by coaching staff for his work ethic.

WEAKNESSES: A bit of a 'tweener. May lack the athleticism for deep coverage and the physicality necessary to play well closer to the line of scrimmage. Does not possess ideal hip fluidity and foot quickness to operate as a true center fielder against an NFL passing attack. Loses a step as he changes directions and does not have great speed to recover. Does too much grabbing and dragging as an open-field tackler, and when he does attempt to lower the boom has a tendency to duck his head and lunge. Takes questionable angles to the ball, underestimating the speed of ball-carriers and not proving to be a reliable last line of defense.

COMPARES TO: Kerry Rhodes, FS, Arizona Cardinals: Like the 6-3, 212-pound Rhodes, Lester has the size, closing speed and ball skills to develop into a dependable ball-hawk at the next level.

So Lester did not test well in the agility drills it would seem but he might be more of the kind of guy that plays better on the field than he tests. Also the fact he had a big sophomore year he reminds me of NC States' David Amerson who also had a lot of INTs early in college only to see his production fall off as a senior. Both players suffered from going for the INT and thereby missed tackles and took bad angles on balls.

Lester seems to have the build of the 'box safety' but will need to improve his tackling and man skills to get any snaps in the defense. He should be a solid ST contributor as the Panthers figure out where he best fits. At a lithe 220 lbs Lester just might eventually transition to WLB with just a little more bulk on his frame.

CSR gives a big welcome to Robert Lester! Get Pounding!

Mocking the Draft Grades the Panthers Draft

Jaxon — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:27:05 -0000

Dan Kadar calls the Panthers selection of DT Star Lotulelei at #14 the steal of the first round. I could not agree more.

Carolina Panthers

A+ pick: Star Lotulelei, DT

Lotulelei was the steal of the first round of the draft and fills a big position of need for the Panthers. What else is there to say? Day 1 starter with Pro Bowl potential as a rookie.

Late-round find: Kenjon Barner, RB

If he can get on the field, Barner is going to be a nice weapon. Imagine him running option plays with quarterback Cam Newton. It's scary. Barner is so much faster than his timed speed. He could push Ted Ginn for the punt return job and will be a good kick returner.

Undrafted intrigue: Robert Lester, S

Lester had a draftable grade because of his natural size and solid ability in coverage and run support. He should be a decent backup and get a roster spot if he can play on coverage teams.

Though the day three picks seemed puzzling at first the more I think about them the more pleased I am with this draft class. We got a RG (Edmund Kugbila) though he may be a bit of a project. We got another solid LB (AJ Klein) to compete and contribute, maybe even at SLB if needed. Then we wrapped it up with a skill player (Kenjon Barner) that after I looked up his stats and highlights he could be a rare find as well.

I also love the UDFA signing of S Robert Lester as Kadar points out. The Panthers needed to get depth at safety and he seems to fit the 'box safety' many of us have been talking about. More on him to come shortly.

Panthers UDFA Signing Wrap Up

Jaxon — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:27:50 -0000

Panthers.com does not have it posted yet but this list from Draft Panthers looks accurate. I've added my comments for each:

Morgan Lineberry, K – Abilene Christian - No surprise we brought in a kicker
- Reported: 2-Year Deal!
- Booming Leg
- Could play K or P in NFL

Colby Cameron, QB – Louisiana Tech - Practice squad guy that might push Clausen
- 7th Round Grade by DraftPanthers
- Game Manager, Potential Career Backup

Robert Lester, SS – Alabama - Might be able to bulk up and play WLB
- Stiff in Coverage
- Poor Range
- Willing Tackler

Taylor Cook, TE/P – Rice - Huge punter for sure
- 6’7″ – 265
- 4.71 – 40 time
- Served as starting Punter
- Good Hang Time

Demario Jeffery, LB – South Carolina - I'll wait to hear from BW on this guy
- Experience as Hybrid and Base OLB
- Scheme Versatile
- 6’4″ – 233

Melvin White, CB/FS – University Louisiana-Lafeyette - Big corners tend to get a chance
- 6’1″ – 205
- 4.59 / 4.62
- Prototype size/speed press DB

Wes Horton, DE – USC - Another camp body that might develop
- 6’5″ – 260
- 4.7-Mid 40′s
- Scheme Versatile
- Good frame to add Weight
- Good Length

Michael Zordich, FB Penn State.

Tyler Morgan, LS – Georgia Tech

Bryan Jean-Pierre, DL – William & Mary

Jesse Peterson, OL – Wheaton

Trey Diller, WR – Sam Houston State

Tori Mobley, OG – Jacksonville State

Craig Roh, DE – Michigan

CSR 2013 Post NFL Draft Open Thread

Jaxon — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 22:23:20 -0000

As soon as the draft is over teams can begin signing UDFAs and there should be some good ones out there. Use this thread for those announcements or any other news of the evening.

This is Now an Open Thread!

Open Thread #2 - Day 3 NFL Draft

Jaxon — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:19:37 -0000

Let's keep it positive Panther fans!

This is Now an Open Thread!

CSR 2013 NFL Draft Day 3 Open Thread

Jaxon — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:23:21 -0000

Hold on to your seat as the picks come much quicker today and goes on for hours.

This is Now an Open Thread!

CSR Friday Draft Open Thread #2

Jaxon — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 01:08:51 -0000

This is Now an Open Thread!

Panthers Select DT Kawann Short in the 2nd Round

Jaxon — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:34:55 -0000

The Panthers brought Short in for a private visit and had been mocked by many, including myself, to land in Carolina at that spot. Here's a few profile blurbs which we have discussed on CSR in the past:

Kawann Short, DT, Purdue, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
03/28/2013 - Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short was unable to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine or the school's pro day on March 1 due to a hamstring injury, so an individual workout was held on Monday. There were 20 teams present in West Lafayette, Ind., including five defensive line coaches and New Orleans Saints director of college scouting Rick Reiprish, for a workout held indoors on FieldTurf. Short (6-foot-3 3/8, 303 pounds) ran the 40-yard dash in 5.08 and 5.09 seconds. He had a 27-inch vertical jump and an 8-foot-4 broad jump. He ran the three-cone drill in 7.55 seconds had the short shuttle in 4.65 seconds. He also performed 29 lifts of 225 pounds on the bench press. Short - a two-time first-team All-Big Ten honoree - also did positional drills. - Gil Brandt, NFL.com

More...

Which draft analyst got the most picks right? - NFL.com
Mayock, Daniel Jeremiah, and ESPN's two-headed draftnik monster all had ten players to the right team or more. Even our beloved Charley Casserly, who struggled more, had some great picks like DeAndre Hopkins to the Texans.

So this is a bit of surprise given we already selected a DT and the fact there was some very nice prospects still on the board like WR Keenan Allen, OG Larry Warford and CB Poyer. It would seem the Panthers were tired of not getting off the field on 3rd and short so we seem stocked at DT.

So what do you think?

Poll

So how do you grade the Panthers selection of DT Kawann Short in the 2nd round?

A

380 votes

B

721 votes

C

306 votes

D

67 votes

F

37 votes

1511 votes | Poll has closed

CSR 2013 NFL Draft 2nd & 3rd Round Open Thread

Jaxon — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:53:58 -0000

We are here for you and assume you know the drill.

This is now an Open Thread!