BearSox

Did I ever stated he was the most overrated player in the league? He is bad-mediocre, but I can think of several players who are more overrated. He is overrated though at this point in his career, and is no longer a good player like used to be... Back on subject though: So, why don't you give me some reasons as to why he is the reason for Carolina's turn around... I'm sure he was rushing for 20 TD's, opening up big holes, protecting his blind side, and sacking the QB all the time the whole season, cause you know that were the main differences between the 07 and 08 panthers. Oh wait, it was Williams and Stewart providing one of the best RB duo's in the league and running over everyone, it was Gross, Otah, and their Oline opening up big holes and protecting Delhomme, and it was Julius Peppers sacking the QB. The reason they sucked last year was because their defense could barely get any pressure on the QB, their running game was nowhere near what it is now, and their Oline was playing like shit. To say that a very mediorce QB, at best, was the difference for the Panthers, you're freakin crazy. Any competent QB could put up those numbers with almost all day to throw, Williams and Stewart running wild, and Smith catching anything in his area.

Well, the basic stats for the Panthers D do look similar over the past two season, that doesn't mean they were similar. This year they were able to get a lot more pressure on the QB (Julius Peppers), and they were able to do the little things much better. Delhomme is not the difference for the Panthers and you're plain wrong if you think he is.

That linebacking group in Seattle ain't too shabby, actually, it's one of the best in the league... Lofa Tatupu, Julian Peterson, and Leroy Hill (if they resign him).

I'm personally shocked we didn't bring Barry as linebackers coach. This has got me thinking that perhaps Babich might be demoted... who knows.

LOL, do you honestly think the difference between the 07 Panthers and 08 Panthers is Jake Delhomme? HAHAHA. The difference was Julius Peppers and an overall better defense, Steve Smith, and arguably the best rushing attack in football. Delhomme didn't hurt them, but his play did not transform Carolina into the 2nd best team in the NFC (during the regular season). Delhomme is actually a pretty terrible QB at his age right now, and he is one of the biggest douches in all football. It was only a matter of time until he came back down to earth, and oh boy, did he ever. Carolina would be smart to fire Fox and cut Delhomme, cause after last night, Carolina's FO should realize that they that duo isn't going to lead them to the Superbowl and win it. It's one thing if you get beat, but getting completely destroyed, looking completely unprepared, and just overall laying a big fat egg is a whole different thing.

If we got someone like Sanchez and Collins, we'd be wise to trade Orton while he still had a little value. We'd probably get a 4th at best, but more then likely a 5th or maybe a conditional 6th, but it'd be worth it if that is what happened.

If Sanchez is there at 18, I don't think there's a way we pass on him, unless some team offers a ridiculous amount to trade down. Personally, as far as the QB position goes, I'd plan on not drafting a QB unless one of the big 3 falls. I'd sign a vet like Kerry Collins to a two year deal (I think Tennessee makes the commitment to VY next year) to compete for the starting job with Orton and be a safety net if he doesn't win the job. If Sanchez or Bradford does fall to us, I'd take the QB, and trade Orton, making Collins the starter while the QB develops, as well as Hanie. I think this plan would be perfect for us, because we'd pretty much have all bases covered, IMO. However, if we go into the draft without bringing in a backup QB, I think there is a tremendously high chance that we draft a QB in the first, most likely Josh Freeman.

Gage showed flashes with us, but was always in the doghouse with our coaching staff for one reason or another. This just shows you what good coaching can do.

when will Soxtalk be back up?

H-Back and wildcat QB would be a perfect role for him for his first couple of years, and maybe, just maybe, he'd develop into a decent starting QB.

Not much surprise.. glad to have him aboard. Next is probably Joe Barry as Linebackers coach.

Maybe in the 2nd round, but before that... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Also, I think he stays in college. He knows he isn't that great of a pro prospect at QB and another year could only help him, IMO. Plus, it's never bad to be the biggest celebrity on campus.

Both Marinelli and Barry have had a lot of success outside of Detroit. If you want to hold what they did in Detroit over their heads, fine, but you're wrong. It's impossible for any team to succeed when there is such a horrible front office and owner running that team. The coaches get a little of the blame, but the majority easily goes to the FO. Maybe our D won't improve and still suck next year. But that doesn't mean Marinelli and Barry were wrong coaches for the job. Think about it, Lovie is the HC. Why would he bring in people with very different backgrounds scheme wise as assistant HC's? It makes PERFECT sense to bring in people like Marinelli and Barry who have had intensive backgrounds in the Cover 2 as you're assistant coaches. If every coach is working on the same page, the chances of success are much higher. You think it makes sense to bring in a DL and LB coach from a Jim Johnson/Steve Spagnuolo type of scheme? No it doesn't, because they'll have different views of what type of D should be ran and only cause a split in the coaching staff. You need cohesiveness. Like I said, maybe our D will suck again next year, but it won't be because of Marinelli and Barry. They only make the chances of success greater. Think about it... Marinelli >>>>>>>> Haley, it really isn't even close. And Barry >>> Lee. I don't know if they will be hired, but I can only hope so because if we want to succeed next year, we need experienced coaches like them.

Detroit, Seattle, San Francisco, and the Jets are the only teams that pick before us that I think might be willing to spend a 1st round pick on a QB. St. Louis has Bulger and they have much bigger needs right now, and they are paying him just way too much money to plan on spending top 5 money on another QB. Andre Smith is the likely choice, IMO. Kansas City is bringing in a new GM and coaching staff, so it is a really legit possibility, but I think in the end, whoever is running KC will give Thigpen another year. He played great with such crappy play around him. No way Washington brings in a first round QB. They still love Campbell and he had his best season as a pro. Give him some more help on the OLine (sacked 38 times), and he can improve more. Also, they are very high on Colt Brennan. Detroit and Seattle have to go with QB, no matter what their fans think. San Francisco probably will go defence, and the Jets are 50/50 in my opinion. Jets are bringing in an all new staff, so it will be tough to tell if they plan on trying to win now or go with a mini rebuilding with a new QB. I highly doubt Favre returns. If all of Stafford, Bradford, and Sanchez all declare, I think there's a legit chance of one of Bradford or Sanchez falling to us.

Stafford isn't gonna fall to the Bears, but Bradford or Sanchez might. If that happens, I see us taking the QB. Hell, I could see us even reaching for Josh Freeman. A dark horse for the first round would be B.J. Raji, NT from Boston College. He'd be a perfect player at NT for us.

I'm confused. When you said Duke wouldn't be around for us, did you mean he'd go before 18, or his stock would fall where he would not be worth 18?

Why, because he had a terrible game in the national championship? If anything, his stock took a hit. However, he's still like to go in that 20-40 range.

Give me Kerry Collins in free agency, or Mark Sanchez in the draft if he falls to 18 (possibly 17).

double post.

nfo, you are overreacting about the Lions coaches. Their team didn't put up good stats, but they had shit players, thanks to a shit GM and owner. I hardly blame Marinelli our his son in law for any of the woes on D. Ask any Lion fan. They will tell that the only player worth anything on their defense is Ernie Sims. And before they traded Shaun Rogers, he was doing great. You are severely overreacting about the lack of production from the Lions defense and putting far too much blame on the coaches when it really weren't their faults.

No, it was basically most of our left over cap that we didn't use from the offseason. Instead of just letting it do nothing, we attached it to Hamilton, and if we got lucky, we would have gotten 9 million in cap credit.

I'm predicting an 09-10 OLine of Williams - St. Clair - Kreutz - Buenning - Tait (possibly Gross if we decide to go crazy!!*$@#*)

edit: nevermind.

I didn't mind Lee that much, but I guess it's good we're kind of clearing house on D. Now lets see if Lovie can muster up the balls to fire Babich.

Hey nfo, we won't be getting that 9 million in cap credit because it was an unlikely to receive incentive. I guess these things get judged by an arbitrator, and if it's a likely to receiver incentive, it'll get passed, but if it's unlikely, there almost no shot of it getting approved. To get that 9 million, Hamilton would have to block 5 punts and play in 85% of the defensive snaps, or something very similar to that. I guess it's stuff teams try all the time, but if a player is unlikely to receive that bonus, we won't get the cap credit unless he just misses the incentive, or something like that. However, the cap room is suppossed to raise around 7 million next year, so we'd be looking at about 24-25 million in cap room anyway.