One of the things that makes this draft so interesting is that with a month to go until draft night, there is still no clear cut number one consensus pick. Last year around this time it was clear Sam Bradford was going to be the pick, the year before the Lions made it obvious they were targeting Matthew Stafford. This draft - at least from the top of the draft standpoint - most closely resembles 2008. That year the Miami Dolphins sat on the clock with the number 1 overall pick and like the Panthers this year, no clear cut answers at the most important position on the field, quarterback. That year, just like this year, there were two QBs that were considered “potential studs” that people were divided on - Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. The Dolphins passed on both and snatched up Left Tackle Jake Long form Michigan, who has been their best player but they have floundered because Chad Henne, the QB they got at a discount rate in the second round, absolutely blows. In fact, Miami’s failure to adequately address the QB position (passing on Flacco and Ryan, before that signing Daunte Culpepper instead of Drew Brees) have held them back, year after year, from truly competing.
Which brings us to 2011 and the Carolina Panthers. Sort of unenviable position for Ron Rivera, the new coach of the Panthers. They traded Jake Delhomme last season because he was old and sucked and went with Matt Moore, who sucked even worse, who then gave away to Golden Boy Rookie Jimmy Clausen, who sucked on a historic level. There’s an old NFL adage that states “new regimes mean new quarterbacks.” If Stanford’s Andrew Luck comes out a year early like everyone expected this is a no-brainer, slam dunk. Now Rivera needs to decide if Blaine Gabbert, who no one ever had of a month ago, or Heisman winner national champion movie star Cam Newton will be the 22 year old he stakes his future on.
Gabbert is considered to have “all the tools” a stud QB prospect needs. He is big, smart, makes all the throws, but the problem is he doesn’t seem to have “it.” He didn’t come from a winning program at Missouri, and in his final college bowl game against Iowa he was terrible. I was watching the game in a bar with no sound on, had never heard of Gabbert, and honestly thought Missouri’s starting QB got hurt and they were playing some freshman. His pocket presence is abysmal, you know how Tom Brady and Peyton Manning aren’t exactly mobile, but shuffle around the pocket to create extra time? This guy does the opposite. Time and again he shuffles directly into pressure and takes way more sacks and QB hurries than he needs to, which forces him into some awful interceptions. Cam Newton, on the other hand, undoubtedly has “it” he has been a winner at every level, makes the play on fourth down when you need it, the dramatic comeback, and he can look into the eyes of an NCAA investigator and convince them he’s telling the truth, so maybe he can convince Ron Rivera he won’t be a bust. I don’t buy it though, and I don’t think Rivera will either.
(INSERT OFFENSIVE NAME) #1 OVERALL MOCK DRAFT PICK:
MARCELL DAREUS - Defensive Tackle, Alabama
I feel, in the end, after all the official visits and smoke screens, that Rivera and the Panthers address one of their biggest areas of need with arguably the “cleanest” prospect in this draft. Dareus is a game-changing monster who comes from a great college program and has been competing at a high level for three years now. He was the best player on the field at the National Championship game last year and had another outstanding season. After that he absolutely tore up the combine in Indy and was already considered a top-5 lock going into it. The Panthers have so many holes that it seems like Rivera will start with a 320 pound building block instead of taking such a huge chance on Gabbert or Newton, guys that in end, they won’t completely believe in. They will never say it publicly, but they are going to be so bad again next year that with a little Luck, they will be in the running to land the #1 pick again next year and get the QB they really want and need.
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