My Jonathan Stewart Blog

#19 - Atlanta Falcons - C.J. Spiller - Clemson

Taking a RB in the first round seems a little risky, when this team could probably use more help at defense to go against the New Orleans Saints. CJ Spiller could provide the speed to complement the power of Michael Turner. Jerious Norwood hasn't played as well as the team expected in 2009 when his average dipped below 5 yards/carry for the first time. The team needs a two headed monster at RB to try to keep up with the Saints offense. Matt Ryan and his receivers should be able to put up some offense, but the RBs need to help as well.

The team could also use a pass rusher because Jamaal Anderson turned out to be a huge bust. They will definitely have to address that in the second round. The Falcons need to be able to get to the QB better if they want to overtake the Saints and win the NFC South next year. Peria Jerry was hurt for most of last year, and if he can make an impact, it will be a huge help for this team that needs better DT play. The team was ranked 10th rushing defense last year, giving up 106.9 yards per game. The team needs to be dominant up front to stop the Saints Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush and the Panthers DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Atlanta had a horrible pass defense last year, but they have been addressing it during free agency. Tye Hill and Chris Houston are gone, and in comes the top free agent CB, Dunta Robinson. The team was 28th in passing defense last year, giving up 242 yards/game. A rookie CB next year will not make the difference, so the team decided it needed to go get a #1 CB in Robinson to try to stop the Saints in 2010. The team should draft a CB in an early round to start developing more talent and depth at the position because two or three quality CBs are now needed in the pass-heavy NFL.

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The Carolina Panthers played a disappointing season in 2007, though it was hardly the worst in the league. They did manage to upset some powerhouse teams like the 49ers and the Seahawks towards the end of the season. Will making some roster changes help the team back into playoff contention? You might discern the Panthers' chances in 2008 by taking a careful look at the NFL Draft. The team was looking for a major league playmaker this year.

The team started the draft by selecting running back Jonathan Stewart from Oregon, and then offensive tackle Jeff Otah from Pittsburgh. Both players were first round picks and relatively early overall, at 13th and 19th respectively. The team also selected two third round picks in cornerback Charles Godfrey from Iowa and linebacker Dan Connor from Penn State. The fifth round pick went to tight end Gary Barnidge from Louisville, and sixth round pick to defensive tackle Nick Hayden from Wisconsin. For the final round there were three players: line backer Hilee Taylor from the University of North Carolina, offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz from Oregon and offensive guard Mackenzy Bernadeau from Bentley.

This appears to be the "last chance" for the Panthers' current management administration and for much of the roster. 2007 was forgivable due to the absence of prominent players like quarterback Jake Delhomme. However, in the new season it's time to for the Panthers to prove themselves. The draft selections of 2008 will play an important role in determining the team's success. First pick Jonathan Stewart has received accolades for his abilities and has been called a multi-dimensional player who has the gift of size, speed and experience. The biggest question on Stewart is his long-term durability, since he is injury prone. How did the team manage to get two first round picks? They had to trade next year's #1 pick to do it, but the team did manage to land offensive tackle Jeff Otah. Otah was impressive physically, weighing over 300 pounds and standing 6'6. He also combined strength and athleticism in one total package. However, experts are cautious about Otah's level of experience, as he didn't start playing football until his senior year of high school. While Otah is seen as a raw player, he does still have great potential.

Charles Godfrey was seen as a player with great depth, as he brought a lot of speed and quickness to his position, while Dan Conner won even bigger praise for his aggressive style and excellent range. Hilee Taylor, Nick Hayden and Gary Barnidge also received some praise by NFL experts. All in all, most fans would describe the 2008 draft as a risk-but a highly calculated risk that provided value players as well as high impact players and promising backup players. This is a very good draft play, especially considering that the team didn't have a lot of holes to fill going into 2008. This is definitely the make or break year of the current Panthers generation and so far, the draft looks promising.

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