Panthers content with what they have?

[Randall]

Panthers appear content to stick with the roster they have

By Darin Gantt · The Herald - Updated 03/18/07 - 12:20 AM

CHARLOTTE -- If anything's become obvious regarding their offseason, it's that the Carolina Panthers generally liked the team they had on the field last season.

That's become especially clear in regards to their linebackers, since a few moves made -- and one not made -- indicate how strongly they feel about several of them.

 

First came the commitment to middle linebacker Dan Morgan, a risky proposition based on his injury history, but one softened after they turned a roster bonus into playing time incentives. Then came the quick re-signing of 2006 weakside starter Na'il Diggs.

 

While many assumed the deal was worth near the league minimum, Diggs actually got a $400,000 signing bonus to go along with his base salary of $950,000. That number's high enough that it practically assures him a spot on the 53-man roster, and the inside track at retaining the job ahead of James Anderson.

 

That gave them their starting set (along with strongsider Thomas Davis), but the questions remained what would happen behind them.

 

They let utility man Chris Draft walk into free agency, and generally when the Panthers do that, it's a one-way trip. Draft has visited St. Louis and Tampa Bay and will get an offer from Atlanta, and while he'll probably carry those numbers back to the Panthers for a chance to match, it's unclear if they'll even try to keep him.

 

"Chris made it clear he wants to be a starter and to be treated as such," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said last week. "I'm not sure that fits with us right now."

 

The problem for Draft is a starting job's not guaranteed any of the places he's considering, either. Tampa appears well stocked with Derrick Brooks, Ryan Nece, Barrett Ruud, Jamie Winborn and Saturday pickup Cato June. St. Louis has long-term money invested in Will Witherspoon and Pisa Tinoisamoa, who play the middle and weakside, respectively (the two spots Draft's best at). Atlanta's the thinnest of the three at the position, and probably presents the easiest path to regular work.

 

But as clear as it seems that the Panthers didn't consider keeping Draft a priority, the flip side would indicate how they feel about Adam Seward.

 

They could still use a high pick on a linebacker to provide Morgan insurance, but the team genuinely considers Seward a viable option in the middle if Morgan gets hurt again.

 

Entering his third year, Seward will have had an entire offseason to get ready to play the middle, unlike last year when he was shuffled around several spots in different packages. He looked a bit lost when thrown into the opener after Morgan suffered a concussion. The next week, Minnesota took advantage of his inexperience before Diggs returned to health and Draft returned to the middle in the third game.

 

He's very good against the run and a sure tackler, but he's going to have to be better in coverage to be a legitimate fallback plan.

 

• GRUDGE MATCH: Though they seem willing to let Draft sign elsewhere, the bad news for the Panthers is that the three teams showing interest in him now are all on the 2007 schedule.

 

Though one of the most personable and professional players in the locker room, Draft has always stuck it to his old teams.

 

When he was looking to show the Falcons he could still play after they let him walk in 2005, he racked up 19 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble in two games against them for the Panthers. He also led the Falcons with 13 tackles at San Francisco in 2000, haunting the team that waived him that spring.

 

• THE NEW VINNY: Last week's addition of linebacker Terrence Melton was -- in essence -- a reaction to losing linebacker Vinny Ciurciu two weeks prior to Minnesota. Melton was the Ciurciu of New Orleans last year, an athletic and skilled performer in the kicking game who was little threat to play much defense.

 

And while the Panthers are mostly set with their defensive options at linebacker, there's a chance Melton becomes a fixture. With the league's competition committee considering a proposal to allow 47 active players on game day as opposed to the current 45, extra spots could be opened for special teams-only players.

 

• EXTRA POINTS: Interesting that Panthers coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac went to Clemson's Pro Day last week. There's no chance Tigers defensive end Gaines Adams slips to them at the 14th pick, and it's hard to imagine them making the aggressive move to get him (though with Mike Rucker rehabbing a knee and within a year or two of retirement you could make a case for it). Granted, they scout everyone, but it's hard to imagine the practical purpose of their trip. C.J. Gaddis is an intriguing safety prospect, but linebacker Anthony Waters won't work out until April 3 as he continues to recover from last year's knee injury. ... When the Panthers were signing their exclusive rights free agents earlier this month, most of them got one-year deals. But they gave cornerback Christian Morton a small signing bonus and a second year (at bases of $435,000 and $520,000), essentially buying his restricted free agent year if he sticks with the team. And with the minimum price tag for RFAs at $850,000 this year and climbing, that's a fairly savvy move for a guy who could fit in as the fourth or fifth corner.

 

 

Darin Gantt | daringantt@carolina.rr.com