Bleacher Report - Articles by Seth Reavis

Lawson, Heels Blow Past Duke; Hansbrough Goes 4-0 at Cameron

Seth Reavis — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:36:48 -0500

After North Carolina sealed a fourth straight win at Cameron Indoor, some players celebrated by walking off the court with four fingers raised into the air. Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green became the first players since former Wake Forest players Tim Duncan and Rusty LaRue to go undefeated in their career at Duke in the Mike Krzyzewski era.

Duke shot very well in the first half going 6-9 from three point land, but struggled in the second half going for only 2-12.

Kyle Singler had a team high 22 points, and Jon Scheyer added 20. Gerald Henderson was playing lights out in the first half, and Tyler Hansbrough was cold going for only four points, but they swapped roles in the second half, and that is what may have caused this one to get away from Duke.

Hansbrough and Henderson both finished with 17 points, but Henderson shot 1-9 in the second half.

Duke led by eight points at halftime, but Lawson erupted for 21 of his season-high 25 points in the second half to rally past the Blue Devils.

Wayne Ellington and Danny Green added 15 points apiece as the Tar Heels scored 100 points on the Blue Devils for the first time since the thrilling double-OT game in 1995 in which the Heels won 102-100, which was also the last time Duke allowed 100 points at Cameron. It's also the first time since 2000 that a team has posted 100 points on the Blue Devils.

North Carolina won by the final score of 101-87, which marks the fourth highest point total against Duke in the legendary rivalry

The Tar Heels have won eight straight games to take over first place in the ACC after starting 0-2.

The next meeting will be March 8th at 4:00 PM, which will be Hansbrough and Green's Senior Night.

Carolina Panthers Offseason Moves: Defensive Tackles

Seth Reavis — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:59:11 -0500

Most of the attention this offseason has been focused on Julius Peppers and the defensive end spot of the Carolina Panthers.

But let's take a look at Peppers' teammates on the inside of the line: the defensive tackles. The starters last season, and possibly next season, are Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu. They were some of the better run stoppers in the NFL, so it's possible that the Panthers won't change the defensive tackle position at all this offseason.

However, if they want to add some depth, or maybe get another starter, here is a list of free agent defensive tackles that they could take a look at: Albert Haynesworth (Titans), Gabe Watson (Cards), Jovan Haye (Bucs), Tank Johnson (Cowboys), Shuan Cody (Lions), and Grady Jackson (Falcons).

It's not a very deep class of free agents, but the biggest star of them all is Albert Haynesworth.

He's demanding a lot of money (actually he wants the be the highest paid defensive tackle in the league), but he would be worth it. I don't know what the Panthers' cap room looks like, but Haynesworth has stated that Carolina is one of the teams that he would like to go to because they are close to home.

If the Panthers don't sign a defensive tackle, then they could look for one in the draft.

Here is a list of defensive tackles in this year's draft: BJ Raji (BC), Peria Jerry (Ole Miss), Sen'Derrick Marks (Auburn), Evander Hood (Missouri), Ron Brace (BC), Fila Moala (USC), and Dorell Scott (Clemson).

I don't think that the Panthers would use a first day pick on a DT because they have more pressing needs. I think that if they do draft a DT, it would be in a later round. Or they could sign one or try to trade for one, which I don't see happening.

Carolina Panthers Offseason Moves: Defensive Ends

Seth Reavis — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:07:11 -0500

We all know about the Julius Peppers situation. It's very unlikely that he will be back with the Panthers next season.

The best thing for the Panthers to do, and what everyone thinks they will do, is to put the franchise tag on Peppers and then trade him for a first round draft pick, since they don't have one, and maybe a couple of other picks.

Let's assume that Peppers isn't with the Panthers next season, this is what the defensive line would look like next season. The starters at the ends would be Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson, and the starters on the inside would be Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis.

That's a pretty average defensive line, so the Panthers would need to make some changes, whether they be by the draft or free agency.

The top free agents at defensive end this off season are: Terrell Suggs (Baltimore), Bertrand Berry and Antonio Smith (Arizona), Chris Canty (Dallas), Igor Olshansky (San Diego), Demetric Evans (Washington), Chauncey Davis (Atlanta), and Ebenezer Ekuban (Denver).

Some of the top prospects in the NFL Draft at the defensive end position are: Everette Brown (FSU), Brian Orakpo (Texas), Michael Johnson (GT), Aaron Maybin (Penn State), Paul Kruger (Utah), Tyson Jackson (LSU), Larry English (Northern Illinois), and Connor Barwin (Cincy).

This year's draft is deep at the defensive end position, and if the Panthers trade Peppers and get a first round draft pick, I would look for the Panthers to draft a Defensive End in the first round, and if not in the second round.

It doesn't look like Peppers will be back next season, so the Panthers will be looking to add somebody during the off season.

It will be next to impossible to replace someone of Peppers' caliber, and if he doesn't want to be in Carolina it wont do anything but hurt the team. I think the most logical thing to do would is to try to get a high first round draft pick and select Brian Orakpo or Everette Brown, but we will have to wait and see what happens.

Carolina Panthers Offseason Moves: Safeties

Seth Reavis — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:50:16 -0500

It's clear that Carolina may need some help in the secondary, but it's hard to imagine them doing anything with the safety position.

Chris Harris is arguably the hardest hitter in the NFL, and he's a lock to be the starter next year. Charles Godfrey did a good job this season, but they may want to bring in a veteran to help him develop, because he did have quite a few rookie mistakes this past season.

I don't see the Panthers using a draft pick on a safety because they just drafted Godfrey and he is still developing.

If you are curious, here is a list of the big name Safeties in this year's draft: Rashad Johnson (Alabama), William Moore (Missouri), Louise Delmas (Central Michigan), Patrick Chung (Oregon), and Jairus Byrd (Oregon). None of these are top-10 draft pick talent, but they can be first-to-second round draft picks. I still don't think that you will see any of these players in a Panthers uniform next season.

Me personally, I think the Panthers might want to bring in a seasoned veteran, such as Rodney Harrison, to help Godfrey become a great safety. Harrison is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but he is likely to stay in New England.

Brian Dawkins is another unrestricted free agent, but he has stated that he wants to stay in Philadelphia, so that's not going to happen even though it would be nice.

Both of these players are past their prime, but they are starters and they are good locker room influences. More free agent safeties include: Jermaine Phillips (Bucs), Yeremiah Bell (Dolphins), James Sanders (Patriots), Dawan Landry (Baltimore), Sean Jones (Browns), Mike Brown (Bears), Lawyor Milloy (Falcons), Darren Sharper (Vikings), and O.J. Atogwe (Rams).

As I said, I don't see the Panthers changing their safety position, but I would think someone like Jermaine Phillips could help them out a lot next season. Or they can bring in a veteran to help Godfrey, and even Harris, because he is only 25 years old.

Carolina Panthers Offseason Moves: Cornerbacks

Seth Reavis — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:18:41 -0500

The Carolina Panthers ranked 16th in the NFL in pass yards allowed per game, and 18th in total yards allowed per game. These are middle-of-the-pack stats, and to make it to the top, changes will need to be made. The fate of Julius Peppers and the D-Line has yet to be determined, so let's take a look at the cornerbacks.

Chris Gamble just signed a contract extension and is a lock to start next season. Ken Lucas is not as good as he used to be, and he got burned way too many times this past season, so he could be on his way out of Carolina. Richard Marshall was shaky at times during the season, but I don't see him going anywhere, at least not yet.

Here's a look at the upcoming free agent cornerbacks: Nnamdi Asomugha (Oakland), Dunta Robinson (Houston), Deltha O'Neal (New England), Phillip Buchanon (Tampa Bay), Allen Rossum (Atlanta), Ricky Manning Jr. (St. Louis) and Bryant McFadden (Pittsburgh), just to name a few.

Top NFL Draft prospects for the CB position include Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio State), Vontae Davis (Illinois), DJ Moore (Vanderbilt), Victor Harris (VT), Alphonso Smith (Wake Forest), and Asher Allen (Georgia), just to name a few.

Whatever the Panthers do this offseason with the CB position, they need to bring in an upgrade opposite Gamble. I would love to see the Panthers go after Nnamdi Asomugha or Dunta Robinson, but I'm not sure how much they would cost the team. Or they could draft a cornerback. Either way, I believe that the Panthers will cut Ken Lucas and add another corner this offseason.

Carolina Panthers Offseason Moves—Wide Reciever

Seth Reavis — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:07:08 -0500

We all know that Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad are the No. 1 and No. 2 receivers for the Carolina Panthers. But what about the other spots? D.J. Hackett was a disappointment and Dwayne Jarrett has yet to fulfill his potential like we all had hoped.

Muhammad is getting up there in age and it is possible that the Panthers release Hackett this off-season.

Mark Jones is becoming a free agent, so that leaves the Panthers with some decisions to make.

The Panthers will likely keep a Wide Receiver strictly as a returner, and that will likely be Mark Jones. But what about the third slot? in my opinion Carolina needs to utilize the slot receiver more often next season to help Smith, Muhammad, and even Delhomme.

So should they keep Dwayne Jarrett another year and hope he develops into a star like a lot of Panther fans thought when he was drafted? Should they sign another receiver? Or should they draft one?

As of now the Panthers don't have a first round draft pick, and if they do trade for one it's more than likely that the Panthers won't draft a receiver in the first round. I think a good pick in a later round might be Brandon Tate, who was the star receiver at North Carolina before being injured earlier in the season. He is a great return man and a good receiver, so that could free up a spot on the roster for someone else.

However, that would mean that we would have to cut ties with Mark Jones who did a great job returning kicks this season.

The other North Carolina receiver, Hakeem Nicks, is a late-first to early-second round draft pick, and he would also be a great pick. He has arguably the best hands in the draft and he has a knack for making plays.

Other big name WR prospects in the draft include: Michael Crabtree (Texas Tech), Jeremy Maclin (Missouri), Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy (both from Florida), Darius Hayward-Bey (Maryland), Juaquin Iglesias (Oklahoma), Derrick Williams (Penn State), Demetrius Byrd (LSU), Kenny Britt (Rutgers) and a guy that the Panthers could very possibly draft in the second round is Brian Robiskie (Ohio State).

And the upcoming free agent Wide Receivers this offseason include: TJ Houshmandzadeh (UFA), Antonio Bryant (UFA), Greg Camarillo (RFA), Hank Baskett (RFA), Nate Washington (UFA), Devery Henderson (UFA). Lance Moore (RFA) and Amani Toomer (UFA).

I don't think that the Panthers would be able to go after Houshmandzadeh because the Panthers wont have the cap room for him if they re-sign Jordan Gross and/or Julius Peppers. I don't think it would be too much of a problem to have any of these other guys in a Panther uniform.

So what do the Panthers do this off-season with the Wide Receiver position? We will wait and see.