This is our final post in picking the best players at each position by jersey number. If you have quibbles, or want to add someone I forgot, leave a comment and we’ll update this post. Next, we’ll combine all of our posts to create our all-jersey number 2009 team.

We started this project with wide receivers in this post and then with tight ends in this post and quarterbacks in this post and running backs in this post and offensive linemen in this post and kickers/punters in this post and defensive linemen in this post and linebackers in this post. Now we move to defensive backs, who wear numbers between 20 and 49.

20 – Ed Reed, Ravens - This hasn’t been Reed’s best year because of injury, but he still has three interceptions and three forced fumbles in 11 games. No safety in the league has had more impact this decade than Reed, and the fact that he won the league’s defensive player of the year award in a year that his team didn’t make the playoffs speaks to his greatness. So he gets the nod over long-time standouts S Brian Dawkins of Denver and CB Ronde Barber of Tampa Bay. Other notable 20s: Mike Adams, Browns; Alan Ball, Cowboys; Atari Bigby, Packers; Ralph Brown, Cardinals; Antoine Cason, Chargers; Chris Gamble, Panthers; Randall Gay, Saints; Brent Grimes, Falcons; Nick Harper, Titans; Michael Johnson, Giants; David Jones, Bengals; Keenan Lewis, Steelers; T.J. Rushing, Colts; Anthony Smith, Jaguars; Keith Smith, 49ers; Craig Steltz, Bears; Justin Tryon, Redskins; Jonathan Wade, Rams; Donald Washington, Chiefs; Donte Whitner, Bills; Madieu Williams, Vikings

21 – Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders - It’s an incredibly difficult call to go with Asomugha over Green Bay’s Charles Woodson, who is having an epic renaissance year in Green Bay. But while Woodson has eight interceptions, Asomugha has one pick and just four passes defensed because teams refuse to throw his way. That ultimate sign of respect ultimately gives Nnamdi the nod. Injured Colts S Bob Sanders, a former defensive player of the year, would be in this discussion were he able to stay healthy. Other notable 21s: Asher Allen, Vikings; O.J. Atogwe, Rams; Derek Cox, Jaguars; Vontae Davis, Dolphins; Andre’ Goodman, Broncos; Corey Graham, Bears; Joselio Hanson, Eagles; Mike Jenkins, Cowboys; Kelly Jennings, Seahawks; Dwight Lowery, Jets; Chris Owens, Falcons; Kenny Phillips, Giants; Sabby Piscitelli, Buccaneers; Brodney Pool, Browns; Antrel Rolle, Cardinals; Lardarius Webb, Ravens; John Wendling, Bills; Dante Wesley, Panthers

22 – Asante Samuel, Eagles - First in New England and now in Philadephia, Samuel has been and still is a top-level cornerback. His eight interceptions this year is the second-best total in his career, and he now has 34 in his career. Other notable 22s: Nate Clements, 49ers; Vincent Fuller, Titans; William Gay, Steelers; Chevis Jackson, Falcons; Johnathan Joseph, Bengals; Pat Lee, Packers; Brandon McDonald, Browns; Tracy Porter, Saints; Carlos Rogers, Redskins; Samari Rolle, Ravens; Benny Sapp, Vikings; Matt Ware, Cardinals; Terrence Wheatley, Patriots

23 – DeAngelo Hall, Redskins - It pains me to honor Hall, but he’s the best of the lot at a thinner number. Hall was OK in Atlanta and then awful in Oakland, but in D.C. he’s been pretty good. So he gets the nod over New England’s Leigh Bodden, a solid but unspectacular corner, declining CB Marcus Trufant of Seattle, and CB Dunta Robinson of Houston. Other notable 23s: Tyrone Carter, Steelers; Cedric Griffin, Vikings; Renaldo Hill, Broncos; Kevin Hobbs, Lions; Chris Houston, Falcons; Marcus Hudson, 49ers; Quentin Jammer, Chargers; Tim Jennings, Colts; Sherrod Martin, Panthers; Donnie Nickey, Titans; Dimitri Patterson, Eagles; Jermaine Phillips, Buccaneers; Hank Poteat, Browns; Mike Richardson, Chiefs; Corey Webster, Giants

24 – Darrelle Revis, Jets – Revis has had a breakout season as the preeminent lockdown corner in the league. So even though he wears the same number as all-time great CB Champ Bailey of Denver, stud safety Adrian Wilson of Arizona, and former Pro Bowl S Chris Hope of Tennessee, Revis is the obvious choice. Other notable 24s: Al Afalava, Bears; Ron Bartell, Rams; Sheldon Brown, Eagles; Jarrett Bush, Packers; Brandon Flowers, Chiefs; Dominique Foxworth, Ravens; Deon Grant, Seahawks; Tye Hill, Falcons; Michael Huff, Raiders; Dante Hughes, Chargers; Terrence McGee, Bills; Kalvin Pearson, Lions; Sean Smith, Dolphins; Ike Taylor, Steelers; Terrell Thomas, Giants; Leigh Torrance, Saints; Jonathan Wilhite, Patriots; Eric Wright, Browns

25 – Ryan Clark, Steelers – In a battle of former teammates, we’ll go with hard-hitting strong safety Clark over CB Bryant McFadden, who left Pittsburgh to play corner for Arizona in the offseason. Clark doesn’t get the hype that his teammate Troy Polamalu does, but he’s a good player who really fits into the attitude of the Pittsburgh defense. Other notable 25s: Will Allen, Dolphins; Kevin Barnes, Redskins; Tarell Brown, 49ers; Chris Carr, Ravens; Pat Chung, Patriots; Kevin Ellison, Chargers; Nick Ferguson, Texans; Coye Francies, Browns; Danny Gorrer, Rams; Bruce Johnson, Giants; Tyrell Johnson, Vikings; Ellis Lankster, Bills; William Moore, Falcons; Reggie Nelson, Jaguars; Jerraud Powers, Colts; Kerry Rhodes, Jets; Aqib Talib, Buccaneers; Morgan Trent, Bengals; Pat Watkins, Cowboys; Marvin White, Lions

26 – Antoine Winfield, Vikings - Winfield is not just a great cover corner; he also hits with the tenacity of a safety. Even though he’s missed several games this season, we’ll give him the nod. So he gets the nod over fine Lions rookie S Louis Delmas. Other notable 26s: Will Allen, Buccaneers; Josh Bell, Packers; Michael Coe, Jaguars; Erik Coleman, Falcons; Abram Elam, Browns; Ken Hamlin, Cowboys; Kelvin Hayden, Colts; Sean Jones, Eagles; Kevin Kaesviharn, Titans; Dawan Landry, Ravens; Ty Law, Broncos; Mark Roman, 49ers; Stanford Routt, Raiders; Lito Sheppard, Eagles; Quinton Teal, Panthers; DeShea Townsend, Steelers; Eugene Wilson, Texans; Josh Wilson, Seahawks; Ashton Youboty, Bills

27 – Rashean Mathis, Jaguars - He doesn’t get a lot of attention because he plays in front of empty seats, but Mathis is a terrific cover corner. He gets the nod over two safeties, Jordan Babineaux of the Seahawks and Philadelphia’s Quintin Mikell. Other notable 27s: Michael Adams, Cardinals; Kyle Arrington, Patriots; Will Blackmon, Packers; Daniel Bullocks, Lions; Joe Burnett, Steelers; Reggie Corner, Bills; Torrie Cox, Buccaneers; Jamaal Fudge, Falcons; Cletis Gordon, Cowboys; Walt Harris, 49ers; Malcolm Jenkins, Saints; Jacob Lacey, Colts; Paul Oliver, Chargers; David Roach, Rams; Fred Smoot, Redskins; Nick Sorensen, Browns; Donald Strickland, Jets; C.J. Wilson, Panthers

28 – Gibril Wilson, Dolphins - Wilson was a safety on the Giants’ Super Bowl champion team, and then got a contract that was too big from the Raiders. But the Raiders cut him after the season, and Wilson found a great home in Miami. Other notable 28s: Darius Butler, Patriots; Thomas DeCoud, Falcons; Steve Gregory, Chargers; Marlin Jackson, Colts; Leodis McKelvin, Bills; Antwuan Molden, Texans; Curtis Taylor, 49ers; Greg Toler, Cardinals; Usama Young, Saints; Tom Zbikowski, Ravens

29 – Leon Hall, Bengals – Hall has been the breakout corner of the season, as he and Johnathan Joseph have given the Bengals a terrific pair of corners. Hall has five picks and 20 passes defensed this season. He gets the nod over Arizona’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, another good young corner. Other notable 29s: Tyrone Culver, Dolphins; Drayton Florence, Bills; Lendy Holmes, Redskins; D.J. Johnson, Giants; Eric King, Lions; Derrick Martin, Packers; Marcus McCauley, Saints; William Middleton, Jaguars; Ryan Mouton, Texans; Ryan Mundy, Steelers; Glover Quin, Texans; Derrick Roberson, Buccaneers; Shawn Springs, Patriots; Brian Williams, Falcons; Cary Williams, Ravens

30 – Mike Brown, Chiefs - At a popular safety number, Brown gets the nod with his renaissance season in Kansas City. He has stayed healthy all season after injury problems plagued him in three of his last five years in Chicago. So he earns the choice over Charles Godfrey of Carolina, LaRon Landry of Washington, and Brandon McGowan of the Patriots. Other notable 30s: David Bruton, Broncos; Chris Clemons, Dolphins; Drew Coleman, Jets; Gerard Lawson, Browns; Jason McCourty, Titans; D.J. Moore, Bears; Geoffrey Pope, Eagles; Ko Simpson, Lions; Reggie Smith, 49ers

31 – Cortland Finnegan, Titans – If Antoine Winfield isn’t the most physical corner in the league, Finnegan is. He’s vital to the Titans’ defense and their strong second half of the season. So he gets the nod over rookie sensation Jarius Byrd of Buffalo and corners Antonio Cromartie of San Diego and Al Harris of Green Bay. Other notable 31s: Dre’ Bly, 49ers; Phillip Buchanon, Lions; Hiram Eugene, Raiders; Ellis Hobbs, Eagles; Justin King, Rams; Maurice Leggett, Chiefs; Ken Lucas, Seahawks; Richard Marshall, Panthers; Darcel McBath, Broncos; Brandon Meriweather, Patriots; Bernard Pollard, Texans; Pierson Prioleau, Saints; Aaron Ross, Giants; Scott Starks, Jaguars; Nathan Vasher, Bears; Fabian Washington, Redskins; Roy Williams, Bengals

32 – Eric Weddle, Chargers – At a tough number to call, we’ll give Weddle, a key player in the Chargers’ defense, a nod over CB Jabari Greer of New Orleans and big-money safety Michael Lewis of San Francisco. Other notable 32s: Jason Allen, Dolphins; Fred Bennett, Texans; Anthony Henry, Lions; Orlando Scandrick, Cowboys

33 – Charles Tillman, Bears – Tillman isn’t a premier cover corner, but he’s pretty good in coverage. He’s also a good tackler and great a punching the ball out, as his six forced fumbles attest. He gets the nod over Raiders SS Tyvon Branch, who has a ridiculous 110 tackles this season. Other notable 33s: Melvin Bullitt, Colts; Michael Griffin, Titans; Nate Jones, Dolphins; Elbert Mack, Buccaneers; Jamarca Sanford, Vikings; Alphonso Smith, Broncos; Eric Smith, Jets; Brandon Underwood, Packers

34 – Dominique Barber, Texans - At a thin number, Barber, a part-time starter at safety for the Texans, gets the nod over Mike McKenzie, a long-time solid pro who recently re-signed with the Saints. Other notable 34s: Marquice Cole, Jets; Travis Daniels, Chiefs; Kyries Hebert, Bengals; Roy Lewis, Seahawks; Mike Mitchell, Raiders; Byron Westbrook, Redskins

35 – Zack Bowman, Bears – Bowman took over as a starting cornerback in Chicago, replacing Nathan Vasher. He gets the nod over rookie safety Macho Harris of the Eagles. Other notable 35s: Kevin Dockery, Giants; Todd Johnson, Bills; Jacques Reeves, Texans

36 – Nick Collins, Packers - Collins is a terrific safety for the Packers, and he gets the edge over another safety, Tanard Jackson of Tampa Bay, because Jackson missed four games due to suspension earlier this year. Collins has six picks this year, while Jackson has four. Other notable 36s: Jamar Adams, Seahawks; Josh Barrett, Broncos; Josh Bullocks, Bears; Quincy Butler, Rams; Courtney Greene, Jaguars; Mike Hamlin, Cowboys; Brandon Hughes, Chargers; Jim Leonhard, Jets; Lawyer Milloy, Seahawks; James Sanders, Patriots; Shawntae Spencer, 49ers

37 – Yeremiah Bell, Dolphins – Bell is a solid starting safety for the Dolphins, and his tackle total (103) is among the tops for defensive backs across the NFL. So we opt for Bell over George Wilson, another tackling machine playing safety for Buffalo, and Raiders CB Chris Johnson. Other notable 37s: James Butler, Rams; Sean Considine, Jaguars; Reed Doughty, Redskins; Eric Frampton, Vikings; Roderick Hood, Titans; Anthony Madison, Steelers; Chip Vaughn, Saints

38 – Dashon Goldson, 49ers – Goldson is emerging as not just a starter at free safety but as an impact player for the Niners. He gets the nod over Packers CB Tramon Williams and Bears S-CB Danieal Manning. Other notable 38s: Brandon Anderson, Buccaneers; DeMarcus Faggans, Texans; Bret Lockett, Patriots; DaJuan Morgan, Chiefs; Mark Parson, Texans; Charlie Peprah, Falcons; Ramzee Robinson, Browns

39 – Brandon Carr, Chiefs - Carr has started all 30 games at cornerback for the Chiefs since he entered in the NFL as a 2008 fifth-round pick. He gets picked on a bit because Brandon Flowers is emerging as a good corner on the opposite side, but Carr has broken up 16 passes this year. Other notable 39s: Husain Abdullah, Vikings; Quintin Demps, Eagles; Trevor Ford, Packers; Chris Reis, Saints; DeAngelo Smith, Lions

40 – Marquand Manuel, Lions – Manuel has bounced around a lot, but he has been a starter in all but one of his six NFL stops. This year in Detroit, he started six of the nine games he played before going on injured reserve. Other notable 40s: John Busing, Texans; K.J. Gerard, Ravens; Jamie Silva, Colts

41 – Antoine Bethea, Colts – Bethea, the Colts’ starting free safety, has had to be the one constant in the secondary for the Colts this year, and he’s played his role well with 90 tackles and four interception. He gets the nod over Cowboys CB Terrence Newman, Saints S Roman Harper, and Bengals S Chinedum Ndukwe. Other notable 41s: Tyron Brackenridge, Jaguars; C.C. Brown, Giants; Antoine Harris, Falcons; William James, Lions; Corey Lynch, Buccaneers; Brice McCain, Texans; Kareem Moore, Redskins; Captain Munnerlyn, Panthers; Evan Oglesby, Dolphins; Karl Paymah, Vikings; C.J. Spillman, Chargers; Raymond Ventrone, Browns; Frank Walker, Ravens

42 –Darren Sharper, Saints – Sharper’s veteran leadership has helped the Saints stabilized their secondary, and the veteran continues to make plenty of plays. He has eight picks this year, three of which he’s returned for touchdowns, and now 62 career interceptions. Other notable 42s: Gerald Alexander, Jaguars; Chris Crocker, Bengals; Brian Russell, Texans; Jack Williams, Lions

43 – Troy Polamalu, Steelers -Polamalu has been hurt much of the year this year, but his ability to range and make plays is what takes the Steelers defense from good to great. He may miss the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie season, but he still gets the nod here in a walk. Other notable 43s: Craig Dahl, Rams; Aaron Francisco, Colts; Chris Harris, Panthers; Hakuri Nakamura, Ravens; Tom Nelson, Bengals; Bryan Scott, Bills; Gerald Sensabaugh, Cowboys

44 – Jarrad Page, Chiefs – Page was in his third season as a starting safety in K.C. before going on injured reserve after playing five games this season. Still, that’s a better resume than that of Kevin Payne, who has lost his starting safety job with the Bears. Other notable 44s: James Ihedigbo, Jets; Rico Murray, Bengals

45 – De’von Hall, Colts – Hall, an undrafted rookie out of Utah State, has seen action in four games in his rookie season, notching three tackles. He is the only active defensive back wearing 45.

46 – none

47 – Jon McGraw, Chiefs – McGraw is in his eighth season, and he has started seven games for Kansas City this season, which is a career high. He also recorded his first career sack this season. His long career of contributing gives him the nod over rookie Cary Harris of Buffalo and fourth-year man Matt Giordano of Green Bay.

48 – Chris Horton, Redskins – Horton, a second-year player out of UCLA, emerged as a starter in his rookie season but fell out of the lineup before a midseason injury stopped his sophomore campaign. He is the only notable DB wearing 48.

49 – Rashad Johnson, Cardinals – Johnson, a third-round pick out of Arizona, is the only active defensive back wearing 49. He has not seen action this year.

2008 Record: 12-5, 2008 TABRank: 10, Tentative 2009 NFC South Projection: 2nd
Throughout the 2008 regular season, it seemed like the Panthers went under the radar as a Super Bowl contender.  However, the Divisional Round loss at home to Arizona suggested that they were never true contenders.  For the first time, Carolina made the playoffs without making it to the NFC Championship Game.  The run game certainly played to an elite level.  DeAngelo Williams led a fantastic 1-2 punch with Jonathan Stewart, which changed the dynamic of the offense the level of 2003, when the Panthers made the Super Bowl.  Carolina experienced injuries to the offense line, but the unit still has promise.  The defensive line got much better after a horrid 2007.  The Panthers will have two questions to answer for 2009.  First, can Jake Delhomme recover from his five-interception performance against Arizona?  Second, can the Panthers avoid the downturn they’ve always experienced the season after making the playoffs?

DeAngelo Williams led a RB duo that dominated in 2008.  Williams ran 1515 yards and 18 touchdowns with over 5.5 yards per carry while rookie Jonathan ran for 10 touchdowns with over 4.5 yards per carry.  Williams is short and quick, and has nice vision and agility.  Stewart pounds the ball better, and he still has good enough speed to break out for big gains.  If healthy, this duo could put up numbers similar to last year’s.  WR Steve Smith is a bona fide playmaker who makes the most of his size.  Smith’s confidence works to his advantage, as  he can make the play when necessary.  He also catches the ball with consistency and can break short gains into touchdowns.  Somebody needs to make an impact in the receiving game besides Smith.  Though left side offensive linemen Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton have went through their fair share of rough patches in recent season, they have settled down at their positions and provide reliability for the Panthers.  Wharton and RT Jeff Otah perfectly fit the grind-it-out mentality head coach John Fox loves on offense.  Delhomme will take most of the heat this year on offense.  After an unimpressive 2008 season statistically, his failure in the playoffs marred what he did right to get Carolina a first-round bye in the playoffs.  Delhomme’s biggest problem is his gunslinger’s mindset, which leaves him prone to costly mistakes and a few duds each season.  That’s not what Carolina ideally needs with a dominating RB duo and a conservative offensive scheme, but the way Delhomme has led his team in 2003, ’05 and ’08 cannot be ignored or undervalued.

Ron Meeks comes from Indianapolis to be the defensive coordinator, but he may stick with the 4-3 style implemented under Fox, a former defensive coordinator.  Fox likes to send just the defensive line, which has been a much easier task during the Fox’s scheme with DE Julius Peppers at the helm.  Peppers wanted out of Carolina (to join a 3-4 defense), but his wish wasn’t granted.  He’ll stay in a 4-3 for the time being, but he still can wow offense with his athleticism and combination of size and speed.  Peppers had a career-high 14.5 sacks in ’08 after a forgettable 2007 season.  Fellow starting end Tyler Brayton doesn’t provide much of a pass rush, but backups Everette Brown and Charles Johnson should be able to provide pressure on the quarterback.  The Panthers’ line could struggle against the run because space-eater Ma’ake Kemoeatu will spend this season on injured reserve.  MLB Jon Beason could be hurt by Kemoeatu’s absence.  Beason quickly diagnoses plays, so he needs space to do his best.  When the line gives him room, Beason can be an elite player.  The other linebackers are just okay, which could be very troubling if Beason’s knee injury suffered earlier this preseason is serious.  The secondary has no major standout, but the starters can get the job done with limited conflict.  CB Chris Gamble doesn’t gamble anymore as much as his name or reputation suggests, and he’s beginning to look like a legitimate #1 corner.  Richard Marshall has had his share of hits and misses, but he’s ready to be a starter.  Safeties Chris Harris and Charles Godfrey bring a bite to back end of the defense, and Harris is very adept at forcing fumbles on the strong side.

The kicking duo of John Kasay and Rhys Lloyd works well in their roles.  Kasay does the place kicking duties while Lloyd does the kickoff duties.  Lloyd had a league-high 30 touchbacks in ’08, which went a long way into Carolina having perhaps the best kick coverage unit.  Mark Jones did an adequate job punt returning, but not as well kick returning last year.  He’s in Tennessee now, so it’s up Ryne Robinson to return from an injury or rookie Mike Goodson to improve on what Jones did.

There are some factors that don’t favor the Panthers repeating as NFC South Champions.  First, Carolina has never had back-to-back winning seasons, let alone back-to-back playoff appearances or division titles.  In fact, no team in the seven-year history of the NFC South has repeated as division champions.  Also, the Panthers have lost their foundation on defense in Kemoeatu.  His absence could allow some dominoes to fall in a bad way for the Panthers.  Carolina shouldn’t be bad in 2009, but don’t expect another 12-win season.

Burning Question: What can the Panthers do to adjust to Kemoeatu’s injury to stay atop the NFC South?
Carolina needs to accept that they won’t find an adequate space-eater to replace Kemoeatu.  Damione Lewis simply can’t take on multiple blockers with consistency.  Meanwhile, they have Meeks as their defensive coordinator with undersized Nick Hayden likely replacing Kemoeatu, young pass rushers at reserve end and (of course) the freakishly athletic Julius Peppers. The best way to keep the defense great is to get the faster, lighter guys on the field more often.  Since Brayton moves from end to tackle in nickel packages anyway, Carolina could put him and Hayden inside with Peppers and Brown on the outside.  Johnson could get reps at end as well, with Peppers becoming a stand-up edge rusher (which is what he desires to be in a 3-4) in such situations.  This line may not have the quickness of Indianapolis’ line, but there’s enough potential to make it work.

First Flop in the Playoffs
Who knows what to think about the Panthers anymore.  They make a run to the playoffs as such unexpected times (their second season in franchise history, two years after a 1-15 season, etc.), then proceed to follow it up with a disappointing season (7-9 and 8-8 seasons).  Maybe the only thing Carolina fans could have taken for granted was that the Panthers always made a bang for their playoff buck — until last year.  The loss in Divisional Round last year marked the first time in franchise history the Panthers went one-and-done in the postseason and failed to make the conference championship.  It also marked the first time they lost at home in the playoffs.  Had the Panthers kept that home-field winning streak alive, they would’ve made their second Super Bowl in franchise history.  Here’s a recap of the Panthers’ playoff history, and what they did the year after making the playoffs:

**-double overtime

The good news just keeps coming for the Panthers defense.  Let’s start from the beginning.  For the first time since probably the George Seifert days (and who really wants to remember those?), the Panthers entered the season with the offense as their strength.  The defense had many question marks surrounding it entering training camp.  Then, Kemo was lost for the year.  Today, we found out that Charles Godfrey has a broken hand and Jon Beason has a strained MCL.  John Fox says they’re day-to-day, but that’s just because he doesn’t have to give any more specifics yet.  Beason’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is a better indicator of the severity of the injury.  He says Beason could be ready for the season.  So, we have lost three out of our eleven defensive starters to what can be classified as serious injuries in training camp.  It’s not like the Panthers offense has been injury-free.  We really don’t know the status of Smitty or J-Stew, but the defense is certainly banged up.  For once, I don’t want the season to start.  Let’s extend the preseason a little to give these guys some time to get healthy!

Dan Connor will be taking Beason’s place in practice, and possibly in games.  Drafting him two years ago seems to have been pretty clairvoyant right about now.  Many were shocked that Connor fell as far as he did in the draft, but many were also shocked that the Panthers were the team that finally drafted him.  He was the best overall player left on the board, but the experts wondered why a team as strong at the LB position as the Panthers would draft him.  Well, the strategy of drafting the best available player on the board is paying off for the Panthers.  Don’t get me wrong, I pray Beason is ready for Week 1, but Connor is talented enough to give us “starter minutes.” 

Drafting the best available player is essential to build a successful NFL team because it is a guaranteed way of stocking a roster with the most talent possible.  No one knows what will happen in the future with injuries, retirements, free agency, etc.  So, a team shouldn’t hesitate to draft a player just because they are currently strong at that position.  Within two years, the Panthers went from not need Connor to using Connor to stabilize a crippled defense.  The same can be said of the Ryan Kalil pick.  We didn’t have a need on o-line when we drafted him, but he has turned into quiet a promising young lineman.  Or, how about the teams, like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, who passed on Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 because they already had starting QBs.  Byron Leftwich and David Carr are no longer there; I think either team would love to have Big Ben right about now.  I could go on for a long time with examples, but the bottom line is that the BAP strategy works and it just showed its value for the Panthers.

No hard news or analysis regarding the Hawkeye football team today, though you NEED to be checking back over the weekend as I’ll be at the Spring Scrimmage tomorrow and should have some good info.

I just walked my roommate’s  dog (I can’t imagine a better wingman than a dog. Women can’t help but go out of their way to pet a strange dog and ask what its name is. But I digress.) to Legendary Kinnick Stadium and back and watched a few minutes of Iowa’s second to last Spring practice.

I watched the receivers working with 2nd year best receivers coach in college football Erik “Soup” Campbell for a bit and realized that I AM OFFICIALLY READY FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL TO BEGIN. Only 140 more days until Iowa kicks off against the UNI Panthers…

To tide us all over, here are two videos for Hawk fans…

The 2008 Kinnick Stadium Intro:

And a tour of Kinnick and the practice facilities courtesy of former Hawks Albert Young and Charles Godfrey:

- Bill Delehant

A brief detour:

The Dallas Cowboys put on their ritz against the San Francisco 49ers earlier today 35 to 22. Click here for details. In the top half of the fourth quarter, SF quarterback Shaun Hill threw to wide receiver Dominique Zeigler for thirty yards and the camera filmed that play from behind the 49ers offense. Their backs were facing the camera–it was pretty cool. Slow-motion instant replays included views from the high-angle, press-box POV (with Zeigler screen-right) as well as from in front of Shaun Hill and behind Ziegler.

Cowboys kicker Nick Folk made four field goals at a distance of greater than forty yards.

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The Baltimore Ravens wisecracked the Philadelphia Eagles 36 to 7. Click here for details.

The New York Jets broke the Tennessee Titans spotless winning streak today. Click here for how and why.

Retour:

The Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome. Who would walk away from this game cradling the golden orb of victory? Broadcast on Fox, the first quarter commenced with a Falcons field goal. Upon their next possession, Atlanta scored a touchdown, courtesy of Harry Douglas, who flattened his body horizontally (parallel to the end zone’s sidelines boundaries, or perpendicular to the goal line) and essentially bourreed into the end zone. Falcons 10 and Panthers 0.

The second quarter took off with another Falcons touchdown, thanks to running back Michael Turner. Atlanta 17 and Carolina 0. The Falcons were on a hot cross bun in the second quarter. Quarterback Matt Ryan threw to wide receiver Roddy White, who was then tackled by Panthers cornerback Chris Gamble. Safety Charles Godfrey recovered the fumbled ball for Carolina. This turnover resulted in a field goal. Falcons 17 and Panthers 3 going into halftime.

The third quarter spat out a touchdown for the Panthers, nailed in by running back DeAngelo Williams. Carolina increased their score with a field goal not long after. Falcons 17 and Panthers 13. The third quarter concluded with a horse-collar personal foul on Carolina cornerback Richard Marshall. The fourth quarter sparked with a touchdown by Michael Turner. Falcons 24 and Panthers 13. The Panthers were not going to be disheartened. Carolina’s own quarterback Jake Delhomme ran the ball into the end zone. A two-point conversion was successful. Falcons 24 and Panthers 21.

Atlanta regained some of their first quarter momentum with a Ryan-Douglas connection. The Falcons got to the red zone and then the end zone on the fourth try, thanks to Michael Turner, in the middle of the fourth quarter. Atlanta 31 and Carolina 21. The Falcons widened the score gap when Harry Douglas returned a fifty-seven yard punt for a TD. He then received a taunting penalty because he extended his left arm while running towards the end zone (probably within fifteen yards of it) in a kind of “ha ha” expression. Atlanta 38 and Carolina 21. The Panthers wouldn’t be so visibly demoralized, though. Delhomme threw to wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad in the bottom of the fourth quarter. Atlanta 38 and Carolina 28. With under a minute left to play, the Falcons demonstrated one more dose of athleticism with yet another Michael Turner TD. Atlanta 45 and Carolina 28. Final score.

Observations & Miscellania:

1. Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick provided commentary. After the Falcons put 10 poins on the scoreboard, either Thom or Brian remarked that Matt Ryan has received a lot of praise for his contributions to the franchise even though the defense deserves some recognition too. I don’t think Falcons fans have taken the defense for granted. I don’t think the Falcons have taken their defense for granted.

2. In the seconds before the halftime commercial, the camera cut to a couple of hardcore Falcons fans. The first was a woman who donned this faerie-esque get-up )complete with glitter around the eyes). The second was a man who wore a full-body costume, including a cape, a left-handed claw hook contraption, and a plastic headpiece in the shape of a falcon head.

3. Camera coverage after Harry Douglas’s fourth quarter punt-returned TD included the back of Arthur Blank on the sidelines, making a “yes!” downward swoop with his right arm. As Brennaman and Billick discussed the taunting penalty on Douglas, the cameras cut to veteran Falcons telling Douglas something along the lines of “we know you’re excited, but you gotta refrain from doing that kind of stuff.”

4. Thom Brennaman noted that the “NFC South is (very) mystifying.” For the last five years, it seems, the team that came in last in the division one season would rise to the top the next season. Examples: Panthers, Falcons, Saints, and Bucs. See here.

Get game summary, stats, and play-by-play here.

Monday evening, Katie and I, along with my parents, took the Lynx transit system into uptown Charlotte to walk Katie around the city. She’s a big Panthers fan, so, of course she wanted to head to Bank of America Stadium to see the Panthers home field. We walked around the building, looking at the gift shop along the way, when we stumbled on the Monday night Panthers talk show. They led us up to the Red Zone of Bank of America Stadium, where we walked around, looking at the field and all the merchandise. We walked in and took a seat when rookie Charles Godfrey stepped into the room. Everyone started running over to him, getting his autograph so I said “sure, why not?” It was Katie’s first time in Charlotte, and how cool is it that she would meet some of the Panthers team on her tour.

John Fox entered the room and stepped on the stage, allowing a few autographs to start off with, and then the interview began. We sat and watched for an hour as both callers, and speakers asked John Fox, and Charles Godfrey a series of questions. It was a pretty interesting evening, as we stumbled on this event. This was a great way to start off the week, being the huge Carolina Panther fan that I am.

Charles Godfrey - Bank of America Stadium

Charles Godfrey

Bank of America Stadium After The Game

Panthers Stadium

From International Herald Tribune:

Showing up at training camp as a rookie sporting a tattoo from another NFL team is a recipe for constant harassment.

But when you’re a third-round pick thrust immediately into the starting role at free safety, constantly ask questions, don’t miss a practice and perform well in preseason games, veterans might give you a break.

So as Charles Godfrey runs around in a Carolina Panthers uniform, he hasn’t had to worry about that Houston Texans’ logo on his right hand. …

Godfrey claims he’s still adjusting to the speed of the NFL and another position change after he recorded five interceptions and didn’t allow a touchdown playing cornerback for the Hawkeyes last season. …

From Gazette article in April:

Former Iowa cornerback Charles Godfrey was selected in the third round by the Carolina Panthers, while the Pittsburgh Steelers picked Godfrey’s former teammate Mike Humpal in the sixth round. … Godfrey, 22, was picked fourth overall in the third round, the highest state player selected. He could play safety and on special teams for Carolina. When asked about his playing style, Godfrey said “physical, fast and consistent.” …

Charles Godfrey, the first of the Panthers two third-round selections in the 2008 NFL Draft, is facing some extremely high expectations as a rookie. After being switched from safety to cornerback during his sophomore year at Iowa, Godfrey is being switched back to the free safety position for his new NFL team. Terrence Holt, a sixth-year veteran with three years of starting experience, signed a one-year deal in the offseason and seemed to be penciled in as the starter beside Chris Harris at safety. But even as soon as the Panthers minicamp and OTA’s, Godfrey has been inserted into the first-team defense – and even has drawn praises from figures such as Steve Smith and John Fox. Godfrey runs the 40 yard dash under 4.4 seconds and allowed no touchdowns to be scored against him as a senior cornerback at Iowa. But is it really fair to expect him to hold down the fort at free safety from day one in the NFL? Not to be the pessimist, but that just seems like a lot to ask of a guy who hasn’t played the position as a starter his entire college career. But, given John Fox’s natural tendency to play the veteran over the youngster, Godfrey must’ve really impressed the coaching staff to some major extent. I for one thought that Holt would be the starter this season at the position due to his experience, not necessarily should be, but would be the starter.

Here’s hoping to another young defensive cornerstone emerging in Charles Godfrey.

We haven’t had a ton of NFL Draft coverage here on VFT this year (though Rahim’s Raiders work has been very good). However, I am a huge draft nut and have been following the process, so I’ll try to coalesce my opinions on the Draft into this post. As a general rule, I don’t grade teams’ drafts, but I do rank them, so that serves as a good general idea of where teams fall.

1. Kansas City Chiefs- Simply put, I was blown away by what they did. Instead of getting jumpy and making big moves to dump some of their excess picks, they made smart moves when they had to and produced a very important class for their long-term success. Dorsey was one of my favorite guys in the draft, and Brandon Albert’s versatility on the line will work wonders for a team with as much in flux there as the Chiefs. He can play Guard or Tackle and will be put in the best place to help the team. Beyond the First Round, KC got players I really like in Brandon Flowers, Jamaal Charles, Brad Cottam, and a few intriguing guys in Brandon Carr and Barry Richardson. Fantastic, fantastic draft.

2. Cleveland Browns- This will surprise alot of people, considering the Browns didn’t pick until the Fourth. However, it is only fair to consider trades involving their draft picks as relevant to the draft, and their moves were spectacular in that context. In effect, they walk out of the 2008 Draft with Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers to go along with their underrated Day 2 haul in Beau Bell, Ahtyba Rubin, and Martin Rucker (among others). Cleveland didn’t need developmental talent as much as they needed ready to roll players and they used the draft to do exactly that.

3. Dallas Cowboys- While I stand by my assertion that they could have gotten Felix Jones with their second First and just picked Mike Jenkins there instead of trading up, Jerry Jones did a very good job. Those two guys will be put in the right situations for them, and Orlando Scandrick could end up being a difference-maker in the long term as well. Guys like Martellus Bennett and Tashard Choice were solid selections as well. Some are criticizing them for not drafting any WR’s, but this year’s class is terrible and I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be a few bigger contributor WR’s available down the line who fit the profile a little better….

4. Pittsburgh Steelers- They were put in a fantastic situation because they have the personnel to make taking the Best Player Available a valid strategy, made much easier when guys like Mendenhall and Sweed are up for grabs in R1 and R2. Both should be significant contributors and natural fits, and I really like Bruce Davis, Tony Hils, and taking a flier on Dennis Dixon.

5. Philadelphia Eagles- This starts first and foremost with the Panthers trade. Regardless of how it turns out (my projection: Panthers are one of the best non-playoff teams), having that extra first rounder next year will pay dividends. That could be in the form of the pick itself or possibly as a great piece in a potential WR trade. From there on, they made smart picks from Trevor Laws and DeSean Jackson (who fills both the slot WR role and the PR necessity) to the underrated Andrew Studebacker and the risky but talented Jack Ikegwuonu.

6. Denver Broncos- They know what they want and they did a reasonably good job of getting it. Ryan Clady is a perfect fit for their blocking scheme, and while I hate them taking Eddie Royal over DeSean Jackson, players like Josh Barrett and Peyton Hillis drafted late could be cogs in this team for the long term.

7. Tampa Bay Bucs- Similarly to the Broncos, they filled spots with players who seem to be great fits for what they run. Aqib Talib should be a phenomenal Cover 2 corner and I like Jeremy Zuttah considering their O-line woes over the past two years. Also, they took two compelling guys late in my favorite late-round QB (Josh Johnson, a former Jim Harbaugh QB) and Geno Hayes. It would have been nice to get an impact WR, but there simply were not any in this draft class.

8. New England Patriots- I would give them the benefit of the doubt anyway, but I really like what Pioli and Co. did this year. Jerod Mayo is a fantastic LB for what they run, Shawn Crable fills an immediate niche, and Matt Slater will become a fan favorite among Pats fans because of his special teams prowess and effort on the field. They don’t need a ton of players, but who they got should contribute, which makes it a very good draft for them.

9.Baltimore Ravens- I liked Joe Flacco when he was an underrated Round 2 guy, but I’m worried that they put too much into getting him (even though not losing a 2009 pick makes it much better than the Boller deal). The strength of their draft, like so many Ozzie drafts, is getting players like Ray Rice, Oniel Cousins, and Haruki Nakamura beyond the first round. Also, they got Allen Patrick, who was my #1 value (Player Quality / Spot taken) in the entire 2008 Draft- he’s a downright steal in Round 7.

10. New York Jets- Another team which had such a great draft that it buoys them despite a shaky R1 guy. For them to be this high despite my distaste for Vernon Gholston says a ton about the rest of their draft. Dustin Keller and Marcus Henry could both be used very well if their Offensive Coordinator is creative enough with them, and I simply love Dwight Lowery and Erik Ainge, both players I wanted the Niners (my team) to draft.

11. Seattle Seahawks- While I’m still a little puzzled by taking Lawrence Jackson in Round 1 considering the money they’ve put in at that position, he’s a good player and the rest of their draft was simply impressive. John Carlson and Red Bryant will both fill valuable roles, and I simply love taking Owen Schmitt, Justin Forsett, and Brandon Coutu late- all could help this playoff team.

12. St. Louis Rams- I absolutely love Chris Long (my #1 player in this year’s draft) and Justin King, but the rest leaves too much to be desired for them to go higher in this ranking. Don’t get me wrong- the other players (Avery, Greco, et al) aren’t bad, but they weren’t the slam dunks the Rams needed to shore up and make a good run at the division. That said, they got contributors and long-term starters, which is why there are at this slot.

13. Indianapolis Colts- One of the hardest teams to rank because they essentially drafted Tony Ugoh last year with this year’s First. That was a good move, but they don’t get credit for it in my book this year. Still, drafting good depth along the o-line and the unadulterated steal of Mike Hart put them in the top half of teams this time.

14. Chicago Bears- They need a QB more than anything (besides o-line), but they did a great job filling other needs. Guys like Matt Forte, Marcus Harrison, Zack Bowman, and the criminally underrated Marcus Monk could all have significant roles sooner than most think. Don’t sleep on Earl Bennett or Craig Steltz either- both have spots as well.

15. Minnesota Vikings- I think they gave up too much to get Jared Allen (considering KC’s lack of leverage), but he makes their line that much more formidable and was assuredly more valuable than their first rounder would have been. While I would have put the petal to the metal and drafted Brian Brohm to compete with Tavaris Jackson, Tyrell Johnson should be good for them, and John David Booty and John Sullivan could help them out.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars- Unlike most, I 100% understand their logic on getting Derrick Harvey. He may not be the a top-10 guy in this draft, but he should be important on the line in both the short term and the long term, which makes sense considering the Jags don’t have a ton of needs and should be shooting for both time frames (as opposed to getting a guy like Jason Taylor for the short term). I also really like Quentin Groves and Trae Williams for them, though getting some more depth with the picks they traded would have helped.

17. Green Bay Packers- Let me first say that I LOVE both Jordy Nelson and Brian Brohm for the Packers. Each fits their system very well and should be given a fair shot to contribute. The rest of their draft was solid but unspectacular, with guys like Patrick Lee and Jeremy Thompson hopefully helping out.

18. New Orleans Saints- Sedrick Ellis is a fantastic player (my #3 overall) and Tracy Porter could end up being a great cover corner in the league. I wish they would’ve gotten better value in the middle rounds, especially considering how much some depth could mean for them on the field. However, I did like the Adrian Arrington pick and Carl Nicks could end up paying dividends.

19. San Diego Super Chargers- Sweet sassy molassy I was high on Antoine Cason. I saw a ton of him (he’s a Pac-10 guy) and he consistently impressed. Jacob Hester is a gamer (though he was drafted a little too high), but they really needed to get some o-line depth and possibly a little more d-line help as well. Also, signing Ryan Leaf’s little brother as an undrafted Free Agent was my favorite roster move of the entire two-day period, though that wasn’t for on the field reasons.

20. Washington Redskins- Taking three pass-catchers in the second round sure takes a great amount of guts (and they were all solid to great values), but they completely ignored their DE need, which could come back to haunt them and I don’t like Colt Brennan for the offense they run.

21. Oakland Raiders- I like McFadden as much as most, but this “draft” hinges on how DeAngelo Hall does in silver and black. As an admitted hater of Mr. Hall, I am constitutionally obligated to have them around here, though I like both McFadden and Tyvon Branch. Also, they need a ton more depth at various positions, but gave up the necessary picks previously to do it.

22. Miami Dolphins- Some people have them substantially higher than this, but I think Jake Long was taken far too early for a natural RT that they’ll inevitably try to play out of position, and I’ll never understand why a QB that consistently underwhelmed like Chad Henne got the hype from the media he recieved. However, they did get a number of good players with other picks, with Phillip Merling, Shawn Murphy, and Lionel Dotson being my favorites.

23. New York Giants- Your Super Bowl Champions had a relavitely mundane draft, and it says a lot for how well teams did that a draft like this is in the bottom third. Phillips and Thomas should do fine in the secondary and Manningham was a substantially better college player than his stock would indicate (thanks for lying about drug use!), but the Giants could’ve helped themselves with a legit Day two, and it didn’t come besides Jonathan Goff.

24. San Francisco 49ers- They made solid picks, but I’ll always ruminate on the ones they didn’t make. Passing on a guy like DeSean Jackson for Chilo Rachal and not adding potential contributors like Erik Ainge, Owen Schmitt, and others at skill positions may end up haunting a team with so little at those spots.

25. Arizona Cardinals- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is a good player, but it was simply shocking that they passed on RB’s throughout the draft (Rashard Mendenhall? Ray Rice? Allen Patrick?) and took decent but not great players, though I like Early Doucet if they end up moving Boldin.

26. Detroit Lions- By far the hardest team for me to peg. I like a decent portion of their picks (Jordon Dizon, Cliff Avril, Andre Fluellen to name a few), but there’ just a bitter taste in my mouth because they ended up with Gosder Cherilus while looking Mendenhall in the face with such a glaring need for a RB and so few other opportunities to fill it. I really hope Kevin Smith and Caleb Campbell succeed- both deserve it.

27. Carolina Panthers- Honestly, this all hinges on how well Jeff Otah works out. I’m not a big fan and to me he definately wasn’t worth the dramatic price they paid to get him. What redeems them is a fantastic job getting Dan Connor and Charles Godfrey, both of whom should have been Day 1 players. Johnathan Stewart should do very well for the Panthers and their late round picks could end up playing a part long-term.

28. Buffalo Bills- The type of draft that could work out for them, but I feel like they reached on every early pick besides Leodis McKelvin. Their late guys may work out, but this year that puts them closer to the bottom of the pack.

29. Atlanta Falcons- I’m not remotely sold on either Matt Ryan or Sam Baker for the spots they were taken and the necessary resources given up to procure them, but they made some smart picks in Harry Douglass, Thomas DeCoud, Thomas Brown, and Chevis Jackson later on .

30. Houston Texans- They drafted decent players, but it just feels like they could have done so much more with their picks and made it more competitive with Jacksonville and Indy for the top of that division. That said, I like the potential of Steve Slaton, Xavier Adibi, and Dominique Barber on this squad.

31. Tennessee Titans- There was plenty to like in the later rounds (Lavelle Hawkins and Stanford Kelgar as the two biggest hits), but taking Chris Johnson in the first round given the fact that every WR was on the board was simply baffling. Another team that horribly missed a key opportunity to make up ground.

32. Cincinnati Bengals- Let’s see. We have a team with a terrible defense and a decent offense. What do we do? Oh, I know: let’s take all offensive players! While I do like most of the guys they drafted (though Keith Rivers was notoriously overrated), it is appalling to take a majority of offensive players, especially three WR’s in a terrible WR draft. There’s a reason they underachieve and it starts at the top.

The Panthers’ Day 2 of the Draft went as follows (click on each name to view a Q&A session with each pick):

#67 – defensive back Charles Godfrey (Iowa)

#74 – linebacker Dan Conner (Penn State)

#141 – tight end Gary Barnidge (Louisville)

#181 – defensive tackle Nick Hayden (Wisconsin)

#221 – defensive end Hilee Taylor (North Carolina)

#241 – offensive tackle Geoff Schwartz (Oregon)

#250 – offensive guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (Bentley College)

More interviews, highlights, and analyses from yours truly to come tomorrow.

From Dallas Morning News:

Arizona’s Antoine Cason, Virginia Tech’s Brandon Flowers, Iowa’s Charles Godfrey, Troy’s Leodis McKelvin, Indiana’s Tracy Porter and Tennessee State’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are among the draft-eligible cornerbacks slated to visit Valley Ranch this week. …

And from Dallas Morning News – Cowboys Blog:

We’re told USC TE Fred Davis will be among the national prospects to descend upon Valley Ranch tomorrow. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder ran in the 4.6s and recorded a 33-inch vertical at his Pro Day in Los Angeles earlier this month. …

That pushes our list of national prospects to 24. Teams are allowed to host 30 out-of-area prospects. Here are the guys we’ve confirmed to have been invited …

Virginia Tech CB Brandon Flowers
Iowa CB Charles Godfrey
Indiana WR James Hardy …

See Charles Godfrey highlights in this YouTube clip: