Panthers turn to defense on Day 2 of the draft

By PATRICK OBLEY - pobley@thestate.com

CHARLOTTE — After spending the first day of the NFL draft declaring a new, rough-and-tumble offensive personality, the Carolina Panthers spent the remainder of the weekend creating an identity crisis on the other side of the ball.

Already top-heavy at linebacker, the Panthers added Penn State’s Dan Connor to the mix with their second pick in the third round. Connor was considered one of the top remaining linebacker prospects, but he faces an uphill battle for playing time with last year’s top pick, Jon Beason, in front of him.

“I was a little shocked,” Connor said of hearing his name called by Carolina.

“There’s a ton of talent there and it’s going to be great to be able to learn under a bunch of great linebackers,” Connor added. “There are some guys with a lot of experience.”

Message boards lit up instantly after the selection. Many of the questions centered around whether the Panthers were considering a switch to the 3-4 defense.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said Connor’s selection was a case of taking the best available player. That is something the Panthers have done every year, as demonstrated by last year’s selection of center Ryan Kalil with two centers already on the roster.

“Much like Ryan Kalil last year, (Connor) was just too good of a player and too high on our board to pass up,” Hurney said. “So, we talked about getting good football players, and we feel if we do that, then it all works out.”

The approach worked well for Kalil, who will enter preseason camp as the team’s starting center.

Connor will vie for playing time behind Beason, 2005 first-rounder Thomas Davis, veteran Na’il Diggs and free-agent pickup Landon Johnson, who is expected to battle Diggs for a starting spot.

“With Beason there, I could add depth behind him or at the weak side,” Connor said. “It really would be up to the coaches, and I’m open to anything.”

Also on Sunday, the Panthers added Iowa free safety Charles Godfrey and Wisconsin defensive tackle Nick Hayden to the mix. Both players address glaring needs.

Hayden, in particular, will have an opportunity to make an impact. Considered by most draft services to be someone with a good motor, Hayden should get situational time as the Panthers figure out how to replace traded defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and retired defensive end Mike Rucker.

The Panthers had a revolving door at free safety in 2007. A converted cornerback, Godfrey has the skills necessary to play the position, according to Carolina scouting director Don Gregory.

“Both players are hard workers, bring the attitude and love football,” Gregory said. “There is position flexibility in both players.”

Carolina completed its draft with Louisville tight end Gary Barnidge, North Carolina defensive end Hilee Taylor, Oregon tackle Geoff Schwartz and Bentley guard Mackenzy Bernadeau.

Taylor is intriguing primarily because he’s very undersized (6-3, 236 pounds) but was very productive (10.5 sacks in 2007).

“He’s definitely a defensive end for us,” coach John Fox said. “I think he is one of those guys who is in that size where teams are torn. I’m sure some teams talked to him about outside linebacker.”

Though Carolina was unable to more thoroughly address its flagging interior defensive line, Hurney said the players taken this weekend all fit with the overall philosophy of getting “tougher.”

“I think we came into the draft with a plan and we followed the plan,” Hurney said. “We stuck true to what we wanted to accomplish and what we wanted to be as a football team.”

Reach Obley at (803) 771-8473.