Looking for a single reason why the Panthers are on a downward slide — aside from the obvious injury to Jake Delhomme — look no further than Packers rookie safety Aaron Rouse. No, not because Rouse picked off Vinny on the Panthers’ third play in Green Bay yesterday. Because Aaron Rouse is playing for the Packers. Period.
Rouse was a 3rd round draft pick in April and on the board when the notoriously safety-thin Panthers selected DE Charles Johnson from Georgia. Johnson has yet to see the field for the Panthers.
First-round draft picks make the headlines, but NFL teams are built on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounders. Guys that come in, fill a position and make plays. The Panthers have simply whiffed on far, far too many of these picks in recent years to remain a top NFL team. RB Eric Shelton was the one everyone liked to talk about, a 2nd rounder who just couldn’t make plays.
But just as important as the guy you take is the guy you don’t take. Rouse is helping his team win football games and Johnson is not. Maybe Johnson comes on big in the future and makes it worth the wait. But Panther history does not suggest that will be the case.
