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April 18, 2008
LB looks like draft's weak spot
Normally, linebackers are one of the dominant groups in the Top 100 of any draft. This year, not so much.
The Charlotte Observer's list, which will be online starting tomorrow, has only one linebacker, Keith Rivers of Southern Cal, with any chance of going among the top ten picks. He's No.9 on our list, compiled by Charles Chandler, David Scott and myself through interviews with scouts, team officials and draft gurus. Then you don't find another LB after that until the 17th slot, where Tennessee's Jerod Mayo resides.
From there, we plunge to No.35 and Oklahoma's Curtis Lofton. By the way, Lofton is one of the hottest climbers on our board, organized into its final order by Chandler. The entire top 100 has 12 linebackers, counting players who can play inside or outside. That's not all that bad, but just five of those are in the Top 50, and only two among the first 34.
That's not really a problem for the Panthers, who are fairly well set at LB compared to other positions. Jon Beason is on the way to becoming a star at MLB, while Thomas Davis is improving on the strongside. Weakside will likely fall to free agent signee Landon Johnson, after a camp competition with veteran Na'il Diggs.
By the way, our final Top 100 will be in the paper on April 26.
-- Stan Olson
Posted by Observer Sports on April 18, 2008 at 12:01 PM | Permalink
Comments
Kudos to Fox/Hurney on Beason last year. Great pick fellas!
Posted by: Chest Rockwell | Apr 18, 2008 12:16:46 PM
i think if they want a OT this year, do a trade like they did last year and move down to 20 something and try to get a 2nd or 3rd in addition
Posted by: jp | Apr 18, 2008 12:48:15 PM
i think they should trade all draft picks with the Dolphins for the first spot, i don't know who to select, but it sure would be fun to have the first pick
Posted by: i own jp in Madden '08 | Apr 18, 2008 1:20:23 PM
What about Dan Connor? I thought he may be rated higher than Lofton. But, I could be wrong.
Also, I think Beason is and will be a star MLB. But, I wonder a little about how he will do this year with teams planning for him more, and without Jenkins keeping blockers off of him. I still think he will do well, but it will be interesting to see if there's an adjustment period.
Posted by: Steven | Apr 18, 2008 1:58:16 PM
Why would you say T. Davis is improving???? Because Fox Said so??? Freak'n idiot! T. Davis has not improved one bit over the last two seasons he's a 1st round bust!
He is TERRIBLE!! in coverage! he is terrible at reading plays! he's terrible at rushing the passer! and since adding 25lbs to play LB full time....two years ago he's not fast anymore either....he has no agility and if anyone actually turned on film! and spot shadowed T. Davis no on in their right mind would say he's improving! he wouldn't be starting for 20 teams in the league and some with balls! may even would cut him! Fox and hurney drafted him as a project that has not worked out! but their pride can't let go!! the fact that he's AVG!!! LB at BEST!
Posted by: Cheven | Apr 18, 2008 2:38:30 PM
I agree to an extent on Davis, but I can say it without all of the exclamation marks. He is an average linebacker, and probably should not have been a first round pick. But it is what it is. Just like Jake Delhomme, he is average, but if you put good players and schemes around him, he can stand out. He is solid. Lay off.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 18, 2008 2:50:08 PM
Cheven, it is debatable whether or not Thomas Davis is an above average LB. What is not debatable are your writing skills and ability to put together a complete sentence. Wow, I barely made it through your post. As for Thomas Davis, I think Fox slowed his progression somewhat initially w/ the whole LB/Safety thing. However, I thought he came on strong last year and was one of our better defensive players in the later part of the season. He does tend to struggle in coverage against the better tight ends, I will give you that. But that’s just my opinion.
Posted by: Mason | Apr 18, 2008 4:29:55 PM
Davis was decent last year. He finished with 88 tackles & 3 sacks. Not bad for an OLB in our scheme. Keep in mind that he had more tackles the last 2 years than Mark Fields had at the same spot. Mark Fields is considered to be a good OLB by most Panthers fans.
Posted by: Eric | Apr 18, 2008 5:00:17 PM
You can't say the name "Thomas Davis" without someone here bashing him. Now that David Carr is gone, Davis seems to be the only guy on the team who elicits such a reaction. Can't figure out why, he's certainly no Pro Bowler but he's not bad either.
Posted by: Haywood Jablowmi | Apr 18, 2008 5:39:44 PM
Mason, it wasn't Fox's fault. He couldn't exactly have planned for Fields to get cancer. Yes, he WAS a project, but he would have been for anybody. He didn't play a real position at Georgia. The responsibilities of a rover are basically "go get the guy with the ball." It's more complicated than that in the NFL. He's been learning, and was more productive last year than he ever has been. A 90-tackle LB is not a bad thing, and he should be even better this year, particularly if the D-line does their job.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 18, 2008 6:31:24 PM
That actually makes a lot of sense, Procton. Davis being a "rover" at Georgia explains why he was so good at being the "spy" for Mike Vick. His only responsibility in the Vick defense was "keep an eye on Vick at all times and follow him everywhere he goes" and TD was pretty darn good at that.
Posted by: Haywood Jablowmi | Apr 18, 2008 7:19:19 PM
He was really good at spying on Vick...there's just a big difference between reacting to a play from 7-10 yards off the line and reacting to a player whom you're covering with a 3-yard cushion. Davis has got a ton of athleticism, but he's still developing his "fast-twitch" instincts.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 18, 2008 7:30:42 PM
Well, its a good year, for us at least, that the LB draft class is not very deep. We've got three legit starters at all three spots and decent backups, so as I see it, this doesnt really effect us at all
Posted by: m | Apr 18, 2008 9:32:09 PM
Yet another example on how the Panther brass does well in the offseason to bring in talent. They have locked up the draft's weakest talent pool by securing roster spots through free-agency (and at great price tags too).
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 18, 2008 9:35:11 PM
Well, SYRP, I will dissent (for once) and say that the front office erred in extending Diggs to be a 3-year backup. Don't know the signing bonus, and the $800K number isn't bad for this year, but $2 mil in '10 is real expensive for a guy who shouldn't start on a good defense.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 18, 2008 9:48:19 PM
I'd figure Diggs to be released at the end of the 09 season, I can honestly say I've never paid any special attention to Landon Johnson, but just from stuff I've gathered he seems like a solid starter in the NFL Davis has shown steady improvement which is, despite what many on here say, a good thing for a young player.
Posted by: m | Apr 18, 2008 9:53:09 PM
SYRPIS
I am pleasantly surprised to see you being so optimistic. Sometimes I feel that Procton and I are the only two people in the Carolinas who don't feel that the Panthers are the east coast Raiders.
Now that we have two smart linebackers who are good in coverage (Beason and Landon Johnson), Davis will be more free to run around and do what he does best... Hit people like a truck.
If we can only get our D-line to play some ball this year, I am excited to see the "deer in the headlights" look on the faces of WRs and TEs who have to go across the middle against Beason, Harris and Davis (who may be a liability in coverage, but hits like a truck).
Posted by: Steve | Apr 18, 2008 10:10:31 PM
m, Landon Johnson is a player. I have a couple friends who are huge Bengals fans, and they like him a lot. He's not necessarily a big-time "playmaker", but he's incredibly rangy and hits ridiculously hard. As for Diggs, yes, it's fine if he gets cut, but we'll probably lose at least SOME money for the signing bonus. It is really good, though, to have as good an LB corps as we should with 3 players who are all 27 or younger.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Apr 18, 2008 10:21:51 PM
Thanks Stve, but you shouldn't be that surprised. I have always been optomistic and pro-active in supporting the Panthers. I sometimes throw sarcastic junk out there for the sake of comedy... that's it. I have bashed other Panther "fans" and so-called journalists before for their part in destroying team morale and so on too. But the only real pessimism may have come in the form of bashing Jake Delhomme. I know that is an oxymoron, saying I support the cats no matter what but can still single out a player like that, but I truly feel that the media should lay off of making him a poster boy. That really gets to his head and ruins what little game he has to begin with. I'm sorry, but the Delhomme situation reminds me all too much of the Kollins one in this way... the wrong player getting too much unwarranted credit. It was Beurlein that marched passed difficult teams on the '96 schedule everytime sissy boy had to sit out for a papercut in the face of adversity. But somehow, he got all the credit for taking his team to the conference championship. The same can be said for Delhomme. Without his offensive teammates, he is a bust (which has been proven time and again). If I'm making that up, why are so many excited to have Moose back?!? Why are so many saying that this team would be nothing without Steve Smith? Why are so many experts calling for a good offensive line and another Great RB?? With all those things in place Trent Dilfer could take a team to the superbowl, but should we put him on the SI cover for it??? The Carr signing was all too underrated, because without his signing (let's not forget many, including Jake, were expecting him to be the possible heir appearant) Jake wouldn't have been pushed and thus played as well as he did. A true leader shouldn't have to have his job threatened to perform, and leadership is what Jake's biggest contribution to the team is supposed to be. I love when he was doing so well during the '03 season, Jake was giving his mates due credit. That Jake is long gone. Matt Moore may be aquedate to give Jake a push now, but I am sill all for bringing someone else in to compete, or even win the starting role. The real point I was trying to make here is that if all that I said is true, why is everyone giving Jake/Collins all this credit??
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 19, 2008 2:02:21 AM
And for the record, I like Diggs. He did well late last season and will be at least a quality back-up, if not a starter, for those 3 years. Finally, his contract (CAP NUMBER) was not that big. Furthermore, what's his locker room contribution like?? Finally, he will always be pushing for that starting role, and thus improve things all around.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 19, 2008 2:09:00 AM
I mean, I would totally give Procton a hand job right now if I could. Get some.
Posted by: Steve | Apr 19, 2008 3:35:43 AM
Syrpis, all that you say is NOT true.
Posted by: S.H. | Apr 19, 2008 8:34:18 AM
S.H., that's great. Why don't you post something of worth on here
Posted by: Gary | Apr 19, 2008 9:38:16 AM
I can't believe these morons who have the nerve to question Thomas Davis' ability. I'll break it down in terms you can understand:
Thomas Davis had 87 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 interception last season. Cato June (Bucs) who is also a strong side linebacker (that most of you clowns would say is better) only had 74 tackles 0 sacks and 1 interception in the same number of games played.
BEFORE YOU LOOK FOOLISH AGAIN, CHECK THE NUMBERS. Geez
Posted by: Brainiac | Apr 19, 2008 2:31:14 PM
Jason Taylor wants a ring and then wants to move on to be a movie-star. It just so happens the Panther organization will make another run with key players in place aaaand, the team plays just 3 hours away from the biggest movie studio on the East Coast, Gem Studios. Hmmmmmmmm... it's not exactly Hollywood or the San Diego Chargers, but any chance the Panther brass can afford to lure this guy in??
Posted by: SYRPIS | Apr 19, 2008 4:40:52 PM
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