Has James Anderson Turned the Corner?

[Proudiddy]

I feel like a lot of guys are completely ignoring his performance this preseason. The guy might have made a play here or there throughout his time here... even had a sack or two in the regular season that one game against New Orleans (his rookie year I think).

But, just from watching the games this year, the guy is tearing it up. We all had pretty much wrote him off as a cut this year, but he definitely has proven his worth this preseason. Every game he's made some big plays. Blocked punts, sack and leading the team in tackles.

I know Leman and Connor are everyone's favorites (I'm a Leman guy myself), but Anderson has really impressed me this year. Maybe all it took was to know that his livelihood was on the line this year and he went into beast mode. I'd like to see what he could do as a starter with Beason and Davis now. What say you?

[bLACKpANTHER]

I'd like to see what he could do as a starter with Beason and Davis now.

that

[rayzor]

I feel like a lot of guys are completely ignoring his performance this preseason. The guy might have made a play here or there throughout his time here... even had a sack or two in the regular season that one game against New Orleans (his rookie year I think).

But, just from watching the games this year, the guy is tearing it up. We all had pretty much wrote him off as a cut this year, but he definitely has proven his worth this preseason. Every game he's made some big plays. Blocked punts, sack and leading the team in tackles.

I know Leman and Connor are everyone's favorites (I'm a Leman guy myself), but Anderson has really impressed me this year. Maybe all it took was to know that his livelihood was on the line this year and he went into beast mode. I'd like to see what he could do as a starter with Beason and Davis now. What say you?

i don't think that he is being ignored. gantt seems to think that he is getting too much attention.

i think the fact that he is leading the league in preseason tackles is too hard to ignore plus the other things that he has done.

he is an opportunist which i don't see as a bad thing. he isn't the best but he sure knows how to sit back and look for opportunities and exploit them.

the unfortunate thing for us is that we have landon johnson on the roster with a huge contract that is going to force us to cut one of connor, anderson, and leman or go with 7 LBs. i really don't see connor as getting cut and going through the season with 7 linebackers isn't very realistic.

i would love it if johnson could get traded but i think he would have to have some PT before anyone would want him and that isn't something he has had much of.

now either anderson or leman could wind up on the practice squad but i don't see them lasting there.

[Proudiddy]

i don't think that he is being ignored. gantt seems to think that he is getting too much attention.

i think the fact that he is leading the league in preseason tackles is too hard to ignore plus the other things that he has done.

he is an opportunist which i don't see as a bad thing. he isn't the best but he sure knows how to sit back and look for opportunities and exploit them.

the unfortunate thing for us is that we have landon johnson on the roster with a huge contract that is going to force us to cut one of connor, anderson, and leman or go with 7 LBs. i really don't see connor as getting cut and going through the season with 7 linebackers isn't very realistic.

i would love it if johnson could get traded but i think he would have to have some PT before anyone would want him and that isn't something he has had much of.

now either anderson or leman could wind up on the practice squad but i don't see them lasting there.

I know Leman wouldn't last on PS. And I'm not sure but Anderson may not be eligible for PS. What's the rule on that?

And regardless of contracts, I think the LB corps should consist of Beason, Diggs, Davis, Anderson, Connor, and Leman. I'd like to see Ivy on PS. I know we restructured Johnson's contract to avoid cutting him in the off-season, but I've had enough. His signing was a mistake, and we just need to cut our losses and move forward. Take the cap hit, and develop one of these young guys in his spot.

I don't see anyway we cut Anderson after the way he's played thus far this year. So I'm curious as to who is the first guy on the cutting block out of the LBs that have played significantly.

[therealmjl]

I will admit I had given up on Anderson after he didn't meet my expectations. I was excited when we drafted him and thought he was a steal. He is showing his worth this preseason and is flying to the ball...I too would like to see him alongside Beason and Davis.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Let's move Anderson to safety.

[scpanther22]

i don't think that he is being ignored. gantt seems to think that he is getting too much attention.

i think the fact that he is leading the league in preseason tackles is too hard to ignore plus the other things that he has done.

he is an opportunist which i don't see as a bad thing. he isn't the best but he sure knows how to sit back and look for opportunities and exploit them.

the unfortunate thing for us is that we have landon johnson on the roster with a huge contract that is going to force us to cut one of connor, anderson, and leman or go with 7 LBs. i really don't see connor as getting cut and going through the season with 7 linebackers isn't very realistic.

i would love it if johnson could get traded but i think he would have to have some PT before anyone would want him and that isn't something he has had much of.

now either anderson or leman could wind up on the practice squad but i don't see them lasting there.

i agree with Gantt on this one..lots of people thought his was beast after the first preason game but failed to realize that the blocked punt was because someone did not block him..all he did was run..and the sack was because are DT were thrown out the way so there was a huge hole in middle..he has done nothing leman has not and makes a lot more money he may get cut because of the numbers.

[Cyberjag]

I would dearly love it if a team out there gave us a conditional sixth round pick for him.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I would dearly love it if a team out there gave us a conditional sixth round pick for him.

Do you think we can find a better linebacker in the sixth round? I don't.

We drafted him in the third, and he's just now really starting to show his promise. I realize we're deep at linebacker and not so deep in other areas, but I would hate to let him go for a sixth.

[Raskle]

And regardless of contracts, I think the LB corps should consist of Beason, Diggs, Davis, Anderson, Connor, and Leman. I'd like to see Ivy on PS. I know we restructured Johnson's contract to avoid cutting him in the off-season, but I've had enough. His signing was a mistake, and we just need to cut our losses and move forward. Take the cap hit, and develop one of these young guys in his spot.

I agree. Sometimes you just have to forget the money implications and go with the guys who are showing you the most. All of these guys have proven their worth to me so far, whereas, Johnson and his bigger contract havebn't.

It's not like we're not already strapped for cash already, so what the hell... give the young guys the chance to shine. Full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes!

[RabidCat]

Anderson is nothing more than a solid backup and good special teamer.

[Baschski]

I'm liking Anderson as well, but I don't think he's better than Diggs just yet. Again, Diggs is everyone's favorite guy to hate, but he's been solid for us all along and he's done well in the preseason as well. I'd love to see Johnson get traded or cut so we can keep this superstar group of six LB's we have (Beason, Davis, Diggs, Connor, Leman, Anderson). If that doesn't happen, however, we might have to regretfully say goodbye to Leman.

[Urrymonster]

I have not seen the games this pre-season, but what I have read is not that exciting. Almost every article I have read has given him a bad write up and I am getting the idea that people are just looking at the stats rather than the facts.

This last game the rap on him was coverage on the HB. Apparently Rice was allowed to run wild and coverage was almost singularly on him. The other 'big plays' he has made have been by play design rather than his ability and opportunities fell into his lap. So what it seems, is that he has made a lot of tackles, which considering we are down Davis and Beason is not surprising. He isn't leagues ahead of Leman though, with considering where Leman came from, makes me think Anderson is not booming quite as much as people think.

[Proudiddy]

I have not seen the games this pre-season, but what I have read is not that exciting. Almost every article I have read has given him a bad write up and I am getting the idea that people are just looking at the stats rather than the facts.

This last game the rap on him was coverage on the HB. Apparently Rice was allowed to run wild and coverage was almost singularly on him. The other 'big plays' he has made have been by play design rather than his ability and opportunities fell into his lap. So what it seems, is that he has made a lot of tackles, which considering we are down Davis and Beason is not surprising. He isn't leagues ahead of Leman though, with considering where Leman came from, makes me think Anderson is not booming quite as much as people think.

He may have made some mistakes, but he's made more plays than any of the other guys on defense thus far. And no, I'm not making this statement off of stats, but rather on what I've seen. He looks 100x better than years past. Perhaps he's benefited from opponent's mistakes, but he's capitalized on it.