Panthers dine with Shaq Thompson

[Moorgan]

It's kind of funny, a lot of people are saying take Shaq because his game tape is so good.  Which it is good, don't get me wrong.  I just wonder if those are the same people that are saying take Perriman because he ran so fast during his pro day.  Or draft the OT out of VT (I forgot his name) because he tested so well at the combine.

 

When you look at the other 2 guys game tape you would be kind of like, whatever.  Now Perriman has some highlight reel catches and looks really good at times.  But then other times he looks as if he doesn't even want to be on the field.  The OT out of VT just gets rocked back by every D-lineman that bullrushes him.

 

You can't coach effort, and Shaq has plenty of that.  I just wonder if you want to draft a guy in the 1st round that might only see the field on special teams for a year or 2? 

 

It seems like you're asking more hypothetically than directly asking me...which is a good thing. I literally have no idea. Even if I watched a ton of college football (which I don't) or a ton of game tape (of which I watch none), I am not a football expert in any sense of the word and therefore don't have the experience to really know much.

 

But I do know people. And people that try are usually better than people who have talent and don't try. To use your example, if those 3 guys were there for our pick and it was beteen them (which it won't be but hear me out), I would take Shaq. He's a gamer and seems to be very good at flying around and playing football. I can't tell you about hips opening up, or consitently bad angles, etc. Lot's of people on this board, at the very least, seem much more knowledgeable to me.

 

Having said all that, I like thinking about the what if's and what the team would be like with this guy or that guy...but in the end, I trust the actual football team to make a more informed decision than I can. But these articles do help me to have a better understanding of who these guys are, so when I do see them in the NFL I have a better context of what I'm seeing.

 

And finally, as to your last point about getting a guy in the 1st who may not contribute significantly immediately...I'm ok with drafting Gurley so I'd be ok with drafting Shaq. I think Shaq might be a better version of Taylor Mays, who I think fits well in our system. I'd like Shaq...or whomever we draft.

[Bartin]

no, he has said on multiple occasions that he will play S or LB but doesn't want to be a RB in the NFL (don't blame him with the life expectancy of NFL RBs). Here's what Shaq wrote just the other day:

"Some teams see me as a strong safety, like a Kam Chancellor type. ... But most of the teams I've been talking to all said weakside linebacker. I'm open to safety, but my heart is still at linebacker. Definitely still not open to running back. It's my business and I don't personally want to play running back. Longevity has something to do with it, but I just want to play defense."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/04/05/shaq-thompson-washington-draft-diary/25329969/

 

Has he changed his tune since the combine? I remember the word from there is he wanted to be a SLB only. I have zero problem with him not wanting to be a RB.

[gettlemanjack]

Has he changed his tune since the combine? I remember the word from there is he wanted to be a SLB only. I have zero problem with him not wanting to be a RB.

he said the same thing at the Combine he has always said: he will play S or LB but he prefers LB:

"I’m gonna put it out there that I want to play linebacker," said Thompson. "But I can’t say no to that [safety]. I like to be up by the line of scrimmage."

http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/25077005/dont-get-wrapped-up-in-40-times-for-marcus-mariota-jameis-winston

http://m.cheeseheadtv.com/blog/shaq-thompson-sours-on-running-back-safety-wants-to-play-linebacker

[bababoey]

It seems like you're asking more hypothetically than directly asking me...which is a good thing. I literally have no idea. Even if I watched a ton of college football (which I don't) or a ton of game tape (of which I watch none), I am not a football expert in any sense of the word and therefore don't have the experience to really know much.

 

But I do know people. And people that try are usually better than people who have talent and don't try. To use your example, if those 3 guys were there for our pick and it was beteen them (which it won't be but hear me out), I would take Shaq. He's a gamer and seems to be very good at flying around and playing football. I can't tell you about hips opening up, or consitently bad angles, etc. Lot's of people on this board, at the very least, seem much more knowledgeable to me.

 

Having said all that, I like thinking about the what if's and what the team would be like with this guy or that guy...but in the end, I trust the actual football team to make a more informed decision than I can. But these articles do help me to have a better understanding of who these guys are, so when I do see them in the NFL I have a better context of what I'm seeing.

 

And finally, as to your last point about getting a guy in the 1st who may not contribute significantly immediately...I'm ok with drafting Gurley so I'd be ok with drafting Shaq. I think Shaq might be a better version of Taylor Mays, who I think fits well in our system. I'd like Shaq...or whomever we draft.

 

I was not talking about you, I was talking about the article you quoted.  But as far as seeing the comparison from Gurley to Shaq, I don't get it.

 

If Gurley is healthy all year, he will probably get around 200 touches, carries + catches  Shaq might not see 200 saps on defense.  And knowing Stewarts health, Gurley probably sees more than that. 

 

Unless Thomas Davis goes down, God forbid, they will have to be kind of creative to get Shaq on the field anywhere near that much.  He might be a great LB/S/RB/whatever, but to me he seems like a guy you have to have a plan as to what you are going to do with him before you draft him. I still think he is a good player,  I just don't think I would take him in the first round.

 

He might be a great safety 2 years rom now but do you really want to start him in our secondary?  With 2 second year players and a corner that has only started 1 full year basically?  With no safety experience at all?  I don't, at least not this year.

 

[Gallagher]

 

He might be a great safety 2 years rom now but do you really want to start him in our secondary?  With 2 second year players and a corner that has only started 1 full year basically?  With no safety experience at all?  I don't, at least not this year.

 

I wouldn't mind him sitting behind Roman Harper for the first 4 or 5 weeks of the season. Give him time to get up to speed, maybe play him in sub packages, then throw him in full time midway through so that way he doesn't hit the rookie wall.

[heel31ok]

when we draft him in the second round don't say I didn't tell you so 

 

I have problem with 2nd rd, first rd maybe a problem

[Moorgan]

I was not talking about you, I was talking about the article you quoted. But as far as seeing the comparison from Gurley to Shaq, I don't get it.

If Gurley is healthy all year, he will probably get around 200 touches, carries + catches Shaq might not see 200 saps on defense. And knowing Stewarts health, Gurley probably sees more than that.

Unless Thomas Davis goes down, God forbid, they will have to be kind of creative to get Shaq on the field anywhere near that much. He might be a great LB/S/RB/whatever, but to me he seems like a guy you have to have a plan as to what you are going to do with him before you draft him. I still think he is a good player, I just don't think I would take him in the first round.

He might be a great safety 2 years rom now but do you really want to start him in our secondary? With 2 second year players and a corner that has only started 1 full year basically? With no safety experience at all? I don't, at least not this year.

As far as Gurley I was saying that he won't be able to play until later in the year so his snaps would be down most likely. That was the extent of the comparison. They would both have limited snaps. One bc of injury and the other bc of scheme. But I don't mind the idea of drafting a gamer that can play...regardless of the rd.

[bababoey]

As far as Gurley I was saying that he won't be able to play until later in the year so his snaps would be down most likely. That was the extent of the comparison. They would both have limited snaps. One bc of injury and the other bc of scheme. But I don't mind the idea of drafting a gamer that can play...regardless of the rd.

 

Gurley probably will be ready to play in the first 2 or 3 weeks in the season. 

[Mol3m4n]

That's written by Matt Bowen, a former NFL DB. Bleacher report has done a complete 180 from the website that it used to be btw. A ton of highly credible and knowledgeable people write there now.

Except Matt Miller.

Fug Matt Miller.

[C47]

Except Matt Miller.

Fug Matt Miller.

 

What do you have against Miller?

[Bj-Monster23]

It's kind of funny, a lot of people are saying take Shaq because his game tape is so good. Which it is good, don't get me wrong. I just wonder if those are the same people that are saying take Perriman because he ran so fast during his pro day. Or draft the OT out of VT (I forgot his name) because he tested so well at the combine.

When you look at the other 2 guys game tape you would be kind of like, whatever. Now Perriman has some highlight reel catches and looks really good at times. But then other times he looks as if he doesn't even want to be on the field. The OT out of VT just gets rocked back by every D-lineman that bullrushes him.

You can't coach effort, and Shaq has plenty of that. I just wonder if you want to draft a guy in the 1st round that might only see the field on special teams for a year or 2?

I think if the Panther were to draft Shaq they can see him playing on defense this season. To me it seems like Gettleman and our scouts know what they are doing, and they won't bring him in if they didn't think he could play a role on defense this season. Gettleman is going to live by his philosophy BPA. So I hope this board doesn't be upset with what's going to happen April 30. If we go RB,DE, OT,CB, WR, S or LB it doesn't matter, i'm going to be happy. I believe in Gettleman and his staff. I think we are going to land a big time player at 25.

[gettlemanjack]

Shaq ran a 4.64 at the Combine, but here is a .gif of him out-running Illinois senior WR Martize Barr, who last month ran a 4.61 at Illinois Pro Day (the fastest 40 time of anybody at the Pro Day).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tYVyNPN_eDOguPlf19moeIhoCzkkXw1VDQrP18nsYp2FuC6qCzigmANtH2CteP64LEljnoN_l9vWbMAMNEkiUsbFmSjQPeOCF7msqz_YDyCBrpDMyhH3q2ovX6AydPs5

[Mol3m4n]

Shaq ran a 4.64 at the Combine, but here is a .gif of him out-running Illinois senior WR Martize Barr, who last month ran a 4.61 at Illinois Pro Day (the fastest 40 time of anybody at the Pro Day).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tYVyNPN_eDOguPlf19moeIhoCzkkXw1VDQrP18nsYp2FuC6qCzigmANtH2CteP64LEljnoN_l9vWbMAMNEkiUsbFmSjQPeOCF7msqz_YDyCBrpDMyhH3q2ovX6AydPs5

Lol at the digging.

[gettlemanjack]

Only five linebackers at the combine clocked in the 4.5's. Shaq said: "I know I'm faster than a 4.6 -- it's just the little errors that I had in the first 10 yards. That's what really messed me up."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000475818/article/shaq-thompson-out-to-improve-40-time-at-washington-pro-day