Natural talent or a flash in the pan?

[MHS831]

question is will he do it next time or was he a one hit wonder like rakim cox 

Cox was preseason vs. scrubs, and I think it is way too early to call him a one-hit wonder.  Most DEs get their sacks in bunches and few roll out as undrafted free agents setting the league on fire. 

The good part about his good performance is this--teams now have to account for him--so we should expect his production to wane.  However, that will cause others to step up.  With his quickness, we can move Ealy inside on passing downs (he has done fairly well there) and we can bring in Addison or Allen.  That is a lot of quickness on the outside.

 

[Khaki Lackey]

In perspective:

CJohnson; in his first 19 games (2007-8) he had 21 tackles and six sacks.

GHardy: in his first 15 games (2008) he had 24 tackles and three sacks.

BDelhaire: in his first game he had 5 solo tackles and two sacks.

Johnson averaged slightly over 1 tackle per game and about one sack every three games

Hardy averaged about 1.5 tackles per game and one sack every five games.

 

...and yet everybody is in such a hurry to call Ealy a bust

[The Huddler]

well, one could question, why didn't carolina bring him in instead of the bucs, and when he was cut, why didn't we bring him in then?  There may be more about this kid than we know.

He was in control of where he went. We can want someone like crazy it doesnt matter pretty simple yo

[MHS831]

...and yet everybody is in such a hurry to call Ealy a bust

You are right--but Ealy was a projected first rounder that fell to us in the second.  Johnson was third rounder and Hardy a sixth, I think, which lowered expectations for them.   Ealy was playing inside a lot Sunday.  That is tough duty.  He is earning his stripes, but if he can simply keep getting better, and I think he will, he will be fine.  Heck, if Delaire works out, we should feel pretty good about the future of DE.  The stat that I found to be most impressive about Delaire:  5 solo tackles. 

I am not sure Johnson gets renewed, especially if you look at his production.  I am not sure Allen is doing anything here except squeezing a few more drops out of the orange.   I can see us drafting a DE this year though.

[MHS831]

He was in control of where he went. We can want someone like crazy it doesnt matter pretty simple yo

Our situation at DE was totally different then too. We had a healthy Johnson, Ealy, Alexander, Addison, and Horton.  Johnson and Alexander go down, Horton underperforms, Ealy has a few boneheaded plays, and we go 97 snaps without a pressure (something like that).  DE became a priority very suddenly. 

Point?  If I were an UDFA, I would not have come to Carolina and I doubt we were looking very hard.

[GRWatcher]

I'm going to rewatch the game today, but I believe that Delaire was at RDE, which means that Allen, most of the time, was not on the field when he was. So then the max protection would shift to our middle or the LDE, if they max protected at all then, & that would give Delaire all the advantage in the world. That was a very good thing. I'm so glad we again have someone with good speed & talent on the line!

[Dunn]

Against Seattle he could go up against Okung right?  Will be curious how he fairs against a veteran, but the mix of Allen and this kid could wear down a lineman quickly.  

[KendrickPanther]

I take the wait and see approach. Maybe he just matched up well vs. Tampa's line. He looks small vs the run but so is Jared Allen.

[KendrickPanther]

And lets stop acting like Kony Ealy is a bust, he's been playing well. Just not as a premier pass rusher.

[Ace_Aladdin]

 

well we obviously like him and the jury is still out, but it was the Bucs, and he was alongside KK, Star and Allen, so he wasn't going to get double teamed.  

That said, he might get double teamed in Seattle.  

Really happy for the guy.

 

 

He might get doubled team but his speed and quickness will come in handy to contain Wilson, that might be more important than sacks in certain moments.

[Khaki Lackey]

You are right--but Ealy was a projected first rounder that fell to us in the second.  Johnson was third rounder and Hardy a sixth, I think, which lowered expectations for them.   Ealy was playing inside a lot Sunday.  That is tough duty.  He is earning his stripes, but if he can simply keep getting better, and I think he will, he will be fine.  Heck, if Delaire works out, we should feel pretty good about the future of DE.  The stat that I found to be most impressive about Delaire:  5 solo tackles. 

I am not sure Johnson gets renewed, especially if you look at his production.  I am not sure Allen is doing anything here except squeezing a few more drops out of the orange.   I can see us drafting a DE this year though.

I agree with everything stated except that Hardy fell to the sixth because of questions about his behavior. I think he was projected as a second or third rounder until word got out that he was a head case. Dang, I wish Hardy could have kept it together.

[MV%doe]

Gross said he talked to Dave after the game and said ' I cannot believe Washington didn't put him on the 53 roster, unreal'.

Short made a comment about practice, ' he's got a special set of skills'. Cue the taken movie.....

Coaches must have seen it, cause they waived Horton. I still want wes back, hope either frenchie or version get cut.