Panthers turn down trade offers for Dan Connor

[SorthNarolina]

By the way, Beason had a sore back at the Combine and ran a 4.7 40. On his pro day he ran a 4.6. He also had a 31.5 vertical leap, a 10' broad jump, a 4.34 short shuttle, a 6.89 cone.

Connor's numbers at the combine were 4.67 40, 35" vertical leap, 9'7" broad jump, 4.25 short shuttle, and a 6.78 cone. Yet people say he's slow while Beason's fast.

so Connor is faster and more athletic than Beason correct?

[House]

so Connor is faster and more athletic than Beason correct?

Speed doesn't matter with either one of them. They are both "fast" on the field, their game speeds are exceptional. The reason is because of their first steps. Neither one of them takes a bad first step.

I would rather have a guy that runs a 4.65+ 40 who makes good quick reads. Takes a good first step and flows to the football over a guy who ran a 4.40, 40 and can do none of the above well.

[SorthNarolina]

Speed doesn't matter with either one of them. They are both "fast" on the field, their game speeds are exceptional. The reason is because of their first steps. Neither one of them takes a bad first step.

I would rather have a guy that runs a 4.65+ 40 who makes good quick reads. Takes a good first step and flows to the football over a guy who ran a 4.40, 40 and can do none of the above well.

Connor has a lot of good qualities and it's not impossible for him to become faster & stronger like he says he's working to do. Right now he just looks adequate and not really a playmaker. A whole lot of offseason conditioning could change things.

[panthers55]

Connor has a lot of good qualities and it's not impossible for him to become faster & stronger like he says he's working to do. Right now he just looks adequate and not really a playmaker. A whole lot of offseason conditioning could change things.

Keep in mind that he was recovering from knee surgery this year. Most of his effort and time was spent rehabbing rather than learning the defense and watching film. This year we will see what he can do after having some experience in the league and being ready to play.

[SorthNarolina]

Keep in mind that he was recovering from knee surgery this year. Most of his effort and time was spent rehabbing rather than learning the defense and watching film. This year we will see what he can do after having some experience in the league and being ready to play.

very true.

[scpanther22]

This to me at least tells me it will be a real competition and not just talk from Fox..

[DaveThePanther2008]

Connors was a steal in the draft. For were we got him and where he was projected we did an awesome job drafting him. I am glad we aren't going to trade him. Connors, Davis and the BEAST are going to be the best LB corp in the NFL.

Watch and See.

Go Panthers

[SmootsDaddy89]

He's done absolutely nothing in the NFL, so unless you want to trade him for a 6th and a bottle of luv rub there's no point in trading him.

[Cyberjag]

Connor has a lot of good qualities and it's not impossible for him to become faster & stronger like he says he's working to do. Right now he just looks adequate and not really a playmaker. A whole lot of offseason conditioning could change things.

I'll take his brand of adequate any day then. He missed his entire rookie year, was great on ST last year, and in the one game where he got starter playing time he made you forget the guy ahead of him with 8 tackles and a fumble recovery (that would be making a play, right?).

Once again, I don't get why people even begin to think he's slow. And I'll add "adequate and not really a playmaker" to that question.

[Zod]

I much prefer my LBs to have a nose for the football but a bit slower than a faster player out of position.

[Cyberjag]

Here's something else I love about him, and I loved it about Beason too. When they were showing clips of Beason and Willis on Youtube before they were drafted, you noticed that when Willis hit someone they fell forward for an extra yard or two. When Beason hit them, they stayed put. Willis had more straight line speed, but Beason was more sure in his tackles and stuffed the opposing player better.

Go watch clips of Connor against college competition. He had the same type of hits that Beason did. Last year was his first year of real NFL game action, and he continually got better all year despite limited playing time. This year, if he starts, by mid-season the league will be talking about the Carolina linebackers as a special unit.

[Raskle]

I like that the competition is between Connor and Anderson. That's not a bad choice to have to make (a tough one, but not a bad one, heh).

[CatMan72]

I like that Connor has gotten word other teams were interested in trading for him specifically... good confidence booster, makes me wonder if Fox made a point of mentioning him to serve as a confidence booster?