PFF on Dan Connor

[grateflday]

Great season by Connor, very good. It's going to be a lot easier trading him in the offseason, and moving Beason back to his natural position.

I have thought the same thing. I like Conner and would love to see him on the team, but I think the Panthers should figure out a way to get Beason back in the middle. They shouldnt count on Davis so they could either draft another OLB and bring in a FA. Of course that leaves Conner as a back up which does suck.... to bad he cant switch to OLB. So maybe the Panthers do consider trading him for a pick or two.

[TarPanther9180]

I've also heard that WLB is not as hard to play as the other LB positions. There isn't as many responsibilities. They pretty much line up, and go after the ball.

However, remember Beason is still making a lot of the pre snap reads instead of Connor AND he move back to MLB on nickel situations.

As far as Davis goes, I don't think he'll be back in Carolina. However, if he comes back, plays like he did before, I would like to see Connor traded.

[CatMan72]

I think Beason is still trying to adjust to having more responsibilities as a WLB than a MLB. An MLB can do much more freelancing and range from sideline to sideline making plays while a WLB must hold down his side of the field, play coverage and set the edge on rushing plays.

Connor has been great, glad to see that he's getting the recognition. Combined with the play of Anderson, it's all the more reason why TD should take the rest of the year off and come back 100% healed next year.

[panthers55]

I've also heard that WLB is not as hard to play as the other LB positions. There isn't as many responsibilities. They pretty much line up, and go after the ball.

However, remember Beason is still making a lot of the pre snap reads instead of Connor AND he move back to MLB on nickel situations.

As far as Davis goes, I don't think he'll be back in Carolina. However, if he comes back, plays like he did before, I would like to see Connor traded.

As far as WLB you heard wrong. What you are describing is more what the Mike does rather than the Will. Part of beason's struggles this year is that he is used to just going to the ball but now he has to read the TE, determine if it a pass or run, play the RB on the dump off pass, come up and tackle the running back where the play is often getting funneled to his side and a myriad of other things.

Beason was making many of the presnap reads because Connor was brand new but he has taken many of those over.

And finally the goal of the linebacker corps is to be the best unit as possible. If Keeping beason at Will is best then he will stay there. If they decide to move him back to Mike then that is the best if it benefits the team.

This whole idea of it hurting his production is ridiculous. This is not fantasy football and it is a team sport not an individual contest. As for trading Connor, that is very unlikely to happen before next year. He is still on his rookie contract and is signed through 2011. If they traded him they would do it next year before the trade deadline but not likely before training camp. I doubt we would trade Connor who was considered a steal in the third round for anything less than a first rounder and who would pay that??

[The Saltman]

I like how the Linebacking corps is doing. Our defense is playing pretty good especially considering the Offense's ineptitude at scoring points and converting 3rd downs. If we only had a premier DE to take some pressure off and get some more hurries we could possibly cause more turnovers to keep themselves off the field.

[rayzor]

i don't think we should be moving connor to another team unless we can get a really decent player out of it.

once davis comes back and assuming that he gets an extension, we have to find some way to get all 4 of these guys on the field at all times. our LBs are by far the strongest point of this team. it makes sense to build a scheme around them. that doesn't mean switching to a traditional 3-4, btw, although i think we could pull it off. we've got some big guys at DE on the team. can you imagine greg hardy after a year or two putting on weight and muscle like charles johnson? brayton isn't some hobbit either. we just need some big fatty in the middle of the Dline.

i don't know what the solution is, but it isn't cutting connor or any of our 4 solid LBs loose. we build around the strengths that we already have.

[D34Williams]

We all know the panthers would rather pile up a good set of LBs than trade away the odd man out. They'll all stay, no matter what. The FO would rather have 3 above average LBs with 1 specialty position reserve, than 3 above average LBs and no reserve, and a player who would probably not make a huge difference somewhere else on the roster. Whether it's Connor or Davis they'd contemplate trading, neither would bring in a difference maker bigger than either of them are to this team currently and in the future.