More Pressure From Carolina D

[panthers55]

disagree if this team gets a pass rusher he will contribute a lot more than a LB.

That assumes that a rookie DE would start and that is not assured at all. The last time we had a rookie DE who had a big contribution was Peppers in 2002. Almost a decade ago.

[DaCityKats]

That assumes that a rookie DE would start and that is not assured at all. The last time we had a rookie DE who had a big contribution was Peppers in 2002. Almost a decade ago.

he doesnt have to start, but does have to be apart of the rotation. can start as a pass rush guy, some one that comes on the field in passing situations.

[panthers55]

he doesnt have to start, but does have to be apart of the rotation. can start as a pass rush guy, some one that comes on the field in passing situations.

That assumes he will be better than Keiser who had 4 sacks or Applewhite and Norwood. Again assuming a guy just out of college moves into the rotation where we have starters could be a stretch. Where Kuechly will come in as likely the 4th best linebacker on the squad and if Davis can't go, the third best; a guy like Coples will have to outwork guys with more experience and better technique. Sure they will get some reps but to assume they will make a big impact may be stretching it quite a bit. And honestly a DT will likely sit pretty far down on the depth chart.

[ClarkCam]

I stopped reading after Hardy is only a rotational player.. I don't trust your ability to understand football enough for me to continue..

What do you think smart guy?

[CatMan72]

This wouldn't surprise me at all, hard to implement a new zone-blitz scheme in the abbreviated offseason last year so they stuck with a much more generic cover-2 base. The injuries and resulting musical chairs rotation on defense compounded the problem of not having enough time to fully implement the scheme we want to run.

[bleys]

What do you think smart guy?

that you might avoid starting threads in the future..

[DaCityKats]

That assumes he will be better than Keiser who had 4 sacks or Applewhite and Norwood. Again assuming a guy just out of college moves into the rotation where we have starters could be a stretch. Where Kuechly will come in as likely the 4th best linebacker on the squad and if Davis can't go, the third best; a guy like Coples will have to outwork guys with more experience and better technique. Sure they will get some reps but to assume they will make a big impact may be stretching it quite a bit. And honestly a DT will likely sit pretty far down on the depth chart.

Norwood probably wont make it out of tc. and dude you just assumed Kuechly will be the 4th best LB on this squad, how is that any different from me assuming a DE or DT will make it into the rotation?its not.

[frash.exe]

Kuechly even as a rotational guy will contribute as much s a rookie DT or DE. To assume a rookie will start is a big assumption.And to assume that Davis will be fine is a huge leap.

If we draft the next Dan Morgan for the next 10 years, then absolutely the 9th pick would be a steal. Maybe we won't be as lucky as he will only be the next Patrick Willis.

another dan morgan experience? no thank you.

J/k, i know you're talking about his ability, but I'd rather take the potentially elite 4-3 end or a long term anchor at DT, or Claiborne

[CRA]

another dan morgan experience? no thank you.

J/k, i know you're talking about his ability, but I'd rather take the potentially elite 4-3 end or a long term anchor at DT, or Claiborne

Most Luke supporters endorse drafting Claiborne or Coples instead. Luke supporters only come out when DTs are talked about at 9. DTs going at 9 would be more need driven than BPA

[Snake]

Most Luke supporters endorse drafting Claiborne or Coples instead. Luke supporters only come out when DTs are talked about at 9. DTs going at 9 would be more need driven than BPA

Pot calling the kettle black right there.

[CRA]

Pot calling the kettle black right there.

and how so....

Poe supporters don't want him drafted over Luke bc they think he is BPA.

They want him bc of need and what something he could turn into one day as a football player.

[Woodie]

That's not a very good way too cheer on one of our defensive captains that has done nothing but battled back from a terrible injury. We have to rally around Davis one last time, he deserves it.

This LBer class is terrible. I'd be fine with getting a guy for depth in 2nd or 4th, but if Davis went down again, next years draft has plenty of star potential at linebacker.

You're looking at it with emotion, and teams do not have that luxury. The decision on whether or not we will rely on Davis will not come from the coaches, but from the doctors. If they tell Rivera and Hurney that there is no reason Davis can't come back and play well again, then LB need (along with the chances of taking Kuechly) goes way down. However, if they say the chances of a full recovery are small, then the need for LB becomes huge. You simply cannot rely on a guy with a less than 50% chance of ever being the same player again simply because he is a good guy that has given his all.

It comes down to the team having to do whatever gives it the best chance to win. Sentiment is nice, and should be rewarded, but not at the expense of the success of the team. So, really, our expected LB needs are truly doctor driven. Fans can say what they want about the liklihood of someone coming back from 3 ACL surgeries, but the reality is that the doctors are the only ones that truly have any idea of how well Davis is doing and what the chances are that he will ever be the same guy again. So that is where Rivera/Hurney will look to make a decision on the position.

[Woodie]

I remember Rivera saying that due to the injuries that they we were not even able to execute the defense they wanted.......why is my type shrinking?

Did you just get out of the pool?

[panthers55]

Norwood probably wont make it out of tc. and dude you just assumed Kuechly will be the 4th best LB on this squad, how is that any different from me assuming a DE or DT will make it into the rotation?its not.

The difference is that we have little to any depth behind the starters and we have seen how Senn and the others have played,none of them are starter material. We do have starters at DE and a ton of guys at DT so I think the linebacker depth is much thinner than depth at DT. Some of the linebackers in name like Applewhite and Dillard are actually DEs as well so the number of guys at linebacker who can actually play is limited while at DE and DT is is much better.