The Battle in the Trenches Defensive

[DaveThePanther2008]

This is a continutation of the battle in the trenches I started for the offense.

DEFENSIVE TRENCHES

These guys should push N. Hayden 6'4" 292, P. MacDonald 6'2" 265, L. Williams 6'0" 310 all have just 1 yr tenure on everyone else.. Then of course the vet of 2 yrs. B. Oshinowo 6'1" 325.

Corvey Irvin, DT, Georgia

Drafted #93

6-3, 301, 4.95-5.00

I really don’t like this pick. Irvin wasn’t even slated as a starter going into this season at Georgia, and he really didn’t do much when he did start. The Panthers needed a big powerful DT who could take over for Damione Lewis, not an athletic smallish DT like Irvin. This pick and the next one were the two I really didn’t like, and I think the next one after that could have been used better. No doubt, Irvin is extremely athletic for his size, but he rarely takes advantage of his size or his athleticism. Good first step when he tries. He has good raw strength that the Panthers could really develop. Is a gap player very similar to Damione Lewis when he was younger. Will be lucky to have Lewis to learn from. Gets lazy a lot and will quit on plays. Inconsistent. Undisciplined and shows little technique. Shows little toughness or stamina. The thing that does encourage me about Irvin, besides his athleticism and first step, is that he has a frame that could probably add 10-20 lbs. of muscle without hurting his quickness. I just don’t think it will do him much good if he doesn’t show the effort. Actually has a reputation as a team leader and a hard worker off the field. If he can translate that effort onto the field, I’ll gladly eat my words. Right now he will be driven back in the running game and can be taken advantage of just like penetrating DT Damione Lewis, who everyone know is my favorite player (rolling eyes face, however you do that). At least he’ll help keep the starters fresh.

Marlon Favorite, DT, LSU

Undrafted Free Agent

6-1, 314, 4.9-5.1

This is one of my “Favorite” signings! Favorite is a very talented player who does his best work against the run. He was overshadowed by his line mates at LSU, including Tyson Jackson, the #3 overall pick. Played in a rotation which kept him fresh. Could be a great project and a role player while he develops and gets in shape. Very strong. Surprising 40 times show his pass rushing potential. Rarely showed his quickness on the field thanks to poor conditioning. Long arms help make up for lack of height. He looks like a very similar player to former top 5 pick and LSU star Glenn Dorsey, but he’s much more raw and in much worse shape. If he had worked harder in college, he could have been a first round caliber player. The Panthers will have to motivate him. He easily has the frame to stay at around 315 lbs. yet be in great shape. The Panthers trainers should do wonders for his quickness and stamina and make him even more dominantly strong. The only thing that can stop Favorite from becoming a dominant NFL run defender is himself, barring injury. Injuries are a concern since he’s hurt both his knee and his ankle in limited playing time. Doesn’t always show great instincts but that’s more a product of his lack of motivation than inability. Is big and strong enough to project as a potential NT. Is to talented not to make the roster.

Lonnie Harvey, DT, Morgan St.

Undrafted Free Agent

6-3, 345, 5.25 (?)

Harvey is a guy I’m really rooting for to make the team. He’s the big body at DT that the Panthers needed but didn’t get in the draft. His signing really encourages me. It tells me that new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks isn’t dedicated to creating a Colts style (puny) defensive line that can’t do a thing against the run. Harvey was a massive NT at Morgan State, thus his undrafted status. Harvey and Tennessee Titans center Jason Murphy came up with a creative (yet it seems so obvious with 20/20 hindsight) way of getting pro teams’ attention by posting his Pro Day work outs on YouTube, which is reportedly what first got the Panthers noticing. Apparently, the Panthers are fairly interested in him, giving him a better offer to sign with them instead of the Ravens (Morgan State is in Baltimore), who were also interested. Harvey really impressed on his pro day by moving so well for such a huge man. I don’t have an exact number on his 40, but it was reportedly under 5.3. His 225 lbs. reps (19) were a little low, but he claims to have hurt his shoulder which made him stop early. He seems pretty believable and is a really good kid. He actually played at around 365 lbs. as a senior, and has worked hard to get down to around 340. He has set a goal to get down around 325-330, and his work ethic and the Panthers coaches and trainers should help him do it. At 330 lbs., I can see him running 40s in the 5.15 range. That’s as fast as B.J. Raji, Haloti Ngata, and Vince Wilfork. It’s as fast as Kris Jenkins used to be. As impressive as Harvey’s long speed is, his short area quickness is where he really shines. He actually can effectively use several pass rushing moves. Has a tremendous ability to bull rush and collapse the pocket. Amazing lower body strength. His strength alone will be dominant if the Panthers can improve his upper body strength. Uses great technique for a small school guy. Really didn’t put up big numbers or get much attention because Morgan State rotates their tackles so often. That is part of what kept Morgan so fresh and quick, and that’s the role he would most likely play with the Panthers. He’s got a lot of games left in him. He’s tough and mean and can occupy as many as three blockers, and beat them. Will have to keep working on his conditioning and stay motivated on the field, but could be a real find in time. I have a bad feeling his size may keep him from making the team though, at least at first. Would be a great candidate to start out on the practice squad.

Justin Kershaw, DT/DE, Michigan St.

Undrafted Free Agent

6-5, 277

Of all the signings Carolina has made this off season, Kershaw is the one that really caught me off guard. I’ve never considered him a pro prospect. About all I know about him is that he was a solid and versatile player who started at Michigan St. for three years, as a DE as a sophomore, and a DT after that. He was much better against the run than the pass. The Panthers signed him as a DE, which goes against all prior perceptions of Ron Meeks linemen being undersized. I still don’t think Kershaw is a pro prospect, but I haven’t really paid much attention to him so he may surprise me when I learn more. Of course, I don’t think he ever really did much to make me pay attention. His best traits are his versatility and his experience. Unlikely to make the team, but may be another Gary Gibson (who needs to be playing for the Panthers this year…). I just don’t know.

[Fireball77]

I posted somewhere else about Meeks and the undersized thing, thinking maybe it was more a function of what Dungy wanted rather than Meeks since the Colts seem to be getting some bigger players on D now. since Dungy left. After I read that thread on here about him, I think that Harvey kid is the kind of guy you root for. Interesting that these guys are all pretty much run stoppers. I know we were hoping for more interior pass rush. Maybe Brown can do that sitiationally.

[rayzor]

thought it was funny that he said this about irvin:

The Panthers needed a big powerful DT who could take over for Damione Lewis, not an athletic smallish DT like Irvin.

irvin is an inch taller and will be putting on positive weight/bulk once he gets in the weight program. putting on 10 pounds of muscle mass isn't going to be much of a problem.

i like what he said about harvey. i like the guy a lot. no way does the panthers put him on the practice squad, though. he won't last. someone (ravens) will pick him up.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I like Harvey the best. This guy was a big Panther fan and a good writer too. He seemed very knowledgable about the players and our needs.

I didn't get the small comment either.

[monstercat]

It's my understanding that Irvin got the starting job at Georgia because of an injury, but when the regular starter came back from the injury, he couldn't beat Irvin out to get his job back. If that's the case, then he must have been doing something right.

Anyway, I believe the Panthers see Irvin as a kid with more upside than some of the players that were ranked ahead of him, which is fine for them because they already have some pretty good starters in place.

[SCpanther]

I hope this Harvey guy pans out. The defense could use another oversized DT in the rotation.

[DaCityKats]

i want harvey to make the 53 man roster.can you say jenkins # 2.hopefully not the weight issues tho

[DaveThePanther2008]

Our staff is good at finding these types of players. I anticipate Harvey at being one of them.

He’s tough and mean and can occupy as many as three blockers, and beat them.

Can you imagine him and Kemo at the same time with Pep and Brown on the edge. That pocket is gonna collapse.. Too much damn weight. What a vision.