Shaq Thompson?

[scarface]

I do not want. The guy has no instincts and doesn't have a true position. He is not thomas Davis and picking a defensive player in the 1st would be a slap in the face to cam newton. Can we please help our franchise qb and stop thinking our defensive will win us all our games.

 

People acting like we have 1 pick in the whole draft and that only first rounders contribute. Our defense needs work just like our offense and there are plenty of great players to be had on offense after the first round especially the wide receiver class which is just as deep as last year. 

[TheNewStandard]

People acting like we have 1 pick in the whole draft and that only first rounders contribute. Our defense needs work just like our offense and there are plenty of great players to be had on offense after the first round especially the wide receiver class which is just as deep as last year.

upgrades across the board would be great, but honestly, we are getting to a point where our core is static and the places where we truly need upgrades are getting fewer and fewer. I want the 53rd man and even the PS to have the ability to compete and produce at the highest level...next man up. NFL=Not For Long

I like the thought of keeping your strengths and making them even stronger because it brings continuity and you always need that one thing that you can trust in and depend upon on in any given year and any given game.

i would love a 53 man roster, where every player is bigger, faster, stronger, smarter and more talented than any other player they play against...no matter what...but that is not realistic...but theres no problem in attempting to assemble a group like that.

This is the salary cap era. Rookies and rookie contract players are essential. Last year's draft may have possibly bought this team 3 years of keeping our entire core without being torn apart by the salary cap. We need that out of our drafts as much as possible. i know this is common knowledge so sorry for rambling.

We absolutely need a future replacement for TD. We need a replacement for CJ. We need depth on the interior defensive line. We need a WLB starter. It would be great to have a rookie S to go along with Tre to learn under peanut and Harper while we have them. Harper may not even make this years squad.

We did great to upgrade ST, but Wouldnt it be nice to have our ST be able to get into other phases of the game and transcend being just ST. and dont even get me started on the OL and WR corp.

Stew may be gone in a year or two and so will Tolbert. But i think we're beginning to transition into an offense that is gonna start spreading things out as our OL gels and improves.

Really, we are looking at a window for a championship over the next 2-3 years and then we'll have to bring up a possible entire supporting cast and replace a good part of our core.

Stick with what works. Draft guys that envoke the same talents and characteristics of our best players and add upgrades to non core players frugally, whether it be late round drafts or bargain FA...and I see us doing that.

Cam cant run forever, hes gonna be transitioned into a pocket passer eventually (sooner rather than later,) and thats good for our young OL, because they should be well seasoned and cohesive when that day arrives.

Bejng a pocket passer allows us to use the flats in space for our RB's and spreads rthings out so our pocket QB isnt facing so much pressure. That allows us to use backs who can be free to make plays outside the pocket instead of having to roster super stud high dollar rushers just so they can block and ground it out making for lower 3rd down completion%.

getting long-winded here. TD is big money and wont be around too much longer. He is essential and every 7-8 years, we need an immediate and equally productive player ready to take up the mantle of one or any of our core players.

Shaq fits that bill and its the opportune time.

We need another stud DE and this is a good draft for that.

We need a LT plain and simple.

We need a replacement for Cotchery now.

We need OL across the board and as I said earlier, Depending on what we plan on transitioning to once Cam's progression is complete, we need to revamp our backfield.

If anyone read this entire disertation, God bless you and I apologize if I've wasted your or anyone's time by reading what probably 95% of you Huddlerz already know.

The future looks good and at least we can place out the type of players we need to keep momentum and do this thing right.

[@bobbyagnese]

So many of you are misinformed....no instincts? Not the first guy to the ball carrier? Holy hell.

[TheNewStandard]

So many of you are misinformed....no instincts? Not the first guy to the ball carrier? Holy hell.

its the Luke syndrome...whats a tackle if it isnt behind the line of scrimmage. This guy is a ball hawk and anything between him and the ball are getting hammered.

[Bartin]

If I wanted to watch Shaq at his absolute best which game should I watch from last year because I haven't seen the things you guys are talking about when I've watched.

[TheNewStandard]

If I wanted to watch Shaq at his absolute best which game should I watch from last year because I haven't seen the things you guys are talking about when I've watched.

2013 @ Ari

2014 @ Cal

[TheNewStandard]

If I wanted to watch Shaq at his absolute best which game should I watch from last year because I haven't seen the things you guys are talking about when I've watched.

watch the guys 20-yard shuttle and his 30-yard cone drills at the combine. Then watch Shane Rays, then watch The best RB you can think of and you tell me whose looks more fluid.

i dont get feels for combine stuff usually, but when i saw Shaq's, my jae hit the floor and I can honestly say that he is one of the most smooth and powerfull quick twitch players I have ever seen in motion noy named Barry Sanders. and this guy is 6' 230

[TheNewStandard]

Forced 4 Fumbles and 6 Defensive TDs in 2014, most ever among collegiate defenders. Can add weight to frame and considered a freak athlete.

teammates talk about him as making the game look so easy and slow motion. almost always a step ahead of the offense. considered very good in coverage leading to coverage sacks for teammates. teammates claim it seems like he just toys with opponents and can fly sideline to sideline. Nose for the ball and a "demon" on special teams. Can reverse field of play and blow up 3 to 4 lead blockers with a head of steam. Plays contain and keeps potential ball carriers in front of him. though a tweener, can be that Center fielder that can direct and redirect plays so that the ball goes where he allows it to so that he can be there to break it up. adept at breaking up plays without committing interference. precise in his contact timing and has the endurance to keep pressure on first read receivers sideline to sideline. quick twitch explosion and impressive ground coverage once ball is released. tackles the ball and wraps up, putting his head on the ball. opportunistic playmaker without gambling, well-mannered and willing to do whatever is asked.

negatives...can get swallowed up by 1v1 lineman blocks at second level and can look to run around blocks rather than taking them head on. needs to add weight and work on handwork. hasnt mastered one position as he was asked to play rb, ilb, slb, wlb, ss and leader on st in both kickoffs and punt coverage.

[LinvilleGorge]

Here's why I'm against drafting an OLB in the first 3 rounds of the draft this season...

Last season, we went with a 3 LB look approximately a third of the time. Everyone says we have a 4-3 base, but in reality, the nickel package is our base D. Our nickel back plays a lot more snaps than our 3rd "starting" LB. So, you're basically talking about drafting a guy early who is going to play a third of the defensive snaps if that. People talk about TD's replacement but word is that the Panthers are talking about extending TD. For these reasons, I'd rather take a CB early than a LB.

Now, before someone inevitably says that Shaq could play OLB in our 4-3 and SS in our nickel package, please. Transitioning to the NFL as a rookie is hard enough already. You're not going to ask a rookie to try to learn two entirely different positions and their differing assignments and responsibilities. That's crazy.

[micnificent28]

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/53040/466/sparq-edge-and-lbsthe guys athleticism is overrated. He isn't even among the most athletic in this class and his sparq rating was slightly below average for nfl linebackers. And yes his instincts are not good. He doesn't have that nose for the ball that luke had and is more of a see it then react type player. this guy is a second round pick And not one we need right now. Way to many upgrades needed across the board to be thinking about thomas davis backup. We run a nickel the majority of our snaps so why the hell would we want our first round pick on the sidelines til td or luke goes down.

Meanwhile cam gets blasted needs back surgery and throwing to cotchery and Ted ginn who was beaten out by a rookie in Arizona. But yea a backup linebacker would surely hell us beat the seahawks right? I mean defense is the reason we lost that game right?

[top dawg]

You guys got my head spinning. I am just going to have to trust Gman on this one.

[micnificent28]

Also if we even thinking lb Kendricks is better imo.

[TheNewStandard]

LG...I hear you about the transitioning thing but Im telling you, Shaq is adept at pass defense and reading the play. He really is like a center fielder and can play at the LOS, the flat, can cover crossing routes and can track the deep ball...all while keeping the play in front of him. Once the ball is in the air, this guy goes after it...and he goes after it fast.

Ive watched a ton of film and have only see him out of a play a couple times. One in which he got too wide, took the outside routr and the play went inside for a score. I mean, how critical can you be about a guy. Its not like we dont have a safety covering open spaces.

6 defensive touchdowns in a season is an NCAA record...he forced 4 fumbles and had 2 ints and had at least 70 tackles all 3 years of college...all while playing every position except interior lineman. The closest "position" I can truly categorize him as is a coverage canterfielding, WLB.

It is entirely possible that he can be an every down defender...on the line as a DB to either blitz, press, cover the slant who also can keep and contain the edge in rushing situations.

He can move back in the standard 4-3 WLB position to cover the flat, shadow the QB, receivers across the middle, contain the edge, hit the 3 hole or stick for the zone.

He can play the Safety position, where I feel he is the most dangerous as he can read cov

erage, feel, scan and cover any route and I havent seen him misread or get torched on any route he has defended. His field vision is remarkable. He has a motor and I havent seen him out of position in coverage out of all the film I have seen. Its remarkable.

He's good enough that we could run a base 4-2, with him as the roaming centerfielder, whatever defensive formation in coverage is being run. His presence allows for umbrella coverage in any situation without having to ever put 7 in the box.

Thats extremely valuable. he gets to the ball before the receiver...he just gets it, shuttimg down the first read and doesnt make his break until he knows where the ball has to go...and he covers like a like a madman.

Im telling you. He's extremely valuable and fits our philosophy to a t. You've gotta see the tape. he's vonna get stronger and it was obvious that he was dissapointed in his combines 40 and long jump. He plays a lot faster than the 4.6 he put up.

We've go Bene', Norman, Tre, Peanut and Harper. Wr draft Shaq and Harper is gone and we can look for a true lockdown CB and if Tre cant keep up with a true burner, then we can look elsewhere, but how hard is it to find a free safety who can cover with a 15 yard cushion?

Shaq is able to play every down without a title and takes away the need for more than one safety on the field at any time.

[FuFuLamePoo]

fug that