Shaq

[ncfan]

Think this is his year this year.

We've heard in the past that he's looked great at camp, this year isnt any different 

 

 

Remember TD struggled some when he was over at the spot Shaq has been the last year.

It wasnt until he slid over to where he's been that he began to look like one of the best LBs in football.

Think Shaq, the guy they compared to TD coming out as that hybrid S/LB guy.  Now that he will slide over with the suspension of TD, will blow up to what weve been expecting him to all along

[brandon_87]

Sorry bro, but watching TC and seeing him in coverage in live game action is totally different. He makes me so nervous, never know what you're gonna get from him on any given down

[t96]

12 minutes ago, brandon_87 said:

Sorry bro, but watching TC and seeing him in coverage in live game action is totally different. He makes me so nervous, never know what you're gonna get from him on any given down

Well any LB being put on elite slot receivers 1 on 1 (like Shaq was many times last year...) is set up for failure. I think Shaq can definitely be a great all around LB to pair with Luke for us and especially in coverage against TEs and RBs.

[lightsout]

4 minutes ago, brandon_87 said:

Sorry bro, but watching TC and seeing him in coverage in live game action is totally different. He makes me so nervous, never know what you're gonna get from him on any given down

 

 

Shaq does fine. His biggest weakness is over pursuing at times. Aside from that he really doesn't struggle with much except the occasional coverage lapse. The coverage thing I think is just a case of Will being harder to play, especially when our Will has essentially been big nickel and he's manning up on slot guys. His skillset is perfect for Will, but he's a Sam in his heart just like TD. He wants to be stopping runs and grabbing those playside routes. Those coverage responsibilities aren't as intense typically because you have route combinations that are easy to read and put yourself in a good spot to defend. Backside could be anything, and you have no TE to tip you off. Hesitate, get too deep in your drop, get too flat, slants and deep ins get you. Try to beat the receiver to a spot and lose sight of somebody underneath, now a RB or TE is running free. 

Think he'll surprise people if he gets the nod at Sam with TD being out.

[billionairemonk]

he'll be in the position with which he is more comfortable.  i have no doubts about him.  LB is the least of the team's concerns right now.  best case scenario, there is a controversy on whether TD should start or not when he returns.  i love TD, but this is probably a good time for him to realize his role as a mentor and high quality backup.  

[KSpan]

6 hours ago, lightsout said:

 

 

Shaq does fine. His biggest weakness is over pursuing at times. Aside from that he really doesn't struggle with much except the occasional coverage lapse. The coverage thing I think is just a case of Will being harder to play, especially when our Will has essentially been big nickel and he's manning up on slot guys. His skillset is perfect for Will, but he's a Sam in his heart just like TD. He wants to be stopping runs and grabbing those playside routes. Those coverage responsibilities aren't as intense typically because you have route combinations that are easy to read and put yourself in a good spot to defend. Backside could be anything, and you have no TE to tip you off. Hesitate, get too deep in your drop, get too flat, slants and deep ins get you. Try to beat the receiver to a spot and lose sight of somebody underneath, now a RB or TE is running free. 

Think he'll surprise people if he gets the nod at Sam with TD being out.

While I agree that they're similar players and the Will/Sam designations don't mean quite what they used to TD plays the Will, not Sam. Hasn't played the Sam in a decade.

[KillerKat]

8 minutes ago, KSpan said:

While I agree that they're similar players and the Will/Sam designations don't mean quite what they used to TD plays the Will, not Sam. Hasn't played the Sam in a decade.

He was Sam in 2006, 2007, 2013 and 2014.

[PantherNation123]

6 hours ago, t96 said:

Well any LB being put on elite slot receivers 1 on 1 (like Shaq was many times last year...) is set up for failure. I think Shaq can definitely be a great all around LB to pair with Luke for us and especially in coverage against TEs and RBs.

This is exactly what most of this board doesn't get.  Shaq shouldn't be playing nickel as he was often as he was last year.  Put him in TD's role, he will excel

[MechaZain]

Shaq will do well and Rivera will start TD regardless when his suspension’s over. He’ll then leave when his rookie contracts up in 2020 and go on to become a elite LB elsewhere after the Panthers give Thomas Davis a 10 year extension. Heard it here first, folks

[KSpan]

1 minute ago, KillerKat said:

He was Sam in 2013 and 2014.

Maybe in 2013 since they were trying to shoehorn Beason onto the field as an OLB and Beason had sort of played the Will when TD went down in 2010, but every other year since 2008 he's played Will. The Panthers depth chart also shows him at Will.

Again though, I'm agreeing with your general premise that they're more alike than different as players.

24 minutes ago, KillerKat said:

 

[CarolinaJami']

Getting the reps in practice and knowing he will be the guy during games should lead to him being more comfortable. He is set up to take the job and keep it.

[lightsout]

2 hours ago, KSpan said:

While I agree that they're similar players and the Will/Sam designations don't mean quite what they used to TD plays the Will, not Sam. Hasn't played the Sam in a decade.

He may be listed as a Will, but when you watch the games and we're in a base 4-3 look, TD is on the strong side of the formation a lot assuming it's not a 3 WR set. That's Sam. We do funky stuff with our looks on D though. A lot of offset 4-3 to put our DL aligned to the weak side with a LB or DB walked up to the line, or we'll go with an over look and flip our LB to compensate for the backside and walk the safety down to fill. So yes, maybe on paper and in certain scenarios, TD is a Will but his function more often than not is as a Sam.

Of course I may just be remembering incorrectly. Been wrong before, I'll be wrong again eventually.

[emhoward]

39 minutes ago, lightsout said:

He may be listed as a Will, but when you watch the games and we're in a base 4-3 look, TD is on the strong side of the formation a lot assuming it's not a 3 WR set. That's Sam. We do funky stuff with our looks on D though. A lot of offset 4-3 to put our DL aligned to the weak side with a LB or DB walked up to the line, or we'll go with an over look and flip our LB to compensate for the backside and walk the safety down to fill. So yes, maybe on paper and in certain scenarios, TD is a Will but his function more often than not is as a Sam.

Of course I may just be remembering incorrectly. Been wrong before, I'll be wrong again eventually.

I don't know enough about this to side with either one of you, but in an interview Luke did on WFNZ this week, he referred to TDs position, the one Shaq will play while Davis is out as "The Will". Take from it what you will. 

[Snake]

Kinda hard to look good when you sit the bench 80% of the time and the other half your DC has you covering WRs.