Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

My experience with Thomas Davis this morning


TheCasillas

Recommended Posts

Saw this...

What's that got to do with Davis?  Well, the "big nickel" was previously envisioned as a role Shaq Thompson might play.  The fact that they're now planning to ease Rashaan Gaulden into that role implies that Thompson will be focused on being a linebacker, which further increases the likelihood that he's going to be taking playing time away from Davis even when he returns from suspension.

MechaZain is likely correct that Jerry Richardson would have kept Thomas Davis a Panther (and maybe even a starter) for as long as he wanted to be.  And while Davis is one of the true "good guys" of the world, that's not how you run a successful football team.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A lot of bold reaches and reactions off of a conversation relayed via message board. No offense intended at all by the way op that was an excellent observational post....but some of you alls reactions are ridiculous. I’m absolutely positive that Tepper won’t coddle Thomas Davis like JR likely did but he can still play football. At the end of the day it’s gonna be a football decision and I think to a man even TD himself knows he’d be most effective in a lesser role. Do you think he’d rather uproot and take a lesser role with the Saints Falcons or Patriots or take it with the organization he’s been with his entire career? Nothing is in stone but some of y’all need to get a grip. If he comes out and stinks it up he’s gonna be shown the door if he’s still a solid TD that’s lost a step but can still be a valuable player in limited playing time and he still wants to play I’m sure we’ll offer him a fair contract. No top team is gonna pay him to be a 3 down linebacker and if he goes to Buffalo or Arizona or a comparable team to be a starter good luck and I’ll wish him well from afar. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Davis has to know he doesn’t have much time left as a player. Young guys coming in who can run faster and play at or near his skill level will be wanted more. 

I don’t believe Tepper will let Davis go after this season, he’ll be offered a backup role. It’ll be up to Davis to accept or decline. Tepper doesn’t want another Steve Smith scenario.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Not surprising that a player who has been with the Panthers as long as TD and who had (maybe still has) a great relationship with JR isn't exactly thrilled about JR being forced out and having a new owner.

JR also kept TD around and paid him during all those knee injuries...when the majority of owners would have parted with him or not paid him and who knows what would have happened to him and his career.   Can't just assume he just would have had the same career for a different team.   Understandable he would be a JR guy. 

I also don't read much into old guys saying the don't plan on retiring.  Hard to walk away from them game checks and the only game lifestyle he has known. 

but kudos to Davis.  One of the good guys. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Mr. Scot said:

Saw this...

What's that got to do with Davis?  Well, the "big nickel" was previously envisioned as a role Shaq Thompson might play.  The fact that they're now planning to ease Rashaan Gaulden into that role implies that Thompson will be focused on being a linebacker, which further increases the likelihood that he's going to be taking playing time away from Davis even when he returns from suspension.

MechaZain is likely correct that Jerry Richardson would have kept Thomas Davis a Panther (and maybe even a starter) for as long as he wanted to be.  And while Davis is one of the true "good guys" of the world, that's not how you run a successful football team.

I was hoping that "big nickel" bullshit was just out of necessity. I can't believe we're going to entertain this as a real solution for the future in an increasingly pass happy NFL. I could certainly see it used situationally, but I don't think you draft a guy in the 3rd round with the intention of only using him for a handful of snaps per game.

Also, this is just further evidence that we hate the safety position and refuse to invest any meaningful resources into it. We thought we just spent a 3rd on a safety. A pretty good investment in the position given our fairly lengthy history of completely neglecting it. Nope. We drafted a "big nickel".

Lastly, if you're Munnerlyn and you see this, you know you're getting cut next off-season. Seeing his saltiness last year that had him in the doghouse for most of the season, it'll be curious how that goes over if he catches wind of this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, PanthersBigD said:

Yeah, I'd put the the neutral tone of the Tepper comments to mean that he may be worried he won't get the same special treatment he got from Richardson. I like Tepper even more if that's true. 

If we had Thomas Davis we wouldve won last week. The Falcons exploited the poo out of his absence in the run game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, Moo Daeng said:

He states it's Shaq's time

Yes, but we are a base 4-3 defense, not 4-2-5. Thus he isn't taking Shaq's spot but filling another OLB position, specifically the one Mayo is playing. In Nickel packages, sure, he may shark snaps from Shaq but in our base defense a huge hole is left without him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I’ve haven’t seen anything that says we have interest in Njoku?
    • I think the Njoku interest revealed intent and the type of TE they want.  I really expected more from Sanders.
    • Defensive tackle (or end in a 3-4 base) is suddenly a rather significant need.  It seems to be a forbidden topic on the Huddle.  Well I am going to unforbidden it for this thread. When we lost Robinson, it was a salary cap cutting move, saving us about $9m or so, I think.  That suggests that we are going to get cheaper, younger, and maybe, more multi-dimensional.  First, what did we lose in Robinson: (Charlotte Observer)  "Robinson co-led the team in sacks (5.5) in 2024, and he ranked second among Carolina linemen, behind Brown, in sacks (2.5) in 2025. (Derrick) Brown played on 76.4% of the Panthers’ defensive snaps last year, while Robinson played on 62.2% of those reps. No other defensive lineman played more than 38.3%, as free-agent addition, Turk Wharton, dealt with injuries throughout his first season in Carolina. Wharton played in just nine games, producing 36 total tackles and two sacks. He’s guaranteed $14 million this upcoming season. Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article314544998.html#storylink=cpy OK, about Turk Wharton.  The Observer claims that he and Bobby Brown III were to rotate into the Robinson DE position, but that is too weird for my head to comprehend.  First, Brown III is a NT by trade and Wharton weighs about 280 lbs and is not stout vs. the run.  Brown III is not going to provide the internal pass pressure; he is basically designed to take on double teams and dig in.  Wharton, on the other hand, had a PFF score in those 9 games of 40 or so.  In fairness, he was playing with injuries, but Damn.  PFF gives me a higher rating at the Golden Corral buffet.  In other words, we need a true DT who can fill the two thirds of snaps that we just released.  We can't count on Turk and Brown III is not the answer.  Cam Jackson?  Same as Brown.  Have your people do what they do best.  Furthermore, Derrick Brown probably should limit his snaps.  Playing more than 3/4 of the snaps is hard on the body.  A tired player in the trenches is more prone to lower-body injuries. We need a player who can give Derrick Brown some relief and play opposite him as well.  Turk can rotate in but he needs to shoot gaps and give Guards and tackles fits--a change of pace.   I have to think we are going to draft DT much sooner than most Huddlers realize.  My favorite, you didn't ask? Probable second-rounder Gracen Halton (No. 59 overall, according to ESPN's March 2026 update). Once considered a Day 3 sleeper, his 2026 NFL draft stock has exploded into Round 2 or 3 due to elite interior pass-rush metrics.  Projected Round: 2 (Early to Mid) Key Traits: Elite explosive, quickness, 12.2%+ pass-rush win rate, and positional versatility to play inside on passing downs. Combine Highlights: Led defensive tackles in the vertical jump (36.5”) and broad jump, per Sports Illustrated. Draft Stock: Rising fast due to consistent 2025 production (7 tackles for loss) and a "freak show" combine performance, according to Stormin in Norman.  Halton is considered a high-motor playmaker and a potential Day 2 standout, notes   I would not be surprised to see DT on day 2.  
×
×
  • Create New...