Should we cut Shaq next year.

[Matt62881]

6 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Back when Luke and TD were here I was told that he was just being overshadowed by them and he'll shine when in TD's role. Shaq is a good LB, but after next year he's being paid to be great.

Yea... I think the biggest thing is he was overpaid for a OLB. He's good but not elite like TD or GOAT level like Luke. He doesn't make wow plays that often but he is still a top tackler on a weak lb core. Unfortunately there is no one to replace him and until that changes I think we keep him. 

[DCR]

6 hours ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

How quickly our fortunes have changed.  Not too long ago we had the best LB corps in the NFL.  Now we're terrible. 

We have lost 3or 4 of the best players this franchise has had in 25 years this off-season.

Jeremy Chinn looks to be what they said Shaq was supposed to be .

We can probably pick up a free agent as good as Shaq next year , I don't know the salary cap cost is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sgt Schultz]

15 hours ago, onmyown said:

I’d like to, but no it would not be smart. You don’t replace someone you don’t have an answer for. We’ve done that over and over in the past, whether by cutting, not signing, or letting them walk and it doesn’t work out. Successful teams usually have a next man up before these kinds of moves but then again this concept might be beyond Hurney.

Shaq's biggest liability is not his play, but his contract.  It is like Hurney decided that if we pay him like an elite LB, he will become an elite LB.  If his contract was not an issue, he would be replaceable but we probably would not be having this conversation.

Given the fact that Whitehead is basically a no-show and should be "one-and-done" here after this year, I think we have to hope for the best with Shaq next year unless we find pots of gold in several positions in the offseason. 

Granted, we are playing like we have no linebackers, but somebody has to play the position and I don't know who we would get in here via draft or FA for next year to replace both Whitehead and Shaq.  Especially when LB is not our only need and not our biggest need, either.  It may be on defense (arguable point), but the LB corps looks well-stocked compared to the OL.

That is why I think we will have to see two more offseasons before this team really takes any shape.

[Peon Awesome]

Depends on what you mean by "next year". Do you mean the end of this season/next offseason or the end of next season? We save about $4.5 million with a nearly $10 million dead cap by cutting him this offseason. We save $9 million cutting him after the 2021 season. I wouldn't cut him this offseason because you'll likely spend just as much to get someone to replace him; if you spend less, it's almost certainly for a backup level player you're hoping can step up, and better chance than not they're worse than Shaq which we can't afford with how subpar our linebacking group is already. You could save a bit more by using a draft pick, but is outside linebacker really where you want to use precious draft capital over MLB, OL and safety (or for most of you, QB)? So you lose out on a chance to solidify another weakness to save maybe $3 million. No thanks.

Draft an OLB with a day 3 pick, coach him up and groom him to take over for Shaq in 2022 where the savings really add up.

[Snake]

7 hours ago, DaveThePanther2008 said:

How quickly our fortunes have changed.  Not too long ago we had the best LB corps in the NFL.  Now we're terrible. 

That happens when you let guys get old and don't retain your young guys. Honestly drafting Shaq in the first place was a mistake. TD was performing well above his age and we had Luke. I really don't think we need to hold onto a guy who basically isn't a pro bowler and isn't a MLB either. It's time to start over completely on the front 7.

[Snake]

4 hours ago, Khyber53 said:

No, no and no. Let Whitehead go and either move Shaq to MLB or draft one (draft them way high). 

Or as a crazy thought, put Chinn in at MLB. He is getting so much experience playing the entire field, is so good in run stops AND pass coverage, he could be the next Luke, at least when it comes to contact wise. I don't know enough about Chinn to know if he has the football IQ that Luke had (and few, if any, do have that level), although his adaptability and ability to be in the right place at the right time makes me think he's got the brains to do it, too.

He doesn't have the mass of a typical MLB, but the game is changing to a faster, more wide open one that might see Chinn as the perfect fit at MLB.

 

So your going to take away a really good SS and probably the best DB we have and move him to one of the hardest positions on defense? Or move Shaq there who isn't and never has been a MLB instead of drafting players who are actually good at those positions? 

[Khyber53]

18 minutes ago, Snake said:

So your going to take away a really good SS and probably the best DB we have and move him to one of the hardest positions on defense? Or move Shaq there who isn't and never has been a MLB instead of drafting players who are actually good at those positions? 

I'd clone him and put him in each of the back seven positions if I could.

Heck, this is all speculation man.

[ECHornet]

2 hours ago, Yaboychris28 said:

Surratt is way too small to play LB in the NFL at a high level. He’s a natural ectomorph. People critiqued Isaiah Simmons about being a tweener, Surratt is even more so a tweener who gets swallowed up in the run game. If you don’t believe me, actually watch him closely today. He’s a 3rd round talent. 

Chazz is not a natural ectomorph. 
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAFtijnmbg/?igshid=12bicerh0nyrc

Keep in mind he’s been training as a LB for a little over a year. He’s 6’3, 230 and will likely play in the NFL around 245. That’s not an ectomorph or a tweeter. Simmons has a longer, leaner build making him more of a tweeter. They’re not a good comp. 

[ECHornet]

*tweener 

[weyco2000]

2 hours ago, Yaboychris28 said:

Surratt is way too small to play LB in the NFL at a high level. He’s a natural ectomorph. People critiqued Isaiah Simmons about being a tweener, Surratt is even more so a tweener who gets swallowed up in the run game. If you don’t believe me, actually watch him closely today. He’s a 3rd round talent. 

6’2” and 230 is too small? Runs a 4.45 40 and is still learning the position.

[weyco2000]

58 minutes ago, ECHornet said:

Chazz is not a natural ectomorph. 
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAFtijnmbg/?igshid=12bicerh0nyrc

Keep in mind he’s been training as a LB for a little over a year. He’s 6’3, 230 and will likely play in the NFL around 245. That’s not an ectomorph or a tweeter. Simmons has a longer, leaner build making him more of a tweeter. They’re not a good comp. 

Absolutely, add to the fact Simmons played behind one of the top DL’s last year. 

[LinvilleGorge]

On 10/30/2020 at 3:02 PM, 4Corners said:

Need to draft Chazz Surratt in 2nd round and go after Cole Holcomb when he is a FA. 

Chazz has looked like a UDFA tonight.

[LinvilleGorge]

Upon further review, I don't think I would spend any draft pick whatsoever on anyone on the UNC roster who isn't an offensive skill position player. QB, RBs, and WRs? Hell yeah. Everyone else? Hard pass.

[ForJimmy]

I have been high on Shaq, but it’s getting hard to defend his play with that big salary cap hit...