Shaq Thompson is playing as good as Thomas Davis in his prime.

[Zod]

He really is. Shaq has been outstanding. 

[travisura]

That change to #7 unlocked something

[Mr. Scot]

Thompson was never really bad. He just wasn't as good as his paycheck.

That may no longer be true.

[L-TownCat]

Agreed.  This defense suits him.  But if im being honest, I think Shaq has benefitted from Chinn moving back a level.

[Khaki Lackey]

I don't necessarily disagree, but that take is muy caliente!

[TheBigKat]

Shaq is playing great but....

[CanePantherHornet]

I don't know what happened to him but he's finally become what we always wanted him to be. He's explosive and seems like the leader of the defense.

[t96]

I wouldn't quite go that far, TD in his prime was the best 4-3 OLB in the league. But Shaq is definitely trending towards All-Pro territory and has been an absolute stud through 3 games. Love to see it and we really needed him to step up like this.

 

BTW, outside of Jansen, is Shaq the last player remaining from the Super Bowl team?

[Fox007]

Is he though...

[Udogg]

TD in his prime?   Nah can't cosign that.  But he is definitely playing the best he ever has.  Before this year he wasn't even in the same state as TD in his prime.  Now he is in the same city.. might be same neighborhood if it keeps up.  But for a year or 2 after the 3rd knee surgery.. TD was one of the baddest #$#$$# on the planet. 

[gofightwin]

18 minutes ago, t96 said:

I wouldn't quite go that far, TD in his prime was the best 4-3 OLB in the league. But Shaq is definitely trending towards All-Pro territory and has been an absolute stud through 3 games. Love to see it and we really needed him to step up like this.

 

BTW, outside of Jansen, is Shaq the last player remaining from the Super Bowl team?

Trending toward All-Pro after 3 games?!?  He has a couple nice games against some of the worst offenses in the league...lets not get crazy.  

Edited September 24, 2021 by gofightwin

[MasterAwesome]

I remember one of the commentators last night calling him "one of the best LBs in the league" or maybe even "THE best LB in the league"...can't remember their wording but I remember being kinda caught off guard that he's got that kind of reputation.

[BrianS]

Agree.  Not TD yet.  But he now looks like what we've all come to expect of a Panthers LB.  I think he may have realized that his contract looks very scary the next couple years - or very attractive from his perspective - and wants to stick around to earn it.

[hepcat]

He put on weight, just like TD did early in his career, and it has made a big difference. The entire defense just looks bigger and faster than last season.