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Available Free Agent OLB's To Replace Thomas Davis?

KatsAzz

By KatsAzz,
in Carolina Panthers

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KatsAzz Grand Master

KatsAzz

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Available Free Agent OLB's To Replace Thomas Davis?

Don't expect a free agent OLB to be available to replace Thomas Davis.

Most of the free agent OLB's are over the hill. Here is what's available:

Tyjuan Hagler (28), a restricted free agent

Keith Bulluch (33), recovering from a torn ACL (Dec. 09)

Adalius Thomas (33), a 3-4 OLB that no team wants

Cato June (30), a cover 2 OLB who's not near what he once was

Derrick Brooks (37), as Jethro said, "Your not just over the hill, your down in the holler".

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CRA Grand Master

CRA

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the guy that backed up Briggs in Chicago has tons of potential. Plus, we Anderson proved he can handle the load. If we had to lose someone....as much as I love TD....we can survive that injury.

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panthers55 Grand Master

panthers55

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Available Free Agent OLB's To Replace Thomas Davis?

Don't expect a free agent OLB to be available to replace Thomas Davis.

Most of the free agent OLB's are over the hill. Here is what's available:

Tyjuan Hagler (28), a restricted free agent

Keith Bulluch (33), recovering from a torn ACL (Dec. 09)

Adalius Thomas (33), a 3-4 OLB that no team wants

Cato June (30), a cover 2 OLB who's not near what he once was

Derrick Brooks (37), as Jethro said, "Your not just over the hill, your down in the holler".

If we sign anyone we will likely wait until teams cut players or it will be a trade for someone. In either case it won't be a big name player.

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KatsAzz Grand Master

KatsAzz

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It will take a while to see all the ways Davis injury might affect the Panthers, but here are some early thoughts.

(1) OLB might now be a greater need for the Panthers than DT.

(2) With no good free agent OLB's left, and only 5 2011 drat picks, the Panthers will probably have to shop the bargain basement for a replacement, likely among the other teams final cuts.

(3) Davis loss could mean the Panthers will not be able to play even a few snaps in a 3-4 defense.

(4) The Panthers might even try some 4-2-5 defensive sets, because of their lack of LB depth, but this might be complicated by the lack of any big CB's or S's.

(5) Could the Panthers try to overcome their lack of LB depth by going big at SLB, with DE's/OLB's Eric Norwood, and Hilee Taylor (neither are ready to start yet, but maybe by mid-season, if they work hard)?

(6) How many wins might the loss of Davis cost the Panthers this season?

(7) Will the Panthers 2011 1st round pick now become a LB (maybe like UNC's Bruce Carter or Quan Sturdivant), rather than a CB to replace Richard Marshall, or a DT to replace their free agent DT's (everyone but Irvin)?

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BF91 Newbie

BF91

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The Madden approach doesn't work in the real NFL folks

QFT

In my opinion, the only current FA OLB that the Panthers might even entertain the slight possibility of bringing in would be Cato June because of his history with Meeks.

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KatsAzz Grand Master

KatsAzz

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One positive out of this sad situation is it might force the coaching staff to keep Eric Norwood at LB. I think Norwood can be a stud SLB both rushing the passer and against the run and that any kind of move to DE will do nothing but hurt the guys career. No 245lb man should be playing DE in the NFL.

And just to kind of help put people at ease, remember that when we got hot down the stretch last season, it was with James Anderson at WLB. Also remember,Davis was with us and making all of his plays when we were at our worst defensively,although this is by no means a knock against him.

I like that idea of keeping Eric Norwood at LB, even if he's not ready to start the first few games. If they do go big at SLB, I hope they will consider using Hilee Taylor as his backup, rather than a smaller LB, just so the defense won't have to change.

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