could rivera be bringing stephen cooper with him?

[Dpantherman]

he will be re-signing a lot of them, but not all of them and there might be a couple surprising ones that slip through the cracks because they don't quite fit the scheme.

of course not all, but we could probably guess who. this team has been about retaining first and the bringing guys in. That won't change with a new coach.

[rayzor]

depends on how much pull rivera has and what bones he's going to be thrown as far as players go.

[Dpantherman]

Im sure Rivera will have say in the moves, but I highly doubt our front office will change their philosophy on this matter. It was evident in JR's presser, and numerous interviews w/ Hurney, etc. its been drilled in my head, so I can't forget it.

[Urrymonster]

not in a 3-4

Ummm you would sign someone purely to play in a scheme that isn't going to be our base? Unless I have missed something?

[GoHeels74]

I wish he'd bring some DT's cause we need them bad.

[mr beauxjangles]

Two weeks ago...

Speculation that Rivera will push for Panthers to go after Burnett and Stephen Cooper. Burnett thrived once he moved to San Diego - started all 16 games this season, 6 sacks, 2 INTS, 2 FF @ ILB. Not sure how he would fit - perhaps only if TD or Anderson weren't resigned.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...tatus-report/#

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/forum/52045-official-2011-carolina-panthers-free-agency-thread-7.html#post2913089

[Matthias]

What if having Beason at WLB actually gives us three top tier LBs in each position? Just because he is 'our star player' doesn't mean we shouldn't do what is best for the team.

In my honest opinion, our LBs have never been more balanced with Beason, Connor & Anderson. We literally had the 'ideal' skill set in each position (Beason has the ideal skill set for multiple positions). I also think that his run play was exploited late last season, so even when he was in the middle, he wasn't playing as well as he has in the past. I really liked Connor's play, he is much more aggressive in hitting the gaps in the OLine and had a ridiculous number of defensive stops.

On topic, not sure where Cooper fits in. Beason and Connor beat him out the middle.

I think everybody got exploited this past season because we didn't have a great interior game. Even when Connor was in there, guys still ran and passed all over us. You see Beason gives us good coverage in the passing game, something he won't be able to do playing OLB. I never seen Connor leap and bat balls down, nor did he make interceptions at the goaline.

We get way more production out of Beason when he is in the middle. (We can see that on the stat sheet) As for Connor, he is a great back-up/starter and a good special team tackler. We could use him as trade bait, maybe package him in a deal to get Jordy Nelson if you ask me.

So ultimately once we fix the interior, hopefully with Fairley and a good free agent, Beason and the boys will be flying wild again. Mr Beauxjangles, I hope we do bring Burnett here. He looks like a capable OLB for us if Davis doesn't work out. Plus he would also be able to play the 3-4 on the outside, with Beason and Connor in the middle. Excellent player.

[rayzor]

Ummm you would sign someone purely to play in a scheme that isn't going to be our base? Unless I have missed something?

it depends on how much it was going to be used. i've got a feeling we are going to be seeing it quite a bit. no one on our roster has experience in a 3-4. wouldn't it make sense to bring in a player familiar with it?

in essence, yes....i would sign someone purely to play in a scheme that isn't going to be our base.

[mountainpantherfan]

Anderson at the SAM, Conner at the MIKE and Beason at the WILL should be our starting lineup at linebacker.

[panthers55]

I don't see us going to the 3-4 that often except in passing situations. I also doubt we need to bring in a LB for that purpose. He had a total of 43 tackles, 1 sack and 1 Int in 12 games. At 6'1" and 235 he isn't bigger or faster than most folks we have already. Plus at 32 years old in June how much will be help us or have left at this point? I could see picking him up as a cheap FA this year but not as a starter. He is coming off a knee injury so how much he can help is up in the air. If we were going to a 3-4 base then maybe but as a primary 3rd down option???

Overall I would say no.

[rayzor]

considering how pass heavy our division is becoming, those passing situations are going to be pretty frequent.

i don't think cooper would be all that expensive for much of the reasons you gave. he would just be someone that rivera has a lot of familiarity with and someone who knows a lot about how to play a scheme that the guys on the team have no experience in. the more i think about it, i can't really see cooper having the green dot much more than beason. maybe in the 3-4, but overall it's still going to be beason's defense. cooper would just be good depth and a great one to have playing TED when we do run the 3-4. could open quite a bit of stuff up for beason.

[panthers55]

considering how pass heavy our division is becoming, those passing situations are going to be pretty frequent.

i don't think cooper would be all that expensive for much of the reasons you gave. he would just be someone that rivera has a lot of familiarity with and someone who knows a lot about how to play a scheme that the guys on the team have no experience in. the more i think about it, i can't really see cooper having the green dot much more than beason. maybe in the 3-4, but overall it's still going to be beason's defense. cooper would just be good depth and a great one to have playing TED when we do run the 3-4. could open quite a bit of stuff up for beason.

If we are talking adding him for some veteran leadership and an understanding of Rivera's defense for cheap I could see the possibility. I just don't see him being a starter. I suspect unless he wants to play for us, he will get better offers from a team running the 3-4 as a base. scheme.

[rayzor]

yeah, he'd be a better fit for teams that are actually running a 3-4. a lot depends on how much he wants to play for rivera as well. they'll bring someone in to help the LBs with the 3-4.

[panthers55]

yeah, he'd be a better fit for teams that are actually running a 3-4. a lot depends on how much he wants to play for rivera as well. they'll bring someone in to help the LBs with the 3-4.

I would think the best course of action is just bring in a linebacker coach who has worked in both a 4-3 and 3-4. Perhaps do what he has done with other positions and bring in an assistant linebacker coach who was a player with 3-4 experience.