Shaq Thompson Remains a Free Agent

[PleaseCutStewart]

I honestly think with all the injuries Shaq has had, he is a shell of himself. There is a reason no other team is signing him... We aren't the only team in the NFL that needs LB help

[Swaggasaurus]

3 hours ago, PantherChris said:

NAH Rozenboom is >>>> Shaq

Hope so. Wallace’s go to move is to grab the RB after they are 5 yards up field and hold on for dear life. Not ideal.

 

[MHS831]

I met Shaq at an OTA---if you recall, he was absent until the end due to Washington being on the quarter system. He was very nice--soft spoken--but I was thinking "Linebacker?" As an OLB in a 4-3, he was small.  I did not see 6'0"--I saw 5'10-5'11 tops and maybe 220.  When we converted to a 3-4, that moved him inside and, in my opinion, shortened his career.  He just does not have the frame for ILB duties.  If you watch enough film, you will see that Shaq often was late getting to the hole and tackled from the side a lot.  Morgan and Luke were in the hole square with the LOS and talking on blocks and RBs head on.  Had Shaq met pulling guards and fullbacks in the hole like that, he would not have lasted 4 years. He had a very frail frame. 

[csx]

45 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

I met Shaq at an OTA---if you recall, he was absent until the end due to Washington being on the quarter system. He was very nice--soft spoken--but I was thinking "Linebacker?" As an OLB in a 4-3, he was small.  I did not see 6'0"--I saw 5'10-5'11 tops and maybe 220.  When we converted to a 3-4, that moved him inside and, in my opinion, shortened his career.  He just does not have the frame for ILB duties.  If you watch enough film, you will see that Shaq often was late getting to the hole and tackled from the side a lot.  Morgan and Luke were in the hole square with the LOS and talking on blocks and RBs head on.  Had Shaq met pulling guards and fullbacks in the hole like that, he would not have lasted 4 years. He had a very frail frame. 

He got noticeably bigger as his time here progressed. 

[Basbear]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

I met Shaq at an OTA---if you recall, he was absent until the end due to Washington being on the quarter system. He was very nice--soft spoken--but I was thinking "Linebacker?" As an OLB in a 4-3, he was small.  I did not see 6'0"--I saw 5'10-5'11 tops and maybe 220.  When we converted to a 3-4, that moved him inside and, in my opinion, shortened his career.  He just does not have the frame for ILB duties.  If you watch enough film, you will see that Shaq often was late getting to the hole and tackled from the side a lot.  Morgan and Luke were in the hole square with the LOS and talking on blocks and RBs head on.  Had Shaq met pulling guards and fullbacks in the hole like that, he would not have lasted 4 years. He had a very frail frame. 

That is a good point. 

Ill add to it, Shaq was a trail blazer about LBs that can cover. He started that trend, partly due to what you said above-size. Plus he was a safety at one point in college or had lots of snaps there. It's almost 50/50 split I think about what you need from a LB. I mean the NFL is 62ish % pass last I checked. 

 

Side Bar- I have friends in the strength community and one of them had a mutual friend that knew "House" and his staff. Once every month if he heard a story about panther, he'd toss me a bone. He said the House and others just loved Shaq, called him a leader. Always in early and would workout after practice. He was not lazy at all, help set a standard among other young players. Dam shame when house got fired, no more weight room stories..

[PNW_PantherMan]

Even though he's been injured the last 2 seasons, he was still a starter for 8 years.  He had a pretty productive career for a guy that never made any pro bowls.  I wouldn't say his career was cut short.

[Dave Gettleman's Shorts]

1 hour ago, MHS831 said:

I met Shaq at an OTA---if you recall, he was absent until the end due to Washington being on the quarter system. He was very nice--soft spoken--but I was thinking "Linebacker?" As an OLB in a 4-3, he was small.  I did not see 6'0"--I saw 5'10-5'11 tops and maybe 220.  When we converted to a 3-4, that moved him inside and, in my opinion, shortened his career.  He just does not have the frame for ILB duties.  If you watch enough film, you will see that Shaq often was late getting to the hole and tackled from the side a lot.  Morgan and Luke were in the hole square with the LOS and talking on blocks and RBs head on.  Had Shaq met pulling guards and fullbacks in the hole like that, he would not have lasted 4 years. He had a very frail frame. 

Shaq was supposed to be TD's successor as an 4-3 outside linebacker next to Luke

[MHS831]

2 hours ago, csx said:

He got noticeably bigger as his time here progressed. 

Sure but the frame was frail.  I think he got up to 235 and then back to 228ish. 

[MHS831]

1 hour ago, PNW_PantherMan said:

Even though he's been injured the last 2 seasons, he was still a starter for 8 years.  He had a pretty productive career for a guy that never made any pro bowls.  I wouldn't say his career was cut short.

For a LB that is a long career.  They take a beating.  Shoulders and head.  My favorite LB of All Time--Junior Seau--had a 20-year career--the average career for a STARTING MLB is 5.6 years.  I really think Shaq is done, but if he can play, it does not mean that he should.   Think about Morgan's career--7 seasons.  Luke's career--8 seasons.  Beason played only 93 games over 10 years--only 5 seasons where he played 15 games or more.  The other 5 seasons?  No more than 5 games per.  So basically, the average starting MLB plays 90 games in his career.  Shaq has played 123 games and was pretty injury free until the last 2 seasons (6 games total).