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Courtney Upshaw?

Catalyst

By Catalyst,
in Carolina Panthers

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Catalyst Newbie

Catalyst

Posted
Posted

I've been thinking lately about the possibility of Courtney Upshaw being a bit of a dark horse candidate for our pick. I expect he'll be a top-10 pick after workouts and while most have him as the top 3-4 OLB/edge rusher in the draft, I wonder if we'd be interested in him?

I'm not sure that he can play 4-3 OLB, but he does have the size to play DE and could also play OLB in a 4-3 if the scheme were set up just right. Basically, he'd be a jack of all trades pass-rusher type. Put him at DE in 4-3 looks, OLB in 3-4 looks, make him a hybrid in other looks. Our version of Terrell Suggs.

If we're talking BPA on defense, it may just be Courtney Upshaw. He's perfectly built for a 3-4 OLB so most folks will write him off as our pick, but really, this dude can rush the passer and we desperately need that. He'd allow us to get really creative on defense with how we use him and would also give us a key piece if we ever do actually move full-time to a 3-4 scheme.

Can't find any 2011 clips, but here's 2010:

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Jackofalltrades Rising Star

Jackofalltrades

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Posted

People forget that we'll be looking for a Sam, where size is size to take on the TE against the run game but he also has to be fast enough and have the coverage skills to stick with that TE in the passing game.

We have some pretty good QB's and TE's in our division and conference and we've got to find a way to cover them.

Not saying Upshaw isn't the guy, it's just something people tend to overlook when elevating OLB's.

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Lout Newbie

Lout

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Posted

People forget that we'll be looking for a Sam, where size is size to take on the TE against the run game but he also has to be fast enough and have the coverage skills to stick with that TE in the passing game.

We have some pretty good QB's and TE's in our division and conference and we've got to find a way to cover them.

Not saying Upshaw isn't the guy, it's just something people tend to overlook when elevating OLB's.

I'd guess that Upshaw will not be the guy covering the TE if we drafted him. He doesn't have the hops to jump with Jimmy Graham... not many do. We'd have to make our Safety cover the TE. Mark Barron was covering Alshon Jeffrey (who basically a TE).. so I am sure a guy like Markelle Martin has the size to cover TE's successfully. I'd be fine with Upshaw and Martin for our first couple picks. We would fill two major holes.. improve our pass rush, and our secondary.

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rayzor Grand Master

rayzor

Posted
Posted

so anderson is moving to the Will?

People forget that we'll be looking for a Sam, where size is size to take on the TE against the run game but he also has to be fast enough and have the coverage skills to stick with that TE in the passing game.

We have some pretty good QB's and TE's in our division and conference and we've got to find a way to cover them.

Not saying Upshaw isn't the guy, it's just something people tend to overlook when elevating OLB's.

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