Diggs, Connor, Johnson, or Other

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I was reading an article on the Linebacker position. It talked about the competition that Na'il Diggs has this year. I was wondering who you guys think will start at the OLB position opposite of Beason and Davis. You can read the article below.

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/NFC/NFC+South/Carolina/WWHI/2009/wwhi061209.htm

Na'il Diggs could face competition for starting SLB spot

With 21 of 22 starters from last season returning for the Panthers, legitimate battles for starting jobs in training camp will be few and far between. One could emerge, we hear, at strong-side linebacker. SLB Na’il Diggs, who will turn 31 in July, appears to be one of the team’s most vulnerable returning starters, as the team has sought out competition for him in the past. The Panthers signed Landon Johnson to compete with Diggs on the strong side last offseason, but Johnson was a major disappointment, making just 16 tackles in 15 games in 2008. The most likely competitor for Diggs' starting spot in ’09 is Dan Connor, who is coming off a torn ACL he suffered in Week Three last season after being selected in the third round of the ’08 draft. Connor took snaps with the first-team defense when Diggs sat out during a May minicamp and appears to have recovered well from his injury.

[carpanfan96]

I'd go with Digg's, he plays his role well and is more times then not in the right spot to make a play or effect a play positively.

I will say if anyone has a chance to uproot him at the spot it will probably end up being Johnson for his speed.

[PANTHER PRIDE 52]

I say connor..he's younger,faster and i think we should get him in there soon so he can get some playin time...and even if he ain't startin every game he'll get playin time every game

[PANTHER PRIDE 52]

Johnson on the other hand...idk last year idk if it was just me but he looked way over weight and in pre-season last year i thought he made some stupid plays against the run, now all that could of changed since last year but i still think connor

[scpanther22]

I dont think there is any real competition...sounds like they are just speculating

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I dont think there is any real competition...sounds like they are just speculating

But do you honestly believe Na'il Diggs is going to walk in and just be handed the starting job without any TC competition.

[mantal]

Fans have been trying to replace Diggs for years and for years he's been decent at the job and able to beat out the competition. Why should this year be any different?

[The Link]

Diggs because he is the veteran and he hasn't shown that he isn't capable of starting yet. He has been quite solid. Connor would have to have on hell of a TC and pre-season to beat him out.

[ncbobcat]

I voted Connor because as I have stated in a few other posts, Diggs isn't a Tampa 2 LB. He's slower and bigger. The only reason he starts the season out at SLB is because of seniority and, let's not kid ourselves, that means a lot to John Fox.

I'll put it this way--the same reason many of you are pimping the heck out of Brown due to the "system" (mind you before he's taken snap one in the NFL) is my exact reason why Diggs no longer fits Meeks' new style.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Fans have been trying to replace Diggs for years and for years he's been decent at the job and able to beat out the competition. Why should this year be any different?

Mainly because he hasn't had competition like this before and word on the street is Connor looks pretty impressive.

[ncbobcat]

Mainly because he hasn't had competition like this before and word on the street is Connor looks pretty impressive.

Exactly. If people read the Panthers home page any defensive player talks about "flying" around. I think I have read that in 4,5 or 6 articles being stated by members of the defense. Diggs doesn't fly, he at best hovers. For our old defesnive scheme Diggs fit like a glove, but in this new one where lighter, quicker and faster (yes, quicker and faster are seperate attributes) Connor fits the bill. Again, Diggs is the veteran, so unseating him will be tough. I just think Connor may have the tools to do it.

[mantal]

Mainly because he hasn't had competition like this before and word on the street is Connor looks pretty impressive.

Hey, I loved the Connor pick, not knocking him at all. But the prevailing voices on here are saying that he doesn't have the speed to play outside. Now I don't know about that and if he can wrestle the position from Diggs, I'm all for it...

[TerriblePizza]

The question is who will not who you want. That being said, Fox sticks with tested veterans normally. So, Diggs will start the season as starter at SLB

[scpanther22]

Exactly. If people read the Panthers home page any defensive player talks about "flying" around. I think I have read that in 4,5 or 6 articles being stated by members of the defense. Diggs doesn't fly, he at best hovers. For our old defesnive scheme Diggs fit like a glove, but in this new one where lighter, quicker and faster (yes, quicker and faster are seperate attributes) Connor fits the bill. Again, Diggs is the veteran, so unseating him will be tough. I just think Connor may have the tools to do it.

if anything landon is faster than connor and Diggs so maybe this scheme is more suited to him than both of them...IDK maybe but at the least i hope we get connor out there for some plays