DE Stanley McClover - Carolina. (1 Viewer)

[BigSteelThrill]

Thats the word.

Stanley McClover has been very impressive in the early stages in camp and is the only end starting opposite of Peppers at this point, getting all of the first team reps. He has been credited with several practice sacks and several observers/fans/bloggers tab him as 'the' starter and appear excited about his possibilities.

Rucker is out nursing an injury and needs to be replaced. The team has not been shy about wanting to do so.

Al Wallace, who finished as the starter last year, was way too limited and was released.

Charles Johnson is the 3rd round rookie, but hasnt shown a lot as of yet, though it remains early obviously.

It is likely Rucker will be given a chance to fight for the position once he is healthy. But I wouldnt bet on Rucker at all.

McClover was a 7th round pick last year by the Panthers out of Auburn. 6'2" 263#.

Small bio clip:

Played in 24 games with nine starts for Auburn...Entered NFL following sophomore season...

Produced 66 tackles, 15.5 sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, five forced fumbles and five passes defensed...

Ranks ninth in school history with 15.5 sacks despite playing only 24 games...

2005 All-SEC honorable mention...Played in 11 games with seven starts...

Led the Tigers and finished fifth in the SEC with eight sacks, which equaled the ninth-highest single-season total in school history...

 

[Chaos Commish]

It's no secret I love Charles Johnson, who came out early this year. McClover's fans last year thought he was every bit the player Mark Anderson was (or better), but I remember some strong comments from nfl sources saying he needed to stay at Auburn. Matured a year, he could be a big surprise. It wouldn't surprise me. I have always carefully qualified my Charles Johnson expectations with his youth and the need for him to develop over time.

 

[JoeSteeler]

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Today... Panthers official site - top headline...

McClover embarks on new season

August 6, 2007

Brett Borden

Panthers.com

Last week during a full-contact, goal-line scrimmage, Panthers defensive end Stanley McClover started barking. Yes, barking. Apparently this is not a recent development.

“That bark has been with me for a long time,” said McClover. “Gotta be an old dog. Can’t be a new dog.”

His bark, or woof, or whatever it was, inspired his teammates to make a couple of punishing hits, stuffing the running back in the hole for no gain each time. It also inspired cornerback Ken Lucas to ask what was wrong with McClover the first time he heard it.

“What kind of dog is that?” Lucas said. “That dog is sick.”

When Lucas stuffed the running back for no gain a couple of plays later, he attempted to chest bump McClover after the play. Lucas lost three yards on the exchange.

“That’s always been my game, coming up through high school and college,” said McClover of his more extroverted persona this season. “I’ve always been a loud person. I just like to motivate people emotionally. That’s just my style of play.”

It helps when you are one of the biggest guys on the team. At 6-foot-2 and 263 pounds, there is more to Stanley than there was a year ago. About 15 pounds more.

“I feel really good,” he said of his new playing weight. “I feel very stout against the run. I still have my quickness and my speed, though.”

That he does. McClover has been one of the biggest playmakers in camp so far. The caterpillar who only played in two games as a rookie last season has shed his cocoon and spread his prodigious wings, at least so far in camp.

“The biggest difference is just getting a year under my belt and feeling more confident in the defense,” said McClover, who garnered eight sacks in just seven starts at Auburn in 2005. “I’ve just been working hard. Sal (Sunseri, defensive line coach) has really been on me this year. I have to step up and be better than last year.”

The role of starting opposite Julius Peppers on the defensive line has belonged to Mike Rucker for the last five seasons. But Rucker suffered a season-ending knee injury last December (hence McClover playing in the final two games after being inactive for the first 14 contests), and it remains to be seen how often he can be on the field this season.

Where does that leave McClover? On the field in Rucker’s stead, if he has anything to do with it.

“My goal is to help the team out as much as I can and to be a leader on and off the field,” said McClover. “I want to take on that role and make things run smoother and get better and better each week in this defense.”

If his bite is anywhere near as bad as his bark, his teammates will probably do anything he tells them to do.

http://www.panthers.com/Common/Article.aspx?id=21986

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Some camp blog tidbits from the past few days....

Saturday 7on7 drills...

#95 DE Charles Johnson got through the line quickly and got a nice tackle for a loss on Deshaun Foster.

Friday....

Stanley McClover closed in on Delhomme on one play and #17 threw it out to Hoover as his safety valve.

Thursday...

The defense was clearly pumped up on goal line drills. Many were making barking sounds when they made a big play. (A McClover trademark)

 

[BigSteelThrill]

McClover scores the Panthers first preseason sack vs the Giants.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Dont look now...

but the Panthers 2nd sack goes to Charles Johnson.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

It's no secret I love Charles Johnson, who came out early this year. McClover's fans last year thought he was every bit the player Mark Anderson was (or better), but I remember some strong comments from nfl sources saying he needed to stay at Auburn. Matured a year, he could be a big surprise. It wouldn't surprise me. I have always carefully qualified my Charles Johnson expectations with his youth and the need for him to develop over time.

Watching the game tonight, you were right. I made a mistake in GOID. I assumed McClover and Johnson would rotate a lot, but McClover looks much better and for now they're working Johnson behind Peppers.

 

[Chaos Commish]

It's no secret I love Charles Johnson, who came out early this year. McClover's fans last year thought he was every bit the player Mark Anderson was (or better), but I remember some strong comments from nfl sources saying he needed to stay at Auburn. Matured a year, he could be a big surprise. It wouldn't surprise me. I have always carefully qualified my Charles Johnson expectations with his youth and the need for him to develop over time.

Watching the game tonight, you were right. I made a mistake in GOID. I assumed McClover and Johnson would rotate a lot, but McClover looks much better and for now they're working Johnson behind Peppers.

Well, free agency will open sometime Monday.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Mike Rucker returned to practice (knee surgery) today and ran with the 1st team.

According to those present, he looked slow. Every bit as slow as he did last year.

There is still lots of excitement for McClover from the onlookers and they say he looks exceptionally fast. Faster then Julius and filled with energy every moment of the day. They also contend that he is becoming the vocal leader of the defense. The drawback being that he does get a bit lost or confused at times and still needs seasoning. Consistency is needed from the youngster.

As of now look for a split with Rucker getting the start and being replaced on each passing down and when he is tired... up until the point that McClover takes away the starting job permanently. Which could still happen in camp if Rucker doesnt find his groove.

McClover is expected to spell both right end Mike Rucker and left end Julius Peppers this season and there are some in the organization who are privately saying they wouldn’t be shocked if McClover comes close to registering double-digits in sacks this season if he lines up enough opposite Peppers.

“I had a chance just to sit back and watch Ruck and Pep, and those guys helped better my game,” McClover said. “I got a year to learn the defense, so now I’m comfortable. I know what I’m doing and I can play fast. But I really think I needed that year to sit back and learn. I’m thankful that (defensive line) coach Sal (Sunseri) let me be here to learn and get better and get comfortable in this defense. So now I’m at the point where I can wreak havoc.”

With each passing practice, he’s feeling comfortable and confident.

And it shows.

Already he’s looking like a leader on defense.

http://www.carolinagrowl.com/Read.aspx?Story=116

 

[pyite76]