Rovers
Footballguy
From the Charlotte Observer, courtesy of the blogger, from 6-14:
If the Panthers are to continue to win, their linebackers must be a key. But the position -- worrisome when weakside starter Will Witherspoon left as a free agent and strongside starter Brandon Short was released -- has seen a flood of reinforcements.
Diggs is among them, and the likely starter at weakside linebacker. But he's just part of the story.
"I know we've got a lot more depth than we've had in the past," said middle linebacker Dan Morgan, the key to the unit. "We've got a lot of veteran guys in there that might not know our system yet but have been there and have played and have been productive."
There is second-year player Thomas Davis, the Panthers' 2005 top draft pick. Shuttled between safety and linebacker last season, Davis has started on the strong side (opposite the tight end) during these voluntary workouts.
That's something of a surprise, because in the offseason many observers thought Carolina would use Davis' quickness to replace Witherspoon. Morgan, though, understands the move.
"I think we want to use Thomas more as a rusher, more in (former strong side linebacker) Mark Fields' mold than the 'Spoon mold," Morgan said. "Kind of blitz him a little more."
Diggs, who has started at both outside linebacker slots, brings considerable experience to the weak side. Although not yet 28, he started 62 consecutive games for Green Bay. He was bothered by knee injuries last season, but topped 100 tackles each year from 2002 through '04.
I picked up Diggs near the end of last year, and it seems he's ahead of Adams for the WLB spot. He isn't even listed on any of the site rankings. Diggs CAN be a 3 down LB, but will he, with Morgan and Thomas at the MLB and SLB spots? Starting WLB's, even if they don't play the nickel usually score decently. Any Panthers homers with insight on Diggs?
If the Panthers are to continue to win, their linebackers must be a key. But the position -- worrisome when weakside starter Will Witherspoon left as a free agent and strongside starter Brandon Short was released -- has seen a flood of reinforcements.
Diggs is among them, and the likely starter at weakside linebacker. But he's just part of the story.
"I know we've got a lot more depth than we've had in the past," said middle linebacker Dan Morgan, the key to the unit. "We've got a lot of veteran guys in there that might not know our system yet but have been there and have played and have been productive."
There is second-year player Thomas Davis, the Panthers' 2005 top draft pick. Shuttled between safety and linebacker last season, Davis has started on the strong side (opposite the tight end) during these voluntary workouts.
That's something of a surprise, because in the offseason many observers thought Carolina would use Davis' quickness to replace Witherspoon. Morgan, though, understands the move.
"I think we want to use Thomas more as a rusher, more in (former strong side linebacker) Mark Fields' mold than the 'Spoon mold," Morgan said. "Kind of blitz him a little more."
Diggs, who has started at both outside linebacker slots, brings considerable experience to the weak side. Although not yet 28, he started 62 consecutive games for Green Bay. He was bothered by knee injuries last season, but topped 100 tackles each year from 2002 through '04.
I picked up Diggs near the end of last year, and it seems he's ahead of Adams for the WLB spot. He isn't even listed on any of the site rankings. Diggs CAN be a 3 down LB, but will he, with Morgan and Thomas at the MLB and SLB spots? Starting WLB's, even if they don't play the nickel usually score decently. Any Panthers homers with insight on Diggs?
