Thomas Davis at SS

Usually the SS, but we struggle with either. The assignment depends on the coverage called and/or the route run by the TE.

It's my assertion that picks are a really bad way to determine whether a defensive back had a good year or not. Brian Russell had 9 interceptions at safety for the Vikings in 2003, but was considered so bad overall that he was let go following the 2004 season. Tory James had 8 for the Bengals last season at CB, but he's not considered a good cornerback. Meanwhile guys like Ronde Barber and Chris McAlister haven't posted more than 3 interceptions in any of the last three seasons. But yeah, interceptions on hail maries are not much of an achievement. They certainly don't represent defensive excellence the way breaking on an out route would.

 

So I've got to ask the 1 more question. How does Davis solve the problem? Man coverage? When ? on third down only? or spy? or from two positions on different downs?

Or is that more than 1 Q.

 

He's right about those. San Fransisco game and the St. Louis game are two that come right to my mind. I'm betting there's a third somewhere.

I would give him some credit for the one against St. Louis, since it was basically a one-on-one matchup against Torry Holt.

 

Cute.

Who is the KC you and Collin are referring to? Edit: I see the answer in the other thread.

 

He'd improve the matchup overall, but he's also fast enough and big enough to handle man coverage against any TE (without losing huge ground against bigger TEs). The man matchup could diffuse a potent TE, or could allow us to blitz without worry of the TE - corners can play man technique against the blitz, where it's much more rare for a player underneath to have a lock-on coverage assignment.

Some of the more innovative DCs in the league were starting to use big corners against top TEs, and the new rules on contact had a larger effect IMO on the TE than the WR.

That's why it was my assertion that the team could use Davis at SLB and not lose that matchup - I agreed that there were negatives, but that he can hold his gap better than the other alternatives at any rate, and the main draw was his match to the TE. To some, the use of him as a 3rd down coverage LB against the TE could be a preview of a fulltime role in coverage.

 

But yeah, Davis is bigger and faster than Minter. Since the SS has responsibility for the TE more often than the SLB or anyone else, Davis is going to pick that up most of the time in base defense. In a nickel he's probably also going to get that role depending upon where they line him up (less likely to play him at LB on 3rd, in my opinion, if he wins starting SS).

 

This quote from Fox is in opposition to that, I think.

Quote "we are going to use him alot like in college.typically as the downs get larger, meaning that on third downs guys get smaller and faster, he could be a LB in that kind of package."

 

When was the quote? Before they settled on Minter moving to FS, yeah, the plan seemed to be that Davis would be a nickel LB. But if he's the starting SS, it's a bit risky to put in a replacement safety on third downs. I'm not saying it won't happen, just that I'm less inclined to see him in that role now than I was before.

 

Panthers.com August 1 Is it possible, tho, that they will work him at LB a little later on in camp and actually switch him in the later downs to LB during the games.

 

I do think the team prefers him at SS. I've said, all along, I'd rather have him at safety than linebacker (not that it would be hard, at all, with his skill set, to continually match him on the TE from linebacker). And I really don't see them starting him at SS long term and bumping him forward to Joker. For a time, even through a portion of the season, sure, or for specific matchups. But to use him that way throughout his career might not be the best for us or his career, if he's going to be a safety fulltime let's keep him a safety. While the potential of being able to bring a 2nd FS-style skill set on the field is enticing, Davis has to grow into every part of his role, including being a deep safety in zone.