Linebacker Morgan says that Panthers should have one of NFL's top defenses
By Joe Menzer
JOURNAL REPORTER
CHARLOTTE
Sporting a new look with his once-flowing hair now trimmed short, linebacker Dan Morgan said yesterday that he expects the defense of the Carolina Panthers to return to the past in 2005.
In fact, Morgan said that he expects the Panthers' defense to play better than it ever has - even better than in 2003 when it ranked eighth overall in the 32-team NFL and helped the Panthers get to the Super Bowl.
Last year the Panthers slipped to 20th and failed to make the playoffs.
"The way I think we're looking on defense right now I think we can dominate every game, no matter who we're playing or how good the offense is that we're facing," Morgan said. "I just think we've got that kind of defense. I think it's going to be hard to score on us. I think we're going to have a real good defense."
Granted, it's early. Very early.
The Panthers were three days into their June coaching sessions when Morgan made his bold prediction yesterday. The opening of 2005 training camp remains nearly two months away.
But Morgan said that he likes what he sees already.
"We've got Ken Lucas (at one starting cornerback) and Ricky (Manning) at the nickel, and Chris (Gamble) coming into his own on the other side (at corner) with another year under his belt. And Colin Branch with another year under his belt (at free safety). Then Mike (Minter) is always the veteran back there, and he gives them veteran leadership," Morgan said. "The D-line speaks for itself. All across the board, we're looking good."
Initially, Morgan didn't even get around to talking about the group of linebackers - of which he is the anchor in the middle. But he eventually made it clear that what he left unsaid about himself and his fellow linebackers simply did not need to be said in his estimation.
Despite the recent death of former linebackers coach Sam Mills, who was very close to Morgan, and the subsequent announcement from linebacker Mark Fields that he would sit out the entire 2005 season to fight a recurrence of the Hodgkin's disease that caused him to miss all of 2003, Morgan insisted that the Panthers' linebackers are doing just fine.
Morgan said that they are still taking their cue from Mills, who died in April after battling intestinal cancer for nearly 20 months.
"We're doing good. Sam would have wanted us to move on and have fun like we're doing now, and enjoy ourselves out here. Because that's what he did," Morgan said. "He enjoyed the game and loved being around the guys - and I think that's how our linebacker group is.
"We enjoy each other and we have a good time out there."
Morgan said that Fields' decision to skip the 2005 season did not come as much of a surprise to him because he frequently had spoken with Fields about how he was feeling. But the death of Mills shook him.
"It was something where he went downhill so quick.... I got to see him a week before he passed away. I'm glad I got to see him and talk to him before he passed away," Morgan said.
Fields started at one of the outside linebacker positions for the Panthers last year and played well after a slow start, so it's obvious that he will be missed on the field. Morgan said yesterday that he's not yet sure who will end up lining up with him and Will Witherspoon in the team's 4-3 base defense - but he admitted that first-round draft pick Thomas Davis is a worthy candidate.
Davis played safety in college at Georgia and started off at strong safety in the Panthers' first off-season minicamp last month. But now Coach John Fox is starting to sprinkle Davis in at outside linebacker in some of the team's nickel defensive packages, and there is a chance that Davis eventually will move to linebacker altogether.
No matter where Davis ends up playing, Morgan said that the bottom line is that it appears that Davis is going to be a welcome addition.
"He's all over the place. Sometimes I see him at safety, sometimes I see him playing next to me.... I just think he's one of those players who is very versatile, and I think he can do a lot of things for this defense in a lot of different ways," Morgan said.
Next up for Morgan is a new role in life as well. He'll become a father during the upcoming NFL season, as his wife, Ashleigh, is due with their first child on Nov. 13. Morgan insists that he doesn't care if it's a boy or girl, but then he hedged his preference a little bit.
"I think all of us men want a little boy so we can take him around to football practice and baseball practice. If not, I'll just take my daughter to cheerleading practice," said Morgan, smiling.
Notes: Morgan and the Panthers have begun preliminary talks about a contract extension, and Morgan said he's not worried about it. But he has hired a new high-profile agent in Drew Rosenhaus.... The Panthers also need to be concerned about trying to lock up Witherspoon for the long haul. Like Morgan, Witherspoon is entering the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie.... The Panthers are off today and Sunday, but will resume their series of coaching sessions on Monday.
By Joe Menzer
JOURNAL REPORTER
CHARLOTTE
Sporting a new look with his once-flowing hair now trimmed short, linebacker Dan Morgan said yesterday that he expects the defense of the Carolina Panthers to return to the past in 2005.
In fact, Morgan said that he expects the Panthers' defense to play better than it ever has - even better than in 2003 when it ranked eighth overall in the 32-team NFL and helped the Panthers get to the Super Bowl.
Last year the Panthers slipped to 20th and failed to make the playoffs.
"The way I think we're looking on defense right now I think we can dominate every game, no matter who we're playing or how good the offense is that we're facing," Morgan said. "I just think we've got that kind of defense. I think it's going to be hard to score on us. I think we're going to have a real good defense."
Granted, it's early. Very early.
The Panthers were three days into their June coaching sessions when Morgan made his bold prediction yesterday. The opening of 2005 training camp remains nearly two months away.
But Morgan said that he likes what he sees already.
"We've got Ken Lucas (at one starting cornerback) and Ricky (Manning) at the nickel, and Chris (Gamble) coming into his own on the other side (at corner) with another year under his belt. And Colin Branch with another year under his belt (at free safety). Then Mike (Minter) is always the veteran back there, and he gives them veteran leadership," Morgan said. "The D-line speaks for itself. All across the board, we're looking good."
Initially, Morgan didn't even get around to talking about the group of linebackers - of which he is the anchor in the middle. But he eventually made it clear that what he left unsaid about himself and his fellow linebackers simply did not need to be said in his estimation.
Despite the recent death of former linebackers coach Sam Mills, who was very close to Morgan, and the subsequent announcement from linebacker Mark Fields that he would sit out the entire 2005 season to fight a recurrence of the Hodgkin's disease that caused him to miss all of 2003, Morgan insisted that the Panthers' linebackers are doing just fine.
Morgan said that they are still taking their cue from Mills, who died in April after battling intestinal cancer for nearly 20 months.
"We're doing good. Sam would have wanted us to move on and have fun like we're doing now, and enjoy ourselves out here. Because that's what he did," Morgan said. "He enjoyed the game and loved being around the guys - and I think that's how our linebacker group is.
"We enjoy each other and we have a good time out there."
Morgan said that Fields' decision to skip the 2005 season did not come as much of a surprise to him because he frequently had spoken with Fields about how he was feeling. But the death of Mills shook him.
"It was something where he went downhill so quick.... I got to see him a week before he passed away. I'm glad I got to see him and talk to him before he passed away," Morgan said.
Fields started at one of the outside linebacker positions for the Panthers last year and played well after a slow start, so it's obvious that he will be missed on the field. Morgan said yesterday that he's not yet sure who will end up lining up with him and Will Witherspoon in the team's 4-3 base defense - but he admitted that first-round draft pick Thomas Davis is a worthy candidate.
Davis played safety in college at Georgia and started off at strong safety in the Panthers' first off-season minicamp last month. But now Coach John Fox is starting to sprinkle Davis in at outside linebacker in some of the team's nickel defensive packages, and there is a chance that Davis eventually will move to linebacker altogether.
No matter where Davis ends up playing, Morgan said that the bottom line is that it appears that Davis is going to be a welcome addition.
"He's all over the place. Sometimes I see him at safety, sometimes I see him playing next to me.... I just think he's one of those players who is very versatile, and I think he can do a lot of things for this defense in a lot of different ways," Morgan said.
Next up for Morgan is a new role in life as well. He'll become a father during the upcoming NFL season, as his wife, Ashleigh, is due with their first child on Nov. 13. Morgan insists that he doesn't care if it's a boy or girl, but then he hedged his preference a little bit.
"I think all of us men want a little boy so we can take him around to football practice and baseball practice. If not, I'll just take my daughter to cheerleading practice," said Morgan, smiling.
Notes: Morgan and the Panthers have begun preliminary talks about a contract extension, and Morgan said he's not worried about it. But he has hired a new high-profile agent in Drew Rosenhaus.... The Panthers also need to be concerned about trying to lock up Witherspoon for the long haul. Like Morgan, Witherspoon is entering the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie.... The Panthers are off today and Sunday, but will resume their series of coaching sessions on Monday.
