Thomas Davis

I don't not like.

 

Hope they keep him at safety. I'm happy...since the saints screwed us.

 

I was hoping the Brown rumor was just a smoke screen the Panthers were throwing up to get Barron

 

Dont really like it. I think they leave him at safety, if they wanted a LB Johnson would have been the pick i believe.

 

That was my line of thinking initialy, then I got to thinking about Davis' athletic ability and strength, not to mention his size...then his questionable cover skills. With the questionable situation of Fields and the injury history of Morgan, you gotta think something will need to be done there in the not to distant future.
On the other hand, this could very well be a sign of Minter having to relocate as a cap casualty.
I wanted Davis back in Feb, before some questions on him began to surface and before we signed 2 vet Safeties. It was noted here that I began to sour on him sometime in March.
Either way you slice it, Davis was the best athelete available...it's just a matter of finding his place on the field.
I'd probably rather have gone with Johnson or Clayton.. even moving down to target Barnes wouldn't have hurt my feelings.

 

I'm surprised nobody's posted this yet

Prospect Profiles


Thomas Davis
Position: Free/Strong Safety/Outside Linebacker
College: Georgia
Height: 6-1
Weight: 231
Hometown: Shellman, Ga.

Analysis | Injury Report | Agility | High School | Personal


OVERVIEW
Davis is regarded by many as one of the finest athletes ever produced by Georgia. Blessed with the size of a linebacker and the quickness of a cornerback, Davis has been a major force for the Bulldogs since making his way into the lineup as a freshman.

A Class AA All-State honorable mention selection by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sports Writers Association as a senior at Randolph-Clay (Shellman, Ga.) High, Davis was also named team MVP. The versatile athlete competed as a running back, quarterback, defensive end, defensive back, wide receiver, punter, kicker and kickoff returner at various times throughout his career.

He rushed for 1,032 yards as a senior and averaged 30 yards per reception as a junior. Davis holds the school record for touchdowns scored in a game with five and also averaged 30 yards a punt. He led the region in scoring as a senior with 108 points in the regular season and had two kickoff returns, one punt return and one fumble return for touchdowns. He also played baseball and ran track, qualifying for the state meet in the 100 meters.

Davis redshirted as a freshman in 2001, then saw action in every game as a free safety and strongside outside linebacker in 2002. He started four games during his freshman year, recording 61 tackles (39 solo) with three sacks, four stops for losses, 11 quarterback pressures, three fumble recoveries, three pass deflections and an interception.

In 2003, Davis earned All-America second-team honors from The Sporting News and was a consensus All-Southeastern Conference choice. He entered fall camp as the starting strongside linebacker, but injuries in the secondary forced him to shift to free safety before the season opener. Davis would go on to record a career-high 138 tackles (89 solo) with 4½ sacks, eight stops behind the line of scrimmage and 12 quarterback pressures. He recovered a fumble for a touchdown, caused two fumbles, returned a blocked punt for a score and intercepted a pass.

The consensus All-American and All-SEC pick again lined up at free safety in 2004. Davis was forced to sit out the Kentucky game with knee and ankle sprains, but still managed to lead the team in tackles that year. He collected 81 hits (57 solo) with three sacks, five stops for losses, four pressures, three forced fumbles, an interception and four pass breakups.

Davis opted to enter the 2005 NFL Draft rather than return to school for his final season. He finished his Georgia career with 39 games and 25 starts. Davis posted 272 tackles (179 solo) with 10½ sacks for minus-75 yards, 17 stops for losses of 101 yards and 27 quarterback pressures. He recovered four fumbles for 23 yards in returns and a touchdown, and also caused six fumbles. Davis gained 45 yards on three interceptions, 25 yards and a score on two blocked punts and deflected nine passes.


ANALYSIS
Positives: Big, strong, physical athlete with a V-shaped torso, thick chest, broad shoulders, muscular arms, large hands, good bubble, thick thighs and calves … Does everything the coaches ask, is a workout warrior and pushes others when they see his work ethic … Has good field smarts and is quick to see and read plays, especially the run … Shows quick reaction to what he sees in front of him and he is rarely caught out of position … Can lay back and play centerfield with good timing to make the play on the ball … Has good timing ability on his leaps going for the ball, showing good arm extension to get to the pigskin at its high point … Has outstanding range, doing a very good job of covering ground in a hurry … Quick to support against the run, showing good explosion when closing … Has the height and speed to match up against any tight end, running back or receiver … Big hitter who can blow opponents up if he's on track … Does a good job of breaking down, facing up and wrapping … Has enough speed to trail tight ends, running backs and slot receivers … Keeps things in front of him in zone coverage, showing very good range and takes proper angles in pursuit … Quick to step up and plug the rush lanes, showing a good feel for the support lanes and will generally take good angles to get to the ball … Davis' strength allows for him to display explosive hitting ability … Uses his hands effectively to shed blocks and will not hesitate to throw himself into the pile to sniff out the ball … Excellent blitzer who can come off the edge with explosion or use his club and rip moves to shed, stack and control to shoot the inside gaps.

Negatives: Will sometimes peek into the backfield too long, and thus struggle some to recognize a developing pass play … Plays with reckless abandon, but needs to improve his plant and drive, as he will get a little too reckless and over-pursue … Shows good lateral agility, but is a little stiff in his hips and this is noticeable when he tries to change direction when taking on the inside slot receivers … Adequate at timing his leaps, but struggles to look in the ball in over his shoulders or when his back is turned to the ball … Seems to want to attack and punish the ball carrier too much, taking away from his primary assignment -- searching out the ball.


INJURY REPORT
2004 -- Sat out the Kentucky game (11/06) with knee and ankle sprains.


AGILITY
4.54 in the 40-yard dash … 355-pound bench press … 520-pound squat … 324-pound hang clean … 34-inch vertical jump.


HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Randolph-Clay (Shellman, Ga.) High, playing football for coach Jim McFather … Class AA All-State honorable mention by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sports Writers Association … Team MVP as a senior … Played running back, wide receiver, quarterback, defensive end, defensive back, punter, kicker and kick returner at various times throughout his career … Rushed for 1,032 yards as a senior … Averaged 30 yards per reception as a junior … Holds the school record for touchdowns scored in a game with five … Averaged 30 yards per punt … Led the region in scoring as a senior with 108 points in the regular season … Had two kickoff returns, one punt return, and one fumble return for touchdowns … Also played baseball and ran track … Qualified for the state meet in the 100 meters.


PERSONAL
Consumer Economics major … Born March 22, 1983 … Resides in Shellman, Ga.

 

AWESOME Pick, exactly what a Panther defender should be:

(espn.com) 15. SS/OLB Thomas Davis, Georgia, 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, 4.52 in the 40: Incredible, freaky size, and moves well for such a big man. Explosive tackler, who hits with a naturally rising action, and drives through in textbook fashion. Can really de-cleat a ball carrier or receiver and is always looking for knockout hit. Will put fear of God in people.

and not to mention versatility, if we need him at safety, he'll play there. If Fields is still uncertain, he'll play there. Perfect pick, can't wait to see who's next!

 

So do we give him #25 and just have him turn his jersey inside out when he plays LB?

 

14. Thomas Davis, OLB/S, Carolina: A hard hitter and intimidating playmaker, no matter what position he plays. He's a great prospect for individual defender leagues. Fits in well with a unit that could rise from No. 14 overall in FFL leagues next year.

 

you know, from day one I loved Sam Garnes as a Giant. He did tons of things for Fox during that time, and never played that well after Fox went.

I think Davis is like Garnes, only with that blue chip athleticism. I'm fucking geeked.