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Once the Carolina Panthers broke their huddle at the end of practice Monday, linebacker Thomas Davis joined a group of players who ran a lap around the field.
It wasn't voluntary.
“When you jump offsides around here, you've got to pay for it,” he said.
Davis and the Panthers don't want to jump to conclusions prematurely, but they believe this may be the year he finally showcases the array of abilities that led them to pick him in the first round of the 2005 draft.
He's strong, quick and fast, but he didn't sparkle his first two years because of position changes. He played safety as a rookie (his college position at Georgia) but was drafted to play linebacker and moved there in 2006.
He showed progress last year, making his first NFL interception and recording a career-high three sacks, but might really be ready to break loose this season.
Davis is excited because it's his third year at linebacker and his first after moving from the strong side of the line to the weak side, meaning he won't have to face the blocks of opposing tight ends much anymore.
“I feel like I'm really comfortable in the position I'm in now,” he said. “I feel like it's going to show on the field.”
So far during preseason practices and exhibitions, Davis has looked more confident and his quickness has been evident more consistently than in previous seasons.
He said he feels, both mentally and physically, like he's been set free.
“You have that freedom of really letting go when you really know what you're doing,” he said. “You can read and react, instead of read and think, ‘Is this where I'm supposed to be and is this how it's supposed to be done?'
“I've got a better understanding of the position and it's allowing me to react better and make plays. Everything is making a lot more sense these days.”
Defensive end Julius Peppers also had a major position change in the offseason, moving from left end to right. At times, when the tight end is on the other side of the line, Davis is expected to line up behind Peppers, which should help both of them.
“The biggest difference for me right now is I don't have to get on the line of scrimmage and get into a battle with the tight end,” said Davis. “At (weakside) linebacker, I've got a lot more freedom to use what I feel like are my natural abilities, which (are) to get out on the edge and run.”
Davis said he expects it all “to make a world of difference.”
