SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -James Anderson raced through the line and helped level running back Josh Vaughan short of the goal line during Carolina’s first full-contact scrimmage of training camp on Wednesday. Anderson jumped to his feet, flung his arms and yelled.
It was the type of play the Panthers need from Anderson, who has gone from a player on the cut line to starting strongside linebacker on a revamped, youthful defense.
“It’s a great feeling to know that you have a spot where they’re telling you to go play. Most times it’s trying to earn a spot to get a jersey,” Anderson said. “When you have come in as a guy who has an opportunity to be the starter it’s a different kind of position. It’s an honor to play there.”
les over the final six games, the best stretch in his four years in Carolina.
But when Davis tore his anterior cruciate ligament for a second time in June, Anderson didn’t return to that playmaking spot in Carolina’s Cover-2 defense. Instead, the Panthers moved Jon Beason from middle linebacker to weakside, inserted Dan Connor in the middle and Anderson at strongside to replace Na’il Diggs, who was released.
“I didn’t know what they were going to do,” Anderson said. “I had an idea they may try to put me back over there because of the way I played last season. They will figure out what’s the best combination for us to win games.”
Coach John Fox hasn’t ruled out making changes, but seems comfortable with the current configuration.
“Those guys are trained to play a lot of different positions, and James has even played in the middle for us,” Fox said. “Right now, we’re just trying to evaluate who our top three guys are and we’ll continue that through camp.”
But wouldn’t Anderson want to play on the weakside, where he could roam free and use his speed to make plays instead of getting tied up with fullbacks and tight ends on the other side?
“I would prefer where coach Fox says James Anderson goes,” Anderson said, smiling and in a diplomatic tone.
Virginia Tech in 2006, the 6-foot-2 Anderson played mostly special teams as a rookie, before getting two sacks in the season finale.
But Anderson’s development was slow, and he was on the inactive list for the final six games in 2007 and for eight more a year later. It put his future in jeopardy until his strong end to last season.
The Panthers gave Anderson, a restricted free agent, a one-year, $1.176 million tender.
“It’s definitely a good point for me in my career, especially this being the fifth year and to be the starter and be the guy,” Anderson said. “It’s a different feeling from being a rookie not knowing what to do.”
Anderson is one of numerous players Carolina is depending on this season to have larger roles after the exodus of veteran starters in the offseason. Diggs was a steady, if unspectacular, player on a defense that steadily improved in 2009. Diggs finished with 46 tackles last season.
“The strongside is a slightly different beast,” Anderson said. “You have to take on more blockers and be the guy who goes in there and does all the dirty work. On the weakside, you get to be the guy who makes all the plays. It’s two different worlds.”
But after spending much of his career watching, Anderson just wants a spot on the field.
“I think I have developed progressively every year,” he said. “The more you play the more experience you get and the more you’re able to recognize what people are trying to do to you.”
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