Now that Mike Minter has retired, everyone in the Carolina Panthers organization is waiting for Julius Peppers to become a vocal leader for the defense, which is something he clearly does not want to do. Peppers is a quiet country boy who leads by example and doesn't fall back on big emotional speeches.There's another guy on that line, though -- Stanley McClover, the dreadlocked 2nd-year man from Auburn. He's starting to bark a bit, and it's starting to rub off on people.
"Basically I've been like that since high school. I'm just a loud person, an emotional guy. I like to let somebody know when I make a play; I like to let the next man know when he makes a play. I feel like the team feeds off that energy, so if I feel that way, I'm going to keep doing it."
Finally, the offense is starting to strike back.
"Oh yeah, they're barking over there now," McClover said, his smile returning. Guard "Jeremy Bridges, he likes to bark when they're doing something good. When we do good, we've got to bark. So it's pretty much turned into a thing now where we're trying out-bark each other."
Look no further, Panthers fans. He's the one. Mike Rucker may still be the other starter at defensive end, but Stanley McClover has all the makings of the defense's next emotional leader. He's clearly good enough to start, too. Just watch the impact he has on this team in 2007, and don't say you weren't surprised.
Previously at FanHouse:
Panthers Owner Wants Julius Peppers to Be Something He's Not
