Who is the most important player on the panthers defense?

[Yaboychris28]

Who cares

[Moose Hoover]

hardy is not overrated...he plays hard every down and is just as good in run support...he has the work ethic that we always wished peppers had.

[PhillyB]

i stopped reading after 76th

[Jackofalltrades]

Look at the D since Luke moved to the middle and the answer is obvious.

[L-TownCat]

Luke is the brains, Kraken is the motor, and Star is the muscle. The other 8 guys are the "most" important. If they can't do their jobs effectively then the first three might as well not even play.

[CollegePanther]

It's Bleacher Report. For all we know that coulda been Alice who wrote that article

[TheRumGone]

The answer is clear. Luke singlehandedly took our defense from the high 20s to the low teens in 2012 with many suspect components. Hardy had a stellar year in 2013 but he didn't have anything close to the impact that Luke had. Hardy being that high simply reflects the importance that DEs get when looking at defenses. Anyone who knows the Panthers also knows that Luke is the runaway best player on defense and it isn't even close.

Best player doesn't necessarily mean most important. Sorry but star is the connecting piece to everybody in that defense

[Cary Kollins]

NFL DPOY.

[panthers55]

Best player doesn't necessarily mean most important. Sorry but star is the connecting piece to everybody in that defense

Star is a very good linemen who has helped to shore up the middle and allows the DEs to play the edges without having to constantly cheat inside,  But honestly he isn't necessarily the best linemen yet alone the most important player.  On the other hand is there anyone in the back seven who can hold a candle to Luke?

 

In this case Luke is the best player and the most important player on the defense.  Star is arguably the third best linemen of the front 4.

[Cary Kollins]

Best player doesn't necessarily mean most important. Sorry but star is the connecting piece to everybody in that defense

Star is a force, no doubt. But look at who he was replacing.

Take away star and put in a serviceable DT, and the defense doesn't drop much.

Take away Luke for a a serviceable MLB, and the entire defense changes.

[TheRumGone]

Star is a very good linemen who has helped to shore up the middle and allows the DEs to play the edges without having to constantly cheat inside, But honestly he isn't necessarily the best linemen yet alone the most important player. On the other hand is there anyone in the back seven who can hold a candle to Luke?

In this case Luke is the best player and the most important player on the defense. Star is arguably the third best linemen of the front 4.

Star allows the de's 1 on 1 matchups. Star allows Thomas Davis and keek to roam free without lineman stepping up to block them. With those two things star allows our cb deficiency to be masked.

Luke is the most talented defensive player on the team by far I'm not arguing that. But star allows everyone else to shine to their max potential (ironic his name is star). t's not about being the best lineman it's what you do for everyone around you. He helps elevate everybody else's game.

He's the beginning of everything on defense. "Most important" not "most talented"

[The Huddler]

Its our coaches! Rivera and Co. are defensive Gurus. Rivera has had a top defense EVERYWHERE he has been.

 

 

Now he has the opportunity to build the defense exactly as he wants to. He also is going to have more time to continue improving whereas before he ended up moving to a different team.

 

Star Lotulelei.

 

Defesne went to #10 to #2 with him and Kawann. I love Luke, great D-line play > great LB play

[TheRumGone]

Star is a force, no doubt. But look at who he was replacing.

Take away star and put in a serviceable DT, and the defense doesn't drop much.

Take away Luke for a a serviceable MLB, and the entire defense changes.

I think you are undervaluing star and what we do as a whole on defense.

[cardiackat88.]

Every single player is just as valuable.

It is the ultimate team sport.