Who to blame for Panthers' last ranked D

[top dawg]

Wow. I looked up total defense rankings, and guess what? We are dead last. Our defensive guru, by all accounts an excellent defensive coordinator, is fielding the NFL's worst. So, I ask, who is to blame for this shipreck---this fall from grace?

I can tell you that in all my years of watching football, I have never seen such a marked fall...off a cliff, defensively. Some may blame McDermott. Others, perhaps, the players. Can the turnstyle in the defensive backfield, or Greg Hardy's misguided judgment make that much of a difference...causing the defense to turn 180 degrees? Was it the big head of Dave Gettleman, self-proclaimed proclaimed personnel mastermind? Perhaps it's the Huddle's favorite and most convenient excuse, Marty Hurney. I guess the easy answer is a combination of everything. It just seems like that's too easy.

Wow. I just thought we were getting a little better (maybe around 28th or something). I guess I should have known after all the beat-downs. Silly me.

[Lemory]

#BlameByron

[Dex]

Cam needs to stop giving up those long runs. Stop blowing coverages too.

[Anybodyhome]

Wouldn't matter if you had football's version of Picasso. If you blindfolded him and gave him a dull pencil...

[Kuhndog94]

Ray Rice.

Jk guys.

[Jeremy Igo]

Lack of pass rush with terrible safeties.

[t96]

The entire d-line and both safeties.

[Metalli_cat]

Last season, the O was very efficient, allowing the D to rest on the sideline. That's not happening so much this season.

This surely isn't the only reason, but I can't remember the last time our O had a long, time consuming drive when the D needed it most.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

I think if you want to perform the post mortem it is will be death by a thousand cuts ( or a BB Gun firing squad).  I think the following all contributed to the shortcomings of the defense

 

1.  DB losses - Lost a lot of guys that were not great but they were adequate and capable of making plays when necessary.  Replaced them with guys that were not adequate and can't really move very well.

 

2.  Loss of Hardy - Big loss for the pass rush.  Also a defensive spark plug.

 

3.  Poor OL in training camp.  Have not mentioned this before but hear me out.  You have a great front 7 going against a collective group of guys are basically tackle dummies with heart beats.  On top of that the practices seemed to be laid back.  I think this was done to mask the problems and give the OL a false sense of security.  What ultimately happened is the DL relaxed and played lackadaisical.  This has carried over.  

 

4.  Time of possession and field position.  - I dont know if this is vastly different than last year but it appears to be so.  They seem to be on the field longer and the field seems to be much shorter. 

 

Thats all I got

 

[CarolinaSock]

We're last in total yards because most teams have played one less game than us. We're 23rd in yards per game, terrible, but not dead last.

[CRA]

Dave.

Even with Hardy....he downgraded too much. Even a dominant pass rush needs a certain level of consistent play behind it.

[La Pantera]

Zero passrush, exposes a weak secondary. Stephen Hawking could make plays with the pocket our D allows.

[Rise of The Hive]

Hardy and a poor offense.

[rmoneyg35]

Lack of pass rush, because Hardy and Alexander are suspended.

Ron Harper.

Also because last year our offense was great at running down the clock and keeping the d off the field. This year not so much.