More than just a DT?

[Mr. Scot]

Ron Meeks' Colt units didn't really start to hit their stride against the run until they got a big plug in the middle via Anthony McFarland and an enforcer in the secondary via Bob Sanders. I doubt those lessons are lost on him.

I don't know that it's so much a change of scheme (seeing as they've technically already changed) as much as it is an attempt to get the right kind of players to run the scheme in its best form.

With all that said, I'm still not convinced that Leonard isn't the depth pickup some are expecting. The "big guy" could still be a future deal.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I don't want to go out and claim this guy is a savior but we there are a few points I would like to make.

1. He was a 4-3 DT playing in 3-4 defense.

2. He had been a starter at one point, so he has some talent.

3. He was in the Dog house in Cleveland so I am sure he is ready to prove that was a mistake.

4. He has played for Coach Baker before so I would think he approved of this trade.

5. Our front office is pretty decent at finding people stuck in a bad situation and making good of it. (Brayton, Lewis)

If he is solid enough to shore up our defense line I am content. i still don't rule out picking another one up off waivers.

Go Panthers

[OneBadassCat]

Hmmm.... you bring an interesting point. I suspect there will be adjustments but I do believe we should expect Leonard to fill Kemo's role. Even if he's not as good as Kemo if he can do 70% of what Kemo did we will be in business. I think this guy and Favorite will do well for us in rotation. This guy should be an expected starter or at least significant playing time. But of course I do hope we pick another guy up. Personally I think if we get another we need an all around DT, and I wouldn't mind dealing another pick to the Brown's for Corey Williams, reason being that I am not sure if Lewis can hold up all season which is really ironic because he is the only dependable guy on the line right now.

And I do believe the defense is holding back the schemes for sure. But none of that will matter if we don't shore up the tackling.

[firstdayfan]

And I do believe the defense is holding back the schemes for sure. But none of that will matter if we don't shore up the tackling.

I definitely agree with you on this one but if our secondary are constantly missing the tackles then something is wrong with that. I know that have to come up and help out on the run and they do have to tackle the receivers when they get the ball. But running backs are going through the line untouched and hitting DB's full speed (usually DB's who are about 20-30 lbs lighter). The linebackers have to be free to run around and make those tackles and I think that the Kemo Style (that's what I will call it from now on) will be much better at accomplishing that. Tackling still needs to improve in all phases but Jon Beason and Thomas Davis have never been poor tacklers.

[DaveThePanther2008]

We were a good tackling team last year. They will iron out the kinks and be fine. I would like to see an additional DT be picked up. My darkhorse Lonnie Harvey was canned so I would like to see another beefy DT come onboard.

Go Panthers

[KARASMATIC444]

if you look at leonard the guy does not look 325...at all

i have heard this twice now and am not sure what you mean, does he look bigger or smaller?

[Urrymonster]

i have heard this twice now and am not sure what you mean, does he look bigger or smaller?

He is rather lean and lanky rather than being wide round the middle like most space eaters. He looks more athletic than just plain large.

[KARASMATIC444]

He is rather lean and lanky rather than being wide round the middle like most space eaters. He looks more athletic than just plain large.

thanks.

[Khyber53]

Excellent start-off post.

I understand what you are getting at, and I think what you're saying has a lot of merit. I'd rather see us move back to our more traditional minded defense. There was a time that Trgovac's defense was one of the better ones in the league.

The Tampa-2, however, has never been everything it was cracked up to be, in my opinion. It worked great when Dungy's Bucs unveiled it and when Chucky rode it to the Super Bowl. But the weaknesses in it have been dissected and no division in football knows how to pick it apart like the NFC South.

It's a lot like the famed "46" defense of Buddy Ryan and the Bears. It was revolutionary and devastating. No one had an answer for it, until Shula and Marino worked it over with a dink and dunk passing scheme. The 46 then passed into the realm of "wasn't that cool back then."

And let's face it, the Tampa-2 wasn't winning games for the Colts. Constant scoring won them games.

So if we're going to go back to our old schemes a bit, I'm all for it, if we can maintain its integrity late into the season.

[Gscottnc5]

I think Kemo does fit the bill perfect for a 4-3 Defense. He doesn't have to be quick, he just has to clog up the middle to give the others around him the opportunity to fly to the ball. Kemo is the main reason why our LB'rs were so good last year. Don't get confused with everyone saying Meeks wants smaller faster players. That maybe true at some positions but I do not think it applies to that DT position. Keep in mind Kemo is 345lbs and for a guy that size he is pretty agile.

Side note: Good Post. You're not just reposting article's that everyone already knows about.Rep

[firstdayfan]

He is rather lean and lanky rather than being wide round the middle like most space eaters. He looks more athletic than just plain large.

I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. Marlon Favorite is about 6-1 and weighs 317, I think that's why he looks so "big", but then you have Leonard who is only 8 pounds heavier but is 3 inches taller. Kemo is about the same height as Leonard (6'5") but about 20lbs heavier, which is why Kemo looks so big. I think its more how he carries his weight. I think he will be the kind of guy who could add a few more pounds maybe 10 or so and then also be a quick and athletic guy for his size.

And I definitely agree that the Tampa 2 is quickly going out of style. Offenses have figured it out and it has become very easy to carve them up but as I really think Meeks resorted to this style when Kemo went down. Leonard and possibly another player in the next week could help bring the defense back to what was originally intended. Hard to getting excited about a Tampa 2 and whatever the Kemo Style defense was, the players were really excited about it early in OTA's and training camp.

[Jackofalltrades]

SOme people are reading WAY too much into this. Neither Kemo or the new guy are going anywhere any time soon and there's no big change at hand. This defense, at it's core, will always be the same with Fox as HC, built to stop the run and limit big plays in the passing game.

[Urrymonster]

I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. Marlon Favorite is about 6-1 and weighs 317, I think that's why he looks so "big", but then you have Leonard who is only 8 pounds heavier but is 3 inches taller. Kemo is about the same height as Leonard (6'5") but about 20lbs heavier, which is why Kemo looks so big. I think its more how he carries his weight. I think he will be the kind of guy who could add a few more pounds maybe 10 or so and then also be a quick and athletic guy for his size.

I know man, I was just explaining why some people say 'he doesn't look his weight'. His frame gives him a tall lean appearance, which quite possibly could put on extra pounds without suffering too much. I was just trying to help someone understand what everyone else was talking about

[firstdayfan]

I know man, I was just explaining why some people say 'he doesn't look his weight'. His frame gives him a tall lean appearance, which quite possibly could put on extra pounds without suffering too much. I was just trying to help someone understand what everyone else was talking about

Thats cool I thought you meant it as a slight to him but I think we were thinking the exact same way on this.

Someone else mentioned that we could be making way too much out of this and I think that could definitely be the case but consider this...Leonard could have got released next weekend and we would have had a chance at him through waivers. Apparently he has the potential enough not to make it through all the waivers that we went ahead a spent a draft pick (albeit a low one) on this guy. I doubt fox and hurney would do this for a player unless they felt he could make a difference.