The defense under John Fox...

[firstdayfan]

I did some exhausting research and got some interesting statistics from our defense under John Fox's tenure as Panthers head coach. While nothing really jumps out I want you to notice two things: 1) The absolute inconsistency of the defensive statistics could be caused by tougher schedules, injuries, or just inconsistent coaching, you decide. 2) Notice the opponents Passer rating, it really definds whether a defense had a good year or bad year. Enjoy:

2002 (7-9) DC Jack Del Rio:

3rd down= 32%

PA= 5th (18)

YA= 2nd (290)

Pass= 4th (187)

Rush= 8th (103) 3.7 avg

INT= 15th (17)

Sack= 2nd (52)

Opp Passer Rating= 73.4

2003 (11-5) DC Mike Trogovac

3rd down= 34.6%

PA=10th (19)

YA= 8th (295)

Pass= 9th (197)

Rush= 11th (107) 4.0 avg

INT= 12th (16)

Sack= 7th (40)

Opp Passer Rating= 74.8

2004 (7-9) DC Same

3rd down= 46%

PA= 15th (21.2)

YA= 20th (336)

Pass= 18th (217)

Rush= 17th (119) 4.0

INT= 1st (26) weird huh?

Sack= 24th (34)

Opp Passer Rating= 72 (all the INT's messed this one up a little)

2005 (11-5) DC Same

3rd down= 41%

PA= 5th (16.2)

YA= 3rd (282)

Pass= 9th (191)

Rush= 4th (91.6) 3.6 avg

INT= 4th (23)

Sack= 7th (45)

Opp Passer Rating= 68

2006 (8-8) DC Same

3rd down= 32%

PA= 8th (19)

YA= 7th (296)

Pass= 4th (187)

Rush= 11th (103) 3.8 avg

INT= 22nd (14)

Sack= 6th (41)

Opp Passer Rating =80.8

2007 (7-9) DC Same

3rd down= 42%

PA= 15th (21.7)

YA= 16th (324)

Pass= 17th (214)

Rush= 18th (110) 3.8 avg

INT= 23rd (14)

Sack= 31st (31) Peppers' 2.5 sack season

Opp Paser Rating= 85.1

2008 (12-4) DC Same

3rd Down= 40%

PA= 12th (20.6)

YA= 18th (331)

Pass= 16th (211.7)

Rush= 20th (120)

INT= 21st (12)

Sack= 9th (37)

Opp Passer Rating= 81.4

2009 (0-2) DC Ron Meeks

3rd Down= 44%

PA= 30th (33)

YA= 15th (319)

Pass= 3rd (151)

Rush= 27th (168) 4.9 avg!!! Yikes

INT= 11th (2)

Sack= 24th (2)

Opp Passer Rating= You ready for it? Its a very troubling sign of possible things to come...if you scare easily look away now...ok here it is...

97.5!!!!!!!

This defense has to get better in every phase of the game and soon. Its troubling that we don't have many sacks, and that we are allowing so many points. 3rd down is not that big of deal because it hasn't really effected our record over the years. And that Passer Rating HAS to go down. For those of you that don't know its a rating based on yards, td's, int's, completion percentage, and I think yards per attempt, and all that is divided by like 27 or something. Very confusing but very accurate in terms of measuring a QB's effectiveness, and QB's have been very effective against our soft cover 2 defense.

Just like I discovered that average yards per play has a direct corrulation with the score so does the QB rating and how well the defense is playing (most of the time).

[Brandon]

Just look at one statistic and it is consistent throughout: sacks. We're just not getting enough pressure on the QB anymore.

[Kettle]

so will it be Witten, Williams, or Crayton that hurts us the most?

[firstdayfan]

This game presents a good matchup for us because Romo has the ability to really look awful at times. If we can force him into some mistakes it won't matter what Witten, Barber and the rest do. Problem is we haven't really been forcing much of anything lately.

[capfolly]

This game presents a good matchup for us because Romo has the ability to really look awful at times. If we can force him into some mistakes it won't matter what Witten, Barber and the rest do. Problem is we haven't really been forcing much of anything lately.

Wonder if the defense practices this week wanting to force Romo to play bad or hoping he plays bad.

[Urrymonster]

Just look at one statistic and it is consistent throughout: sacks. We're just not getting enough pressure on the QB anymore.

One thing I found interesting was that in 2007 we had 31 sacks for 31st in the league, yet a year later merely 6 more sacks elevated us into 9th.

Without doing ANY research to back this up, I believe the upward trend of West Coast offenses is having a marked impact on standard 4-3 defenses. Most OCs are recognising the importance of quick drops and passes, completely nullifying any standard pass rush, as the OL can counter most plays one on one to allow a quick throw. The defenses that still are effective, are th eones that try and create situations where someone has a free shot at the QB, in 3-4 Ds and other bases which utilise unexpected blitzing.

I would also hazard a guess that the reason our QB rating have gone up, is a direct indicator for having Brees in the division and now Ryan. The explosive offenses are the ones that seem to be able to nullify the pass rush and these two teams certainly do that.

[capfolly]

One thing I found interesting was that in 2007 we had 31 sacks for 31st in the league, yet a year later merely 6 more sacks elevated us into 9th.

Without doing ANY research to back this up, I believe the upward trend of West Coast offenses is having a marked impact on standard 4-3 defenses. Most OCs are recognising the importance of quick drops and passes, completely nullifying any standard pass rush, as the OL can counter most plays one on one to allow a quick throw. The defenses that still are effective, are th eones that try and create situations where someone has a free shot at the QB, in 3-4 Ds and other bases which utilise unexpected blitzing.

I would also hazard a guess that the reason our QB rating have gone up, is a direct indicator for having Brees in the division and now Ryan. The explosive offenses are the ones that seem to be able to nullify the pass rush and these two teams certainly do that.

According to NFL.com we only had 23 sacks in 07, not 31.

[panther4life]

i thought i once heard a wise man, ok well a man say stats are for losers.. I dunno guess it is what it is

[Urrymonster]

That might be a bit more telling!

[Dpantherman]

so will it be Witten, Williams, or Crayton that hurts us the most?

Whitten. no matter how mediocre the TE, we never cover them. when Tampa had Alex Smith, he burned us. now they have Kellen Winslow. (side track) anyway, Tony Gonzalez burned us. Im telling you, as many years as this has been a problem, it still hasn't been fixed. every single game.

[RazzleDazzle]

so will it be Witten, Williams, or Crayton that hurts us the most?

All three actually.

[mountainpantherfan]

Interesting that 2002 and 2005 were the best defensive years statisticly.

[natty]

You also have to think about the league making it easier and easier for the passing game, and it's working. Check out this video. Right now the combined passer rating for the entire league is 83.8. Are the QBs just getting better or are average QBs simply looking better? It's no secret that popular QBs are the NFLs money makers, they want to protect them as much as possible and make them the absolute center of attention.

[PantherRush]

so will it be Witten, Williams, or Crayton that hurts us the most?

We are currently ranked 29th in the NFL against the rush.

Marion Barber is probably going to miss the game due to an injury, however Felix Jones is going to run all over us in his place. Dallas isn't going to have to throw, and they won't.