How in the Hell does this make sense? The Carolina Panthers are the League leaders in total sacks.

[nctarheel0619]

[chknwing]

[Ricky Spanish]

Gettle... magic? I guess Ealy was right when he said when the sacks come they'll come in bunches. 

For real though when we've been healthy our defense hasn't looked horrible. We haven't been able to piece together consistent solid team games throughout the season though. When the offense looks good, the defense looks bad. When the defense looks good, the offense looks bad. When offense and defense look good, special teams fails us. 

Injuries have really hurt us this season. 

[Jeremy Igo]

The bad news is most aren't coming from a base 4 defense like in years past. 

[emhoward]

The question is, does this still make DE a primary need going into the offseason?

For me personally I still think it's a big time need going forward. We can't depend on Addison having another career year. Plus CJ will be a year older.

[Khyber53]

Our defense is on the field, a lot. And usually they are pretty stout through the first three quarters. That fourth quarter, though...

[KSpan]

Interestingly, last year's team only had 44, and that was even playing with numerous big leads where the pass rush got to 'pin their ears back'. 

[top dawg]

Gettleman will take this to mean that "we're good" at DE...

 

I kid (I hope).

 

Honestly, neither our D-line nor our O-line has been as terrible as some would have us believe, especially considering the circumstances.

 

Shout out to Super Mario.

[PhillyB]

just goes to show we're really not that bad, we've just been situationally just bad enough to lose a bunch of games. a tic better and we've won 8 games.

[top dawg]

5 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

Yep. Our DBs and LBs are getting the pressures and sacks.

Well, that is a function of coaching...perhaps for compensating for a weaker than normal output of the front, or just for general strategic reasons. Perhaps Ron and/or McDermott are actually doing something good (sense the sarcasm).

[gmonjimbo]

Since the Cardinals game the pass rush has been there. However I still think the team needs two more edge rushers- one to be CJ eventual replacement and one to move Ealy into a back up role.  

[Harbingers]

24 minutes ago, Jeremy Igo said:

The bad news is most aren't coming from a base 4 defense like in years past. 

I hate to say it but yesterday they were. Look up the safety. 

I know, I was in shock myself. Base 4 rush coverage safety.

[Harbingers]

13 minutes ago, PhillyB said:

just goes to show we're really not that bad, we've just been situationally just bad enough to lose a bunch of games. a tic better and we've won 8 games.

Sad isn't it. Just a few roughing the passer calls, OL clearly holding our D-Line. And a bit better safety play and we still in this thing. 

I just hope all the core comes back next year. 

[csx]

19 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

Yep. Our DBs and LBs are getting the pressures and sacks.

In 2013 with Hardy 68.3% of the sacks came from the DL.....this year it is 74.4%.