Is the Pass Defense Legitimate?

[firstdayfan]

We have all made a lot of jokes about the Panthers top ranked pass defense over the course of the season. But at what point do we sit back and say "Wow, maybe they are that good?" First off I know we have issues with tackling and we haven't really faced a top notch QB like Brady, Brees, or Warner (we will) but we also haven't given up as many big plays in the passing game this season. We have also been racking up some coverage sacks over the past few weeks, albeit against poor offenses. The cover two scheme limits the big plays which is why we have given up all the underneath plays.

So the big question is this....Is Gamble, Marshall, Godfrey, Harris, Munnerlyn, and the cover two really that good or are the numbers inflated due to the level of competition???

My guess is a little of both.

[Baschski]

I think they have improved a lot; the secondary is Meeks' specialty, after all. The D-line seems to have improved as well. Granted, we haven't had a real test recently, but I think we will be able to hold our ground against some better offenses.

[Fright]

Why pass? Delhomme and our special teams will just give them points.

But on a serious note...

We have the fewest attempts against us in the league at 112 and we have the 2nd shortest "big play" at 27 yards (Colts longest allowed is 26). Teams complete 68% of their passes against us, the only teams who are worse are the Titans, Detroit, and Jacksonville. 2nd best in passing YPG, but 3rd worst in rushing YPG.

Why pass on us when you can run?

[Delhommey]

The coverage downfield is pretty good, but the front four isn't getting pressure.

If they could get to the QB more, our pass D would be pretty good.

Still, we'll see soon enough with Arizona and N.O. looming large.

[Davidson Deac II]

Pressure on the QB has been significantly better over the last two weeks. We got burned on a few yesterday, but for the most part, we played adequate pass defense. Of course, it was against a bad team. And while they had an decent day rushing against us, it wasn't dominant.

Truth is, without the offensive mistakes and the one bad special teams play, this would have been a blowout, and the defense would have deserved most of the credit.

[kungfoodude]

I don't think it is exactly a coincidence that our "better" play over the last two weeks is at the expense of two of the worst teams in the league. Hard to get excited about this until we can perform well against someone that isn't a complete sh*tbox. Let's not get to far ahead of ourselves in saying the team is improving....

[bleys]

We lost containment whenever Josh Johnson felt like running. We need better DT play to crash the middle of the pocket.

With that said, Thomas seems to be a much needed improvement.

[Chickenstring]

Fright said it best...Why pass against us when you can run all over us?

And Gamble being our star pass-defender kinda has me scratching my head. Yes he's an excellent corner but he ain't all that...whatever.

I actually think our pass defense simply has yet to meet that much of a challenge. I hope I'm wrong but I believe our secondary will get eaten alive by a truly powerful passing game.

[Mesmer]

It's too early to say that our defense is any good. They're good enough to stop some of the worst offensive talent in the league. Beyond that, they haven't shown anything yet.

[bigdog10]

I would like to see what the defense can do when Jake isn't giving the opposing team's offense a short field

[kungfoodude]

Anyone else notice that our tackling was pretty piss-poor again? It is one thing to have some mental lapses but it's pretty infuriating to see failures on some basic football fundamentals.

[firstdayfan]

I guess the general idea is this:

1) We haven't played anyone with a good record but we have gone up against guys like Roddy White, DeSean Jackson, Roy Williams, Antonio Bryant, and Santana Moss. These guys get paid too. Ask the Eagles about playing bad teams.

2) Teams can run the ball on us but I think we are improving in that area because of Hollis Thomas, you take away those runs by JJ yesterday and we hold them to under 100 again.

3) Tackling has been a HUGE issue and watching Peppers whiff on that third and long play when the QB scrambled was embarrassing.

4) I think the opposing completion percentage is high because we allow so many short passes. I watched Matt Ryan do exactly what he did to us against the Bears last night, he kept throwing it short to the running backs and eventually hit the tight end down the middle for the TD. Guess what the Bears were playing at the time? Cover 2.

5) Its hard to really make a good judgement about the defense but we have played 5 games and we were really awful in pass defense late last season, so it is nice to see improvement there (even if it is at the expense of tackling).

[SCP]

We will see how good we are against the pass when we face the Saints. Good lord those dudes are throwing up some points.

[kungfoodude]

We will see how good we are against the pass when we face the Saints. Good lord those dudes are throwing up some points.

Frankly, it probably won't be that bad. I figure they will have about 45 points at the half and then they bench Brees.