Four Downs - NFC South

[Delhommey]

Carolina Panthers

Biggest Post-Draft Need: Defensive Line

Quick, name the best player on the Panthers defensive line. Actually, if you're not from the Carolinas, name any player on the line.

The Panthers were 27th in the league in our defensive line rankings against the run last year. And that was with Julius Peppers on the team. They were 13th in adjusted sack rate, a ranking very likely to drop without Peppers around.

The Panthers may have made big splashes in the draft by saving quarterback Jimmy Clausen from his long fall and picking back-to-back wide receivers in the second and third rounds, but they lack both talent and depth along their defensive line.

On the outside, Everette Brown flashed his potential as a rookie, but he isn't ready to carry the load. He may regress this season because he won't have the benefit of all of the attention opposing teams put on Peppers. Charles Johnson has the potential to be a difference maker, but he hasn’t put it all together yet. He may not even start over Tyler Brayton. The only end the Panthers took in the draft was Mississippi's Greg Hardy in the sixth round.

Inside, the Panthers are trusting potential. Louis Leonard made his first career start -- and suffered a season-ending Achilles injury -- in the second game of the season at Atlanta in Week 2 and will be back in the battle with another pair of injury-stricken players from last season, Tank Tyler and Corvey Irvin.

Important Undrafted Free Agents

For a streak of more than a decade, the Panthers selected at least one offensive lineman during each draft. They broke that streak in 2010, so they focused on the offensive line in the post-draft signing period. Oklahoma State's Noah Franklin played alongside Russell Okung for the Cowboys last season, but it was his first year as a full-time starter. Michigan's Mark Ortmann played every line position but center at Michigan, and his versatility could lead him to a reserve role this year. New Hampshire linebacker Sean Ware turned heads with a 4.46 40-yard dash at his pro day, and he was a solid starter and team captain for his team last year.

http://www.aaronschatz.com/four-downs/2010/four-downs-nfc-south-1

Didn't see this posted already. Sorry if it has been.

[pantherclaw]

Oh no! Youth across the line! They will fail!!!

Yeah, I get it.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Quick, name an article about the Panthers this year that doesn't mention how useless the D-line will be without Peppers the faultless.

[OneBadassCat]

I think E. Brown will pan out. However I think much of the success of the pass rush this year is going to come down to Charles Johnson. He is a straight up beast and it's time for him to break out. Whether he moves inside on 3rd down or is on the edge he will have to be a factor this year. Otherwise Brown won't be able to generate a rush by himself, he'll just get game planned and taken out.

But I'm also really excited about what Norwood and Hardy can bring to the rush as well.

[Dpantherman]

most national writers can't name a panther player not named Steve Smith, Jon Beason, d.will, or stew. so the part about not knowing names means nothing to me. say they are young and inexperienced, but i can care less if anyone knows their names

[Delhommey]

Just about every time our D-line stunk it up last year, people blamed Peppers for disappearing. So now that Peppers has disappeared permanently, we're not going to feel the hurt?

Of course we're right to challenge outside observers, just like last year when any article saying that Jake's game against AZ was probably more indicative of his future performance got panned on this board.

The authors predicted a 8-8 season for Carolina last year, btw.

[necroplasm]

picking back-to-back wide receivers in the second and third rounds

(Charles Johnson) He may not even start over Tyler Brayton

Those lines stood out to me.

[PhillyB]

anyone who thinks the DL isn't a legitimate concern needs to wake up now.

[necroplasm]

anyone who thinks the DL isn't a legitimate concern needs to wake up now.

Yeah. Also.. just think if what we have now gets injured.... :frown2:

Panthers fans will have the same face Manson has in my avatar...

[Dpantherman]

anyone who thinks the DL isn't a legitimate concern needs to wake up now.

we have plenty of issues. QB and the entire passing game. was an issue last year and it wasn't handled until the end of the season. my only issue is, we haven't seen a game yet and the ship is already sinking. all these predictions and projections are garbage right now.

[monstercat]

Just about every time our D-line stunk it up last year, people blamed Peppers for disappearing. So now that Peppers has disappeared permanently, we're not going to feel the hurt?

Of course we're right to challenge outside observers, just like last year when any article saying that Jake's game against AZ was probably more indicative of his future performance got panned on this board.

The authors predicted a 8-8 season for Carolina last year, btw.

By the same token, everybody thought that O-line depth was, by far, the Panthers biggest weakness at the start of last season, but that turned out to be false.

[Neylus]

Way too early to be sweating this stuff. Player's mature. Players also come and go. A lot can change between now and the end of August.

[PhillyB]

we have plenty of issues. QB and the entire passing game. was an issue last year and it wasn't handled until the end of the season. my only issue is, we haven't seen a game yet and the ship is already sinking. all these predictions and projections are garbage right now.

i think we have to differentiate between "concern" and "issue" here. We won't know if something's an issue until we've seen preseason games... but we can be concerned that something will be an issue in the future.

DT is a concern right now, but we won't know if it's an issue until we see the pass rush and run-stopping capabilities. the same thing goes for the passing game.

[Dpantherman]

i think we have to differentiate between "concern" and "issue" here. We won't know if something's an issue until we've seen preseason games... but we can be concerned that something will be an issue in the future.

DT is a concern right now, but we won't know if it's an issue until we see the pass rush and run-stopping capabilities. the same thing goes for the passing game.

I guess thats just two different ways of thinking. because i can't allow myself to get concerned, because I want to see something before I reaction. thats nothing against any different way other than mine. but were on the same page...i think