I wonder If we all are worried about the same thing.

[pantherclaw]

I wouldnt label loser, damn man, but I would say they are very unproven and there's very little depth with talent. That, to me, is an issue with big guys.

And the depth behind our starting o-line was young last year, and many viewed them without talent. Yet when our line was ravaged by injuries, we plugged and played, and the o-line still played well.

Yes, lots of new faces, that can and should be, a good thing.

[panthers55]

We won't know what kind of interior pass rush we have until we know what scheme we will run. Out typical 4-3 under is designed to stop the run up the middle but generates much less pressure up the middle than it does to the strong side of the offensive line.

A true 4-3 1-gap scheme puts more pressure on the pass butcan be easily gashed up the middle over the center which is left largely undefended. A Miami 4-3 put more pressure on the edges but is still vulnerable over the A gaps and center position.

It is as much about scheme as it is personnel. Last year we went after the quarterback as the first priority and we got gashed in the run defense. I will be interested to see if we continue the same approach or try to stop the run more this year which may make the pass rush less effective.

[pantherclaw]

Stop the run on the way to the passer.

Just sayin'...

[panthers55]

Stop the run on the way to the passer.

Just sayin'...

Easier said than done. Once a guy is shooting the gap to get to the quarterback he is easily steered one way or the other and ridden out of the play. Run gap defense is usually where you either blitz every gap or 2 gap read and react and flow to the ball or fill the gap and read and react as you clear the line of scrimmage or some combination of the above. In partcular an aggressive defense is very susceptible to cut back runners.

[pantherclaw]

It is easier said than done. While I believe most defenses are suspect to cut back running (biggest reason the old denver running game was so successful), good run defense is both attitude, and team defense. The line, the backers, and the secondary all have to commit to good tackling, and playing their assignments.

[koolkatluke]

One thing that can not be missed is this Def. didn't take off until they got a big body in the middle. Until Hollis we were getting gashed up the middle alot. Another thing about Meek's use of small DT is we don't have Peyton too put up 20 on a team making them have too pass. Plus we don't have a Bob Sanders at safety (hoping Martin or CG can be that player) coming up helping to stop the run.

I was really hoping for a mixed of ideas between Fox and Meeks. Meeks would bring his idea of speed and agression to the Defence while Fox keeps 2 big body in the middle like he likes too work with.