Excellent point

[Mr. Scot]

Perhaps I should have specified "people not on the Panthers coaching staff"

[pantherj]

Cover-2 zone defense doesn't work without pressure from the front 4. Early on in the game our front 4 put pressure on Warner, and Lewis actually got a sac. Then the pressure stopped and I knew we were in deep trouble. Our zone is extremely easy to beat if the QB has time. Arizona WRs were running to the soft spots in our zone, while our front 4 was contained. When the WRs got to the soft spots Warner let it fly. Piece of cake. Wide open. One of 2 things has to happen in the offseason imo. 1.) We get rid of Jake and bring a QB who can lead our offense when the running game is stuffed. 2.) We get a DT that will preesure the QB on nearly every down. I'm talking Marcus Stroud in his prime.

If we go option 1, then we need to let Peppers and others walk to get the $$$. And we can win with our offense. Imagine our running game matched with a great QB. Kick ass.

If we go option 2, then we may need to lose Gross, which I don't think would be the end of the world anyway. Wharton isn't bad at LT. Then we hit FA looking for the biggest badest QB killer money can buy. A DT that, paired with Peppers, would reek havok on any offense in the NFL. With that kind of front 4 we could then force teams to throw dinky passes and try in vain to run the ball. When it's clear the QB doesn't have time to throw deep, tell the corners to key on short routes, now you've got SB defense. Who cares if Jake could go tard at any moment? Our defense will score, and when it isn't, run the ball.

If we don't do either of these things, then I don't see a SB in the near future. It would take Jake on fire throughout the entire playoffs. Who is expecting that?

[ashehudson]

Hey, least we got our national spotlight you kids were asking for all season.

[Pumpkin Eater]

Does the soft zone defense have anything to do with teams always trying to use the three step drop against Fox's defenses after the 2003 season?

[Mr. Scot]

Why would you even run Cover 2 against a team that has only one serious threat?

[Kyle82]

Everyone wants to be an armchair coach

[pantherclaw]

That zone defense worked pretty well for the cards.

Amazing what execution will do for a team.

[Mr. Scot]

They did more than just play zone. They tightened up their alignment to limit Williams cutback lanes and get in Delhomme's sight line.

We could have countered by calling more runs and passes to the outside rather than the middle. Eventually they did, but by that time it was too late.

(too slow to adjust)