Norwood will play DE for Rivera...

[CatMan72]

You do if your other two DE's are terrible at the run and stopping the run was one of your weakest areas as a defense.

Yup, they need to learn and the only way they're going to learn is to get more playing time.

[Fiz]

He still has some use in certain situations, but he should not be at the top of the DE rotation after the season he just had.

Don't think if it as being a starter then.

On running downs brayton is the superior option, and the first play is going go be a running down in every single game.

[CatMan72]

Don't think if it as being a starter then.

On running downs brayton is the superior option, and the first play is going go be a running down in every single game.

LOL, if only it were that simple.

I'm not saying Brayton has no value, but his production this past season did not justify the # of snaps he got.

Meanwhile, we've got a guy like Hardy who has shown quite a bit of promise. He may not be very good against the run right now, but that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to play.

[Fiz]

yes, 90 minutes 16 times a year is the best way to learn.

guess he's masturbating for the rest of the week or something.

[Fiz]

i mean poo your entire argument for his lack of production is based around one stat.

i don't know if you're a panther fan or not but i saw a guy for three years get tons of that stat and vanish from the game for the rest of the time.

[pantherclaw]

Norwood gets to be just a defensive end, which is good news...

But now it's a bratyton debate? Nice.

Brayton had a down year. Big deal. I don't expect that to happen again. I also don't expect to see him on the field as much at DE this season. The younger guys will be more involved.

[CatMan72]

yes, 90 minutes 16 times a year is the best way to learn.

guess he's masturbating for the rest of the week or something.

There's no amount of practice that equals actual playing experience.

[CatMan72]

i mean poo your entire argument for his lack of production is based around one stat.

i don't know if you're a panther fan or not but i saw a guy for three years get tons of that stat and vanish from the game for the rest of the time.

Sacks are not the only important stat for a DE, but they are an important stat and when you play as much as Brayton did and you don't record one that's not good.

[Lumps]

If the Panthers can't find a starting DE to beat out Brayton that is really sad. He is cheap for a reason. He may be good as a rotational DE but I would rather search for someone better than settle.

[panthers55]

Brayton can be effective. It isn't like he lost his skills from 2009 to 2010. I don't know why anyone would make too many conclusions based on last year. Seems to me if you did that, there would be a lot of guys getting the boot. Other than Johnson, who on the line had a great year in 2010??

[Snake]

Sorry, you don't start a DE who posts zero sacks because he's good at holding the edge... I say give Hardy those snaps and let him learn, who's to say he won't be just as good or better than Brayton at holding the edge AND he'll get a few sacks in the process.

I don't have anything against Brayton, but when a DE posts a zero sack season it's time to move on.

He will have value because of his versatility. We will be able to use him as a 4-3 or 3-4 DE. He can also retain the role of DT in the nickle and dime set as well.

Thats why you start him not because of his sack count. Without Brayton we have a bunch of edge rushers and one complete DT in Johnson if he come back.

[panthers55]

The scheme was basically flawed on the defensive line which is why Meeks is coaching the secondary and Baker is gone. We didn't hold the edge because we tried so hard to get pressure from the DE position that they would seel out going inside or up the field that they were easily ridden out of the play and deemed ineffective. Our DEs rushed straight ahead with few stunts or misdirection. They were always lined up the same way moving straight head and easily accounted for in basic blocking schemes.

Brayton is a former number 1 pick and can be effective in a good scheme. I expect him to do much better this year particularly in McDermott's scheme with any kind of decent DT play. As for giving up on him after a 0 sack year, using that logic we would have given up on Pepper's after his 2.5 sacks in 2007 as well.

[monstercat]

Brayton was very solid against the run, something that shouldn't be overlooked.

Hardy was poor against the run and with Norwood's size I fear he'll just get run over.

Brayton is an inexpensive vet who has shown his value.

I beg to differ. I saw Brayton crash inside and allow RB's to run right by him on the outside way too many times. Also, DE's don't have to be huge to play the run well.

[TruCatzFan]

Norwood will play wherever he's the biggest asset in Rivera's scheme! I love all this speculation about people who seem to know everything when the damn players don't even know what's going on!!