Breaking down the defense

[bigcatdaddy]

We just need to go into offseason thinking defense defense defense. Draft a DT in the first 2 rounds and sign a big time DT. Heres my thinking.

DE - Johnson

DT - FA DT

DT - McClain/Fua/rookie

DE - Hardy

OLB - Anderson

MLB - Beason

OLB - Davis

CB - Gamble , Hogan

CB - Munnerlyn, Butler

S - Godfrey

S - Martin

Obviously, this is just adding 2 people on the defense and you can add depth through rest of picks in the draft and free agency.

Offensive side of the ball is good IMO. OL could use RT but maybe we get lucky and Otah comes back to camp fit and ready to go. With Gettis coming back, I dont see WR as a need and I think we will re-sign Shockey.

This team is a year or two away - im confident.

We just drafted 2 DT's this past year and we have Ron Edwards on IR so I don't think that should be addressed in the draft. You could add a free agent DT but I don't think we will draft one. I would like an offensive lineman and a linebacker with our first two picks since we don't know about Thomas Davis yet.

[bigcatdaddy]

It all starts with the DTs. Even with Beason and Thomas missing (not including Edwards because he is an unknown) if we have AVERAGE DT play, Johnson's, Hardy's, and our linebacking core production would increase.

Which is exactly the reason why we hardly blitz.

Our DTs are bad, everything else..is.. acceptable.

I disagree, our linebackers are bad which is why teams are killing us with the run on the outside we can't seal an edge and our linebackers are out of position or missing tackles.

[bleys]

It's sad...Make fun of Nick Hayden but Fox had him playing better then our 2 draft picks... lol

comparing the 2 defenses is a joke at this point..

[bleys]

hahaahhahaha hilarious even though people have already made similar comments, but you feel the need to try and be funny.

NJPanther never left...

[bleys]

Given the different nature of the positions they play, I would expect Terrell's name to be called more often. But I do agree with you that Fox's defense was better. Maybe that's a function of the new scheme. Maybe it's personnel (but I kind of doubt that). It seems like this group misses a lot of tackles too, but that's probably just my imagination.

I wonder how Fox would have done with a QB like Cam. Even though he's a rookie, he strikes me as a guy who can make a bad staff look good.

Fox wouldn't have drafted Cam, and damn sure wouldn't have started him...

[rico6]

I disagree, our linebackers are bad which is why teams are killing us with the run on the outside we can't seal an edge and our linebackers are out of position or missing tackles.

Most successful outside run plays, are a direct result of a pulled guard easily making his way to the end of the line. A good DT push (hell even a DE push) easily blows up the run play 8/10 times.

Which is what teams were doing to our line in the beginning of the season.

On most of those successful outside run plays, one of our linemen are always 3+ yards away from the LOS, flat on their backs, or actually pulling the opposite way of the run (which if you've played football is a fundamental error)

Time and time again, I see Fua/Mcclain just get dominated on run plays.

In Beason's probowl seasons did you remember him taking on Offensive linemen all the time?

[Dont Check My Chicken]

It's too early to really judge this years defense against last years defense. After all, it toook several weeks before last years defense began to play well and they didn't have as many new faces as we have this year. Furthermore, I don't think we have the talent to execute either scheme with so many key injuries and new faces this year, but I prefer this years attacking style over the bend but don't break (play-to-lose) style of John Fox

[teeray]

"No no we are 16th in total yards so clearly our defense is pretty good"

signed - PF4L..errr Pantherball...er Pro Bowler.... I mean TheOneThatStungDelhommey.. I mean... what is my alt now. :rolleyes:

[CPcavedweller]

I personally would like to add another linebacker in front of Thomas Davis. Two years in a row and two knee injuries spells trouble. If he is able to come back great but for right now i'd really like to see the Panthers take a long hard look at Sean Spence, out of Miami. Bruce Taylor out of Virginia Tech would be a good look too. With the presence of Ron Edwards and the possible move to a 3-4, I would adress the DT need in free agency.

[CPcavedweller]

I also don't understand the comparison of this years defense or offense to last years. Both have undergone dramatic changed with injuries and scheme changes. It's really a moot point and solves and does nothing. Some of you are looking back, meanwhile what lies ahead of us I feel are a lot of releases and signings in the coming year, which is what should be discussed. Not how John Fox ran a simple defense with average players. Running the type of defense we have a feel takes another level of athlete than what we have at this point.

[Kurb]

lost respect after nick hayden comment

[Jackofalltrades]

Disagree with the OP's assessment of the secondary- completely off the mark IMO.

[Jackofalltrades]

I'd like to see Edwards as a starter with McClain and Fua rotating at the other spot depending on defensive set and scheme/situation.

I'd like to replace TD with Zach Brown from UNC, draft a true FS to replace Godfrey, move him to SS which I think he's better suited for and move Martin to CB.

On O I want a consistent RT and legit 2WR- Gettis, LeFell, Rookie...whatever.

[HeatCheck]

Never thought too much of Dan Connor before this year. At Penn State he was a tackling machine but in the NFL he is just added depth. Now that he is playing full time he is ineptitude is showing.