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Four Cats That would have Sured Up this Defense

Matthias

By Matthias,
in Carolina Panthers

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Matthias Proficient

Matthias

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I love what I saw on offense out there yesterday. As I said before with this team in my "Bold Declarations" thread, I am going to do nothing but encourage and believe in this team. Yet with Ron Rivera being a rookie head coach, here are four moves that I believe he missed on that probably would have sured this defense up, even with our injuries.

1. Carlos Rogers

Once Nnamdi (who most didn't believe was coming here anyway, but I always hoped it could happen) and Jonathan Joseph was off the free agent market, the only reasonable cornerback left was Carlos Rogers. He is a big, physical corner who could match Gamble's play on the other side of the field. The biggest fear about signing him was if he was looking for a payday. Yet if he would take a one year deal, it would be a green light in deciding to bring him in. However, Rivera felt like he was good at corner at the time (I believe), and decided to pass him up. He now plays for the 5-1 49ers, has 3 ints, and is probably the best corner on the team.

2. Amobi Okoye

Now this cat was a former first rounder, and in his first season, justified being so. Throughout his Texan career, he was pretty solid, and rarely was injured. The biggest reason why the Texans let him go was because of the 3-4 defensive scheme Wade Phillips brought in, which didn't fit Okoye's skillset. (Of course they would have traded him, but everyone knew before hand they would let him walk, so the Texans shot themselves in the foot on that one) So here was a guy who was solid as a DT, a position of need, but Rivera decided not to bring him in. Currently Okoye has three sacks in spite of not starting, and plays for a Bears team that has a shot at contending against the Packers.

3. Mark Herzlich

I know, I know. He was coming off of surviving an illness, and NFL teams weren't sure about drafting him. I get all that. Yet if the guy can play, and he's shown his ability in college, I always felt like we should definitely bring him in. We should have drafted him with our 7th round pick (really our 6th), but we definitely should have brought him in as an undrafted free agent. I seen him play in the preseason against the Panthers, and I believe he forced a fumble during our game. He has size and speed, plus he has great coverage skills. (We definitely could have used his size and skillset against Jimmy Graham when we played the Saints. I think Brian Urlacher in his prime could adequately cover a Jimmy Graham type TE, and I see Herzlich as having that same skillset) Herzlich now plays for the Giants, who are currently leading their division, or tied I believe. (I know we just beat the Redskins)

4. Aaron Curry

Here's a guy who shows a lot of promise. Now about this one, if we would have gotten Herzlich, obviously I wouldn't consider this one. Yet with Herzlich out of the way, here was another chance to bring in a decent to possibly good linebacker. (With some training by Rivera, and working with Thomas Davis) Yet even though the Seahawks were possibly willing to give us Curry, Carolina decided against it in saying we were good at linebacker. I'm sorry to say this, but Rivera and Hurney have been caught with their pants down on this one. I bet if they could do it all over again, they would have traded for Curry. Curry now plays for, once Carson is ready and Darren is ready, a Raiders team who I believe can go deep in the playoffs.

So here are four cats I believe would have sured up our defense today! Three of them would have cost us next to nothing to bring in, and the last one would have cost us nothing as well. (Especially if he develops into a superstar linebacker).

With all that said, I believe our offense will really turn it on and unload points on opposing defenses. That will give some cushion to our defense to make their mistakes, and improve their play. We are taking this pratice by practice, and game by game.:cool:

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ShutDwn Newbie

ShutDwn

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Curry was promising? Yea, back before he played in the NFL. He is awful.

What is with the obsession with trading and signing free agents? I understand trying to create conversation in the offseason but this isn't the NBA, trades don't happen that often.

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Ricky Spanish Grand Master

Ricky Spanish

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I actually like our corner situation going forward. A lot of young talent that is waiting to get their shot, and who have all performed well at one point or another this season.

DT is another story, even though they are improving.

LB, well who the hell would have expected Beason and TD to go down in the first two weeks of the year? We thought we were deeper there than we were, and now, we are hurting.

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rico6 Grand Master

rico6

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We are pretty set at Corner. I truly feel that for what it's worth, Captain, Butler, and Gamble are are the best (reasonably priced) CBs we're going to have until draft day.

Now DT is what I truly don't understand. Could have easily grabbed an AVERAGE DT and would have been set at that spot.

But it seems that Rivera is pretty content with keeping and developing the players that were already and here, and young guys he's personally brought in with him from SD/draft.

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Matthias Proficient

Matthias

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I actually like our corner situation going forward. A lot of young talent that is waiting to get their shot, and who have all performed well at one point or another this season.

DT is another story, even though they are improving.

LB, well who the hell would have expected Beason and TD to go down in the first two weeks of the year? We thought we were deeper there than we were, and now, we are hurting.

Well we knew TD was coming off of two major injuries. So bringing in another guy there was a must. I don't think we did that this year. Also even with Ron Edwards healthy, Okoye still would have been a great pick up.

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