Giving our defense excuses

[davos]

We lost our entire team's leader in Beason from my view of things. He filled the void when we clearly didn't have a QB anymore to look to as a team and he was additionally the guy keeping the defense in check. We didn't have that energy anymore when he was injured. Having a rookie QB, a Smitty (he deserves his own adjective), Kalil, Gross, Double Trouble, & Gamble has been vital in keeping us from falling apart. This process in developing future leaders may take some time but it's one that allows guys to step up and become one. Its a transition into building a solid team.

We risked our defense dropping for the opportunity to build a solid attacking offense

Basically, we need more players' players like Beason on defense. We didn't strike gold in the 3rd this past year so maybe give DT another shot. (Devon Still *cough)

We can build at OLB with some really good talent available in this coming draft...and the CB class is quite deep. This seems like a great opportunity for Hurney to flex in the other direction like when we drafted Beason...move back in the round and round up a handful of defensive guys. Perfect opportunity imo

[Peppermint9030]

We lost the 2 best playmakers on D. Most importantly 2 that formed a LB talented corp that would be able to aid and mask how weak we were in the middle (w/ 2 rookie DTs).

Beanie Wells looked like Steven Jackson versus us...We had Beason and Davis so please stfu.

[Peppermint9030]

to the OP...the 'Enter' button is not your enemy. he's a friend. use him and switch to decaf. might have more people read what you write. i know i would have.

anyone who can't see that this was essentially a perfect storm situation for a defense sucking should try and open their eyes a bit.

the defense was mediocre at best last year. teams didn't score a lot against us because they didn't have to.

we go into this season with a massive hole in the middle of the Dline and a questionable and thin secondary.

we try to upgrade the Dline by drafting two project DTs and bringing in a solid vet DT. solid vet gets hurt for the first time in 5-6 years and misses the season. you are stuck with 2 rookie DTs drafted in the 3rd round that you really just want to get them well needed experience. interior of the Dline is going to be soft.

we go into the season shifting from one scheme to a very different one that has a completely different mindset. while it doesn't always result in a struggling defense initially, it can and it did. having a very shortened offseason really hurt. having as young and undisciplined a defense as we do made it hurt even worse.

defensive gameplan for this year was going to heavily rely on the strength of our LB corps. they brought in a couple guys to help with depth and got everyone healthy....or so they thought. what was/could have been/should have been one of the best LBs corps in the league all of a sudden lost two of their 3 starters. you don't recover from that very well. you don't lose 2 pro-bowl caliber LBs and replace them with 2nd stringers and expect there to be no significant drop off.

young and undisciplined defense + 2 rookie DTs starting because you lost your starting DT + new and very different scheme + lack of offseason + losing your MLB and WLB = bad defense

it's a perfect formula for suck and it's the unfortunate reality. not an excuse. it's an explanation for what happened.

not sure what people want aside from that other than to jump around screaming "WE SUCK!!!!! FIRE EVERYONE!!!!!!!"

it will get better.

the young and undisciplined team in a new system will have the benefit of a year under their belts plus a full offseason which will help with their level of discipline and their lack of experience and lack of understanding of the scheme.

rookie DTs won't be rookies next year. they'll have not only the benefit of having started and having much needed reps during the season, they will have full offseason to learn and correct mistakes. they will also have the benefit of a full offseason in the weight room and with team nutritionists who will help them positively max out their frames and get stronger. plus we'll have edwards back and, more than likely, another DT brought in (hopefully an experienced one). that will make for a much better and improved interior Dline.

the secondary will be fine. we may bring in another CB and more depth at both CB and S.

we will have beason back and that is not just going to improve dramatically the play at the Mike, but we'll have that leadership we have been really lacking that can help things get tightened up on the field.

we will also more than likely bring in talent at the Will.

it's going to get better so quitcherbitchin.

Teams didn't score on us because they didn't have to? What? Our defense kept us in almost every game last year...I'm gonna hit enter now for ya...

We were getting gashed by Wells week 1 with Beason in...

[Peppermint9030]

yes. weird.

offense is overachieving and most of the attention to improving the team was put on offense.

we got smitty back and happy.

we got a massive upgrade at QB who is doing better earlier than even his biggest bandwagon riders thought he would.

that new QB essentially adds another starting caliber RB.

we got two massive upgrades at TE.

meanwhile on D we added a little depth at LB and a DT that got hurt and on IR and 2 third round rookie DTs and lost essentially our QB on defense.

again...not sure what people want to hear about the defense....

Most attention payed to the offense? We drafted Cam and traded for Olsen...We drafted back to back dt's signed one as well, drafted a line backer, and a cb...Thats our whole draft besides Cam, Ziemba and Pilares...

[rayzor]

congrats on overcoming your fear/aversion to the enter button.

yes. teams didn't have to score high on us. we didn't have an offense that presented much of a challenge. it was better than this year's defense, imo, but nothing more than mediocre.

oh...and if beason and TD being out were the only problem the panthers D had this this year then you might have something there. beason and TD were only one of the issues. beginning of the season was going to be bad anyway.

[rayzor]

Most attention payed to the offense? We drafted Cam and traded for Olsen...We drafted back to back dt's signed one as well, drafted a line backer, and a cb...Thats our whole draft besides Cam, Ziemba and Pilares...

you forgot shockey.

1st pick overall was offense.

anything past 2nd round (and probably including the 2nd round) is usually considered projects. we may have added more draft picks on defense, but how many were they planning on coming in and making an immediate impact or even starting?

heading into the season, most of the attention was placed on improving the area of the team that needed it most...the offense.

not sure what i so hard to understand about that.

[Peppermint9030]

congrats on overcoming your fear/aversion to the enter button.

yes. teams didn't have to score high on us. we didn't have an offense that presented much of a challenge. it was better than this year's defense, imo, but nothing more than mediocre.

oh...and if beason and TD being out were the only problem the panthers D had this this year then you might have something there. beason and TD were only one of the issues. beginning of the season was going to be bad anyway.

Then quit saying the "QB of our defense is hurt"...Fox had Landri and Hayden playing harder then our back to back wasted DT's...

Your telling me the Bear's and Bengal's just didn't need to score on us last year or did our D give our O a shot?

The best this year was the Viking's pissed off drive, when they went hb dive up the gut 7 straight plays for a TD...That would not have happened last year...Our D would have killed to get 24 points a game last year.

[Peppermint9030]

you forgot shockey.

1st pick overall was offense.

anything past 2nd round (and probably including the 2nd round) is usually considered projects. we may have added more draft picks on defense, but how many were they planning on coming in and making an immediate impact or even starting?

heading into the season, most of the attention was placed on improving the area of the team that needed it most...the offense.

not sure what i so hard to understand about that.

3rd and 4th round picks are considered projects? Tell me where we drafted Charles Johnson who always showed dominating signs, apparently Brandon Spikes is not a good line backer in New England...

Apparently we never drafted Steve Smith in the 3rd round, 3rd and 4th round picks our looked at as projects for teams that can't evaluate talent...Your telling me McClain and Fua were drafted to not make an impact right away?

[Peppermint9030]

I really can't argue with someone that say's anything out of the 1st round is considered a project...Apparently Clausen wasn't drafted to make an immediate impact.

Apparently Lafell, and Gettis were just two big projects.

[CRA]

I really can't argue with someone that say's anything out of the 1st round is considered a project...Apparently Clausen wasn't drafted to make an immediate impact.

Apparently Lafell, and Gettis were just two big projects.

generally QBs outside of the first round are considered projects.....doesn't mean teams can't be forced into playing them.

[Peppermint9030]

generally QBs outside of the first round are considered projects.....doesn't mean teams can't be forced into playing them.

Dalton looks like a real good project.

[CRA]

Beanie Wells looked like Steven Jackson versus us...We had Beason and Davis so please stfu.

Beason went down in that game......and the rookie DTs were playing a week 1 game which means they were even worse then than now. Also, that was week 1 of a new scheme w/ no offseason.

so you kind sir, please stfu and don't act like losing Beason and Davis haven't greatly impacted this team. Pointing out a week 1 performance doesn't mean diddly poo.....week 1 in the NFL is always retarded....extra retarded for new schemes w/ no offseason. Rivera would have been able to adapt his D and work his scheme w/ real players as the season went on. Those players went to IR.

[bleys]

Dalton looks like a real good project.

you are a sad, sad little man..

[CRA]

Dalton looks like a real good project.

doesn't change the fact most QBs drafted outside of round 1 ideally aren't drafted with the intention of them playing year 1.