We are set at DT for next season.

[CRA]

totally agreed....

however, drafting a DT is going to raise the same concerns you have now.. which is my point, we either bring in a game changer or more depth.. as mentioned already, we have good depth.

I mean, at some point it's tremendously ignorant to keep thinking you'll get a game changing DT in the draft..

yeah, I think Carolina needs to build through the draft....but FA is still important. Would love to see a good FA DT brought in......I think if Carolina can land a playmaker in FA at DT, LB, S or CB......they need to make that move. Draft is find for building depth and developing talent but you can't just relay on that.

[thunderraiden]

Like bleys said, whats bringing in another rook gonna do? U never hear of a first year dt having an impact aside from the once in a generation player n. suh. We need an impact first year defensive player in the first and another in the second that also provide depth.

[Woodie]

Fua looks like he lacks strength at the point of attack. There's a reason our d improved when he went down.In all honesty, fua's rookie season looked just as bad as pickles. I'm not saying cut him but, I'd be open to spending a 2 on the defensive tackle position.

It's not strength, it's technique. The times you see Fua get pushed around are usually the times he gets too high and loses leverage (which is very coachable). I think it was Kalil that said that Fua was a bull and one of the stringest guys on the team. He said when he gets his hands on you, you don't move. And despite what some think, Fua has had times where he has played well, but for what he is asked to do, it won't usually show up to the casual fan. The problem is that when he did make a mistake, everyone noticed so jumped to the conclusion that he just sucks.

Also, one of the biggest reasons for the improvement in run defense is the entire defense starting to finally get the scheme McDermott was trying to run.

[Crixtala]

He at least deserves an actual offseason of professional workouts before they give up on him. A DT straight out of college in a NORMAL year usually won't be strong enough, but a DT straight out of college with no offseason doesn't help.

can't agree with this more

our rookies got zero workout time with trainers and staff this offseason

this year they'll have the chance to work on technique, add mass/muscle or whatever else the coaches want out of them. i wouldn't be surprised to see Fua and McClain to look significantly different (both physically and on the field) this coming season

[Ja Rhule]

Look at Bucs. They spend almost all their top draft picks on DL. Result? Worst DL in the league.

[ed bell]

Speculation here, but all of the best FA's look like they are in line to be re-signed by the teams they are currently on...there's what, like a half dozen at best coming available that are above average and none of those are game changers IMO.

As far as the draft, why would anyone expect that picking up a rookie would produce the kind of results people are looking for here? We aren't picking one in the 1st round, or I should say we better not.....

[Woodie]

i don't think we are "set" or even settled @ DT.

i think/hope we'll bring in at least one more player either in the draft or via FA (preferably via FA).

i feel good about the competition we'll have at DT next year and i'm pretty certain we'll have at least a very solid rotation there.

it's not near the worry it once was for me.

We have a lot of guys that should be good against the run and occasionally get pressure. What we don't have (at least until/unless McClain develops) is someone that can get consistent pressure up the middle and be a disruptive force on the inside. So unless there is someone in FA that fits that role (and I don't think another rookie would be the answer either), we may be set...for this season at least.

The one guy I am looking at, though, is Jason Jones from Tennesee. He's a good interior pass rusher, the only question is can he stay healthy. But if he can, he'd give us the inside presence we need as well as buy time for McClain to properly develop.

[dbulls874]

I think you can throw the last few weeks' results out the window, as far as our DT play goes, and for this reason: the quality of our opponents, save atlanta, has plummeted, while our offense has taken off. This means that teams like Tampa, Indy and even Houston (with a crippled offense) have had to air it out against us, especially in the third quarter when our thin DT corps has typically been prone to hitting a wall. I do think inserting more seasoned veterans into the lineup, with each having at least a year in an NFL training program, has helped us maintain our wind into the second half, defensively. But overall, I think our DTs right now are the beneficiaries of the circumstances much more than Fua and McClain were.

That said, I think the circumstances overall will be better throughout next season, so even though we aren't going to have stars on the interior d-line, we can live with what we've got. The schedule is much easier, the offense has learned how to lay on the throttle for 60 minutes, and our linebackers will be much better. Another DT added through the draft or free agency would be useful, but if we get an opportunity to upgrade elsewhere instead, we can survive with who's on the roster. That includes Fua and McClain playing major roles.

[bleys]

It's not strength, it's technique. The times you see Fua get pushed around are usually the times he gets too high and loses leverage (which is very coachable). I think it was Kalil that said that Fua was a bull and one of the stringest guys on the team. He said when he gets his hands on you, you don't move. And despite what some think, Fua has had times where he has played well, but for what he is asked to do, it won't usually show up to the casual fan. The problem is that when he did make a mistake, everyone noticed so jumped to the conclusion that he just sucks.

Also, one of the biggest reasons for the improvement in run defense is the entire defense starting to finally get the scheme McDermott was trying to run.

exactly......

[CRA]

also silly to think you can go to the 3rd round of a draft and find your starting DT lineup. it is a real possiblity neither are NFL starters for a few years to come....if ever.

[Kurb]

I would compare opponents before such a declaration.

[TheGreatestOfAllTimeCam]

I want Devon Still worse than anyone in this draft for us; unless Blackmon is on the board at 10.

Would love to see us make a play for Fairley to reunite him with Newton but I doubt the Lions would take a 2nd for him.

[bleys]

I think they have shown flashes that make me feel positive about their future. always a possibility they don't work out, and I guess the question becomes exactly how high is their ceiling? ideally, we want the best of the best out there.. very unlikely to find that, but we should always be trying..

I expect it'll probly take them 3-4 years for them to really shine.. how shiny that is can only be answered later..

[Kurb]

I want Devon Still worse than anyone in this draft for us; unless Blackmon is on the board at 10.

Would love to see us make a play for Fairley to reunite him with Newton but I doubt the Lions would take a 2nd for him.

Would you take a second for a second year first round pick ?

Wtfman