Panthers defensive MVP?

[Khaki Lackey]

I nominate the Buccaneers' offense. They were the only thing that made our defense look decent this year.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

tackle record means little. isn't an indicator of good play really.

While I understand the argument, no one was saying this when Beason achieved it.

[CRA]

While I understand the argument, no one was saying this when Beason achieved it.

well, I wouldn't point to tackle totals when making an arguement of how good Beason is.

Anderson was much better last year.

[g5jamz]

It's a tossup...our defense was so gosh awful they should just give any defense award to the fans.

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Anderson-leads-in-more-ways-than-one/47b693ff-afc7-49ca-9f8f-467a5a7045a1

[Marguide]

Gamble/Anderson/CJ are tri-MVP's for not going stark raving mad watching what was going on around them.

[Mr. Scot]

I can't stand the argument that the best defensive player would be Cam Newton or Jon Beason, who didn't even play. It's a tremendous slight to the very few Panthers who actually showed up to play defense this year.

I think even the guys who were out there would tell you they sorely missed Jon Beason.

Of the choices here, I'd go with Gamble.

[Jase]

anderson didn't really seem to play at a high level until after week 6.

gamble was pretty consistent all year.

but godfrey's my pick.

[CRA]

anderson didn't really seem to play at a high level until after week 6.

gamble was pretty consistent all year.

but godfrey's my pick.

both safties had weak seasons vs. a year ago. Martin more so than Godfrey but Godfrey was inconsistant this year and didn't really have any big plays that made up for his inconsistant play like last season.

[Badbak]

I'm gonna go with Anderson, Gamble did an outstanding job covering the opponent's top receivers but makes too many mistakes in changing cover schemes. He either doesn't pay attention to the defensive play calls, can't remember what coverage he is supposed to be playing or likes to "freelance" sometimes. Which ever it is he gets burned to often.

[carolinarolls]

Both were asked to do a hell of a lot, face it. More is expected of Gamble than of Anderson.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Here are my 2011 Carolina Panthers Defensive Awards

Co-MVP: Linebacker, James Anderson

Anderson has become a really good linebacker in this league (despite what Gantt thinks). Anderson was fifth in solo tackles in the NFL this year with 98 (most on the team), ninth in assisted tackles with 47 (most on the team), and sixth in total tackles with 145 (most on the team). He also has a real edge for being in or around nearly every play as had 1.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries (tied for second in the NFL, most on the team), 2 interceptions (tied for second most on the team), 9 passes defended (third most on the team), and 8 tackles for a loss (second most on the team). Anderson just knows how to get involved and has become a really solid counterpart to Jon Beason and Lord-willing Thomas Davis. Anderson started coming into his own about two years ago and now he is really shining, James Anderson deserves to be Co-MVP.

Co-MVP: Cornerback, Chris Gamble

Chris Gamble's season isn't really mirrored by stats but rather the fact that many quarterbacks chose to throw away from him. Chris Gamble held 11 of the 16 opponents top receivers in the particular match-up below their average number of yards per game (Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Jennings, Johnny Knox, Marques Colston [once], Roddy White [once], Santana Moss, Percy Harvin, Nate Washington, Calvin Johnson, Mike Williams [once], and Kevin Walter). On top of that Gamble only allowed roughly six touchdown passes throughout the entire year and only two receivers went for over 100 yards on him. Gamble recorded 37 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles, and 45 total tackles, 3 interceptions (tied for most on the team), 12 passes defended (most on the team), 43 interception yards (second most on the team), including an interception returned for 24 yards (second most on the team). Gamble definitely deserves some recognition for his year and is also Co-MVP.

Runner-Up: Defensive End, Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson, though hurt for some of the year and doing mind boggling things the other half of the year (like wearing that Atlanta Falcons hat) deserves to be mentioned as runner up to the two mentioned above. Johnson didn't have a great year due to his injury that kept him out for one full game and parts of others. CJ had 31 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, 45 total tackles, 9 sacks (most on the team), 62 yards lost on sacks (most on the team), 10 tackles for a loss (most on the team), 4 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble. Johnson was repeatedly in the backfield disrupting the quarterback's focus. Johnson recorded a sack against Curtis Painter [.5], John Beck [1], Christian Ponder [1], Kevin Kolb [1], Blaine Gabbert [1], Josh Freeman [1], Jay Cutler [1], Aaron Rodgers [1], and Matt Ryan [1.5]. And oddly enough, even though CJ wore that Falcons hat that caused so much drama on this board; his best two games came against the Falcons. Between those two games he combined for 10 total tackles, 8 solo tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 1.5 sacks, 4 tackles for a loss, 7 tackle for a loss yards, and 1 pass defended. For Charles Johnson's effort, he gets Runner-Up.

Others

Most Improved: Linebacker, Jordan Senn (Hard-hitting, up and coming linebacker, recorded 4 forced fumbles; which was the most on the team).

Needs Improvement: Sherrod Martin (He recorded three interceptions but that is mainly due to the fact that he gets beat a lot and opposing tight ends tend to abuse him).

Best Play: R.J. Stanford's interception on Drew Brees (He pretended he was half Chris Gamble half camouflaged hunter as he blended in, in the secondary to make a great play on the ball and he nearly took the ball to the house).

[Panthro]

I'm gonna go with Anderson, Gamble did an outstanding job covering the opponent's top receivers but makes too many mistakes in changing cover schemes. He either doesn't pay attention to the defensive play calls, can't remember what coverage he is supposed to be playing or likes to "freelance" sometimes. Which ever it is he gets burned to often.

:confused:

[nctarheel0619]

IR because that's where our defense really was.

[PhillyB]

anderson. as p55 said he played at a position decimated by injuries and had to excel individually as well as in a leadership role.