Team needs(PFF)

[pantherclaw]

Got to improve the front 7, before you can really know what ya have, and don't have in the secondary.

[AceMan]

PFF hurting souls lol

[CatMan72]

Paid Godfrey too much to bench him @ this point... we'll have to hope he comes around.

Disagree on the WR need, I think LaFell can be a legit # 2.

Totally agree on CB, Capt was overmatched... Brandon Hogan may develop into the other guy but it would be smart to bring someone else in to hedge that bet.

[CatMan72]

Got to improve the front 7, before you can really know what ya have, and don't have in the secondary.

Yup, no consistent pass rush = bad secondary.

[Razeyfingers]

I would rather draft a new sled rather than go receiver this year. At least the sled may help our D linemen get better.

Please please please Gods of FA, bring me two new safties.

[panthers55]

Part of the reason Godfrey looked so bad is that he played close to the LOS because he had to support the run which made him very vulneraable to play action. It also put us in cover 1 often forcing Martin to choose who to cover if the opposition put 2 guys deep or put a TE in the seam. Better D line and linbacker play will help the safeties tremendously this year not only from a pressure point of view but allowing more cover 2 and allowing him to play his position rather than making up for deficiencies elsewhere.

[Cyberjag]

Back in 2002, the defense played pretty well despite having a rather pedestrian secondary. That was largely due to good linebacker play and a defensive line that was probably the best in team history. There's no way we get back to that talent level in one season (save signing Mario Williams), but we still have the chance to get a lot better there just by Edwards returning and picking up a talented rookie.

The way I see it, Edwards is a lot like Buckner was, and Johnson is a slightly more physical version of Mike Rucker. Both guys are every-down players, as is Greg Hardy, but Hardy is more about effort than pure talent (think Al Wallace). We could take Poe or Brockers as our 2012 version of Kris Jenkins, or Coples as the second coming of Peppers (an idea I hate, actually).

Of all of them, I like the idea of Poe, so long as his head is in the game. To me, the best thing he and Edwards can do is help keep Beason free to make plays, which should make our defense as a whole look tons better - including the secondary. The biggest improvement would come from just having guys across the line that are all equally good against both the run and the pass.

From a pure position/talent standpoint, Safety probably does present the best opportunity for an upgrade. But from an overall need standpoint, I think DT/DE is probably more important. Just my two cents...

[CRA]

Back in 2002, the defense played pretty well despite having a rather pedestrian secondary. That was largely due to good linebacker play and a defensive line that was probably the best in team history. There's no way we get back to that talent level in one season (save signing Mario Williams), but we still have the chance to get a lot better there just by Edwards returning and picking up a talented rookie.

The way I see it, Edwards is a lot like Buckner was, and Johnson is a slightly more physical version of Mike Rucker. Both guys are every-down players, as is Greg Hardy, but Hardy is more about effort than pure talent (think Al Wallace). We could take Poe or Brockers as our 2012 version of Kris Jenkins, or Coples as the second coming of Peppers (an idea I hate, actually).

Of all of them, I like the idea of Poe, so long as his head is in the game. To me, the best thing he and Edwards can do is help keep Beason free to make plays, which should make our defense as a whole look tons better - including the secondary. The biggest improvement would come from just having guys across the line that are all equally good against both the run and the pass.

From a pure position/talent standpoint, Safety probably does present the best opportunity for an upgrade. But from an overall need standpoint, I think DT/DE is probably more important. Just my two cents...

Secondary back then could also practically rape WRs. So better DL play helped but so did the rules in general. The 2002 and 2003 defenses probably would have struggled more with today's rules place.

[Cyberjag]

Secondary back then could also practically rape WRs. So better DL play helped but so did the rules in general. The 2002 and 2003 defenses probably would have struggled more with today's rules place.

Of course, but they also weren't known for their speed and coverage skills. And I'm not sure we're running as much two deep coverage now either, so it's obviously not apples to apples. The point I was trying to make (and obviously failing to :) ) was that great players up front make everyone behind them look better.

Do you think the defense as a whole improves more with a new CB or Safety than it would with a new DT or DE?

[CRA]

Of course, but they also weren't known for their speed and coverage skills. And I'm not sure we're running as much two deep coverage now either, so it's obviously not apples to apples. The point I was trying to make (and obviously failing to :) ) was that great players up front make everyone behind them look better.

Do you think the defense as a whole improves more with a new CB or Safety than it would with a new DT or DE?

Overall, talent up front is the easiest way to improve.

But, I think part of that is b/c there are a fair amount of Williams, Peppers, Allens, etc. in the league. Not a lot of Revis' and Reeds.

I'd take Revis or a young Reed over any DE/DT in the league.