Does Everyone Really Believe We Are Good At Dt?

[Keep Pounding]

I think Fua problem was technique, I remember reading an article saying while in college he was able to overpower people, but being in the NFL, everyone is strong. So once he gets his technique down, he should be better, you can't teach a guy technique and NFL strength and conditioning under the circumstances last year. So I expect to see a vast improvement out of Fua this year.

McClain- I don't like him at all, he might even be better than Fua , but I remember he held out for awhile, once the lockout ended, trying to nickel and dime his contract, I understand players want more money, but come on man you was a 3rd pick, under the new CBA, there is not a whole lot of wiggle room.

Edwards as experience- he plays the position good, IMO. He is no Suh, but he is a guy that will command a double team, and has the experience that we don't have at the position.

Neblett and Kearse should be higher on the depth chart than Fua and McClain. Those guys came in and it looked like a totally different DL, minus the Saints* game....

[Zod]

I am going to go ahead and trust Rivera's experience in coaching the DL over anyone on this board.

I'll say yes.

[Black]

I think we are good. Two sophomores with an offseason to grow and learn, Edwards will hopefully provide some veteran experience and eat space, and a vote of confidence from a defensive minded head coach. If a player became available who could contribute, of course I would hope we would be interested, but anyone who thinks that shows a lack of confidence must not believe in the importance of depth.

[FirstRoundPick]

Nope not convinced at all. I havent waffled on both sides of the fence about this like others have either.

[Panther59]

Convinced? Nope. Confident in Rivera's ability to improve who we already have. Yep.

[PantherPhann89]

I won't say that I feel good about it but I will say that because of our LB I feel a little more comfortable about it and that drafting a top LB, to me, was a greater need than drafting a another DT that may not pan out. I don't believe that you give up on a draft pick after 1 season, I do believe that you get competition at that position if you doubt that draft picks ability to improve. I wanted us to target two key positions first: CB and LB, in that order. Although I'm not dissapointed that we got a LB first, but we skipped CB. I wanted Janoris Jenkins. Anyway, better LB play should hide some of the miscues by DT's. A lot of the rushing yardage that we gave up was to the outside and not up the middle, between the DT's. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have Kris Jenkins or his clone collasping the pocket but until we can get that, we've got to build around it.

[Kuech the Sneak]

Well be fine there...McFua should be better, Edwards should protect the linebackers..and neblett and kearse were very solid at the end of the year. It'll be DT by committee this year

[FirstRoundPick]

It wasn't a DT by commitee last year? With the same people?

[Marguide]

It wasn't a DT by commitee last year? With the same people?

Yes, and 3 of them were rookies, along with a 2nd year UDFA. It is not unreasonable to expect improvement.

No one expects All Pro play from them, just improvement

[panthers90]

It wasn't a DT by commitee last year? With the same people?

Yes it was DT by committee last year, but this year, we got 2 all-pro LB back from injury, Keuchly, whatever Alexander brings, improved CB play (hopefully Hogan) and improved safety play (with Smith and Nakamura) to help out the DTs... oh and our best DT back from injury.

[Kuech the Sneak]

It wasn't a DT by commitee last year? With the same people?

Rivera only really activated McClain and fua at the beginning of the year...the third DT barely played whether it was fields or neblett. Late in the year there was more of an active rotation

[Snake]

After going back and rewatching the games I'm more worried about CB than DT. Fun actually started to get it but McClain could be better.

[Kuech the Sneak]

Fua actually had a really strong game in the first meeting against new Orleans who has a pretty good interior o-line...constantly eating up blockers and even shedding them and making a few tackles. McClain was having a strong game against Jacksonville before the rain started

[Tarheels23]

I really like Neblett, and think he'll play a pretty big role. I also notice people always mentioning him as a UT, but believe it or not, he played more at the NT spot last year.