Godfrey "Secondary Will Be Better"

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Link: http://www.panthers....4c-c3a0118616f5

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Panthers secondary is making no excuses for its struggles a season ago.

Carolina allowed the most yards per pass attempt in the league (8.4), and safety Charles Godfrey says it’s a problem the he and his teammates are determined to correct.

“We’re taking the right steps,” Godfrey said. “We admitted that we didn’t do well. We owned up to that.

We corrected what we needed to correct and we’re fixing it.

“We will be better. We will hold up this year.”

Cornerback Chris Gamble believes that’s a must if the Panthers are to make any significant improvement defensively.

“It starts with us in the secondary,” Gamble said.

And growth for that entire unit begins with competition.

“(Coach Ron Rivera) says, ‘Don’t count your reps, make your reps count,’” explained safety Sherrod Martin. “Everybody is trying to make plays.”

Gamble, an eight-year veteran, is entrenched as one of the starting corners, and Captain Munnerlyn has worked as the other first-team corner in training camp thus far. But a host of other corners are battling for playing time.

The competitiveness extends to the safety position as well.

Godfrey and Martin started last year, but former Baltimore Raven Haruki Nakamura and former San Francisco 49erReggie Smith were brought in as challengers.

“We feel like both of those guys have what it takes,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “They’ve both performed very well for us.”

Good read, and nice to hear but actions speak louder than words.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Exactly, actions speak louder than words but I'm glad they are working hard to address their issues.

[Donald LaFell]

Well I guess that settles it?

[Argus Plexus]

The D must improve there is no need its must.

[Lumps]

I really like Gamble, the guy is a professional and does his job and does it well. He is the only single secondary player who can cover a WR over 6 feet. He is underrated, probably because he is overpaid. But in a sense, he isn't. Without Gamble this defense would not last a second against a team with a WR worth a poo.

That said, the Panthers deserpatley need a #2 and a little later a future #1 to emerge. As of now if Gamble goes who is going to cover #1s? Captain?...Lol

[iamhubby1]

Nakamur's quote.

“The one thing I noticed is how fast and athletic this defense is. The front seven is extremely fast, very physical. (Defensive coordinator) Sean McDermott has got some really good stuff going on over here.

“It’s a very young team, and I can bring a little bit of experience having been in the playoffs, knowing what it takes to get there,” Nakamura said. “This team is athletic enough to take it to the top. This team is ready to win.”

If a new guy can see this. Why can't CRA? jk cra

[Rubi]

Blown assignments and miscommunication have got to end.

[redbuddha]

I watched a video of the Ravens defense, against the jets on youtube. They scored like 30 points on defense. It was so beautiful I cried.

[Anybodyhome]

My expectations are very tempered for the secondary this year. I'm far from convinced Munnerlyn is a starting-caliber corner in this league.

[TopCat]

Thank you based god.

[Montie_0123]

That was a nice read, we will definitely see if they can back up what they say next week.

[frash.exe]

Exactly, actions speak louder than words but I'm glad they are working hard to address their issues.

yep

the first step is admitting you have a problem

[CRA]

Nakamur's quote.

“The one thing I noticed is how fast and athletic this defense is. The front seven is extremely fast, very physical. (Defensive coordinator) Sean McDermott has got some really good stuff going on over here.

“It’s a very young team, and I can bring a little bit of experience having been in the playoffs, knowing what it takes to get there,” Nakamura said. “This team is athletic enough to take it to the top. This team is ready to win.”

If a new guy can see this. Why can't CRA? jk cra

I love the direction of this team.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

It sounds like Nakamura is making great strides, but I haven't heard or seen much of Reggie Smith yet. I am expecting a Godfrey, Nakamura, Gamble, Norman secondary with Reggie Smith and Sherrod Martin seeing time at their respective safety positions. I also expect Butler and Hogan to see some time at corner but I think Munnerlyn will be used only in nickel, dime, and quarter packages.