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Some observations on the defense

frash.exe

By frash.exe,
in Carolina Panthers

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frash.exe Apprentice

frash.exe

Posted
Posted

Just a thread where I make a few talking points

Season Forecast

Based on what I've seen from this defense if our preseason performance is any indication of what is to come for the regular season (like our preseason defense's hemorrhaging of yards and points carried on for the entire regular season in 2011), then we're going to give up some yardage, but create turnovers to dampen scoring. As long as the offense is as dynamic as it was last season (which I think it will be even better), we're going to have a winning season.

I think despite the vacuum of raw talent at certain positions it's remarkable that the starting defense has given up only one offensive touchdown in the entire preseason. I can only hope that carries on into the regular season.

Some Notes About McDermott

I know the perception on Sean is pretty lukewarm around here, and part of that is because the guy walked in here only after he couldn't fill Jim Johnson's shoes in Philadelphia (well, I don't believe he couldn't eventually, but that's the rap he gets anyway). I also know that on this board especially people are sticklers for that "stingy" defense that doesn't give up a lot of total yards. I don't know where you've been the past few years but that ideal is analogous to still thinking the running game matters nearly as much as it used to, because they're pretty much connected. What matters more today is creating turnovers and pressuring the QB on a consistent basis. And while McDermott didn't have a lot to work with last year, the two years he was DC in Philly had them ranked near the top of the league in takeaways (Proof). Last year Philly was terribly average. What I'm basically saying is don't rip into McDermott this season if we're giving up like 330 yards a game. As long as we're winning the turnover battle, the defense doesn't give up as many points as we're scoring, and we're winning most of the games I think he's doing a good job, especially considering the talent on the defense isn't that great.

LUKE!

Forget anything I said about him before he was drafted. The guy is outstanding at diagnosing plays and if they put him all over the field this year he can do some amazing things.

The DL

DE has Charles Johnson and some good young players, but so far nobody has stepped up well enough to look like a complete starter. Hardy really needs to work on finishing his pass rush and getting those sacks. With the true advent of Ron Edwards' presence on this line, DT looks like it has been stabilized from now from what we can tell, but there's always room for improvement. I hope we make a few real upgrades on this line within the next two years. It would be great to have a good enough interior line and fast enough ends to implement some wide 9 so we can really fug some QB poo up.

Back 4

Besides Gamble there's still nothing special going on right now. While Nakamura should spare us the Sherrod Martin experience, he doesn't look like a playmaker so far, and neither did Godfrey. It sucks because the team could've easily afforded an upgrade, and there were some difference makers available last offseason. We just snubbed the opportunity to address a real need. If safety is a liability again this season, there's just no getting around the simple fact that Hurney dropped the ball on this one. At 2 corner, still nothing to really indicate we're going to be better there at this point. Captain only ever makes a good play incidentally, and Norman's camp dominance hasn't leaked into preseason games. Maybe that changes when the regular season gets here. Maybe something clicks into Norman's head and the game slows down instantly for him. Maybe Captain finally hits his growth spurt. I don't know. Anything that can make this unit better.

That's it for now. Oh and I can't wait to get instantly excited for football again. This is exactly what I will look like at 4:25 on the 9th

25qw32h.gif

it's rape o'clock for the Bucs

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CAVSS Newbie

CAVSS

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I was really hoping to see some life from the pass rush in this game. Considering NY is struggling with their Tackle situation, our pass rush was abysmal; CJ included.

I was very happy with the run D and not disappointed by the secondary. Norman didn't get any interceptions but he wasn't targeted very often either. Captain should stay at nickle. He just gets picked on at the #2 spot. Gamble got beat a couple times but he was solid. The safeties seemed to be in bend-dont break mode so I didn't expect much from them other than solid tackling. And they did that.

Luke is the real deal. Reminded me of watching Polamalu fly around the ball. Im excited about this guy. I hope he doesn't quit football to pursue an acting career with the next Superman franchise. Also stoked to see TD playing well. Interested to see this unit with Beason back in there. And im very worried about his rust. He is the QB of the defense. With 0 playing time he won't have the feel for the game immediately. Could cause major problems in the first few games and we need a good start this year IMO.

I'm just gonna keep hoping that CJ and Hardy step up. We can't afford to give the QB's in our division all day to find an open receiver because they will no matter who is at CB.

I think we start off ranked 25th or so and get better as we go.

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jarhead Newbie

jarhead

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We need a pass rush to slow down some of these potent offenses and limit the time our cbs have to cover.That is our single biggest need/problem.The secondary is weak but the pass rush would make them look better.When we have blitzed other teams have picked it up for the most part except for T Davis

I would be interested to hear some opinions given we will not find a pass rusher in FA. Keiser has looked decent but against 2nd teams.Could we use Davis as a rusher in somewhat of an atypical 3-4?

Line up four DEs? or something other than what we have been doing.I just do not

see the talent to pass rush in a typical 4-3 defense. To me we have a talent shortage and before we throw McDermitt to the sharks we have to give him the tools.

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BountyHunter Collaborator

BountyHunter

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I think we will continue to to see steady improvement in the D as this season goes along.

Sean McD is a young DC that might have been thrust into the DC job in Philly a little too soon with the passing of Jim Johnson. Rivera probably knew this but was confident in Sean's potential to give him a shot here. I remember just after RR was hired that his intention was to be VERY hands on when it came to the defense. We have to remember that last year was RR's first year as a head coach and he had pretty large learning curve of his own.

Last year things probably became a little overwhelming(he said as much in several interviews) and RR didn't give as much attention to Sean as he would have liked. This put more pressure on Sean and the defense suffered.

This year with RR being more comfortable with his HC duties, I think he will give Sean and the defense more of his attention and we will see the result.

I don't think we have seen anything on the field scheme wise(except for that group of plays where TD got the sack last week) that we will see starting week one.

I guess I'm rambling on to say this:

To totally put Sean's name on the defense isn't entirely fair. I feel as if RR wants make this defense his with Sean's help. And to continue to mentor Sean and help in his development.

I'm not posting this to criticize the OP in any way. It's just my opinion as to why the defense seems to be behind the offense in their development.

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SuperMan Newbie

SuperMan

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I was really hoping to see some life from the pass rush in this game. Considering NY is struggling with their Tackle situation, our pass rush was abysmal; CJ included.

I was very happy with the run D and not disappointed by the secondary. Norman didn't get any interceptions but he wasn't targeted very often either. Captain should stay at nickle. He just gets picked on at the #2 spot. Gamble got beat a couple times but he was solid. The safeties seemed to be in bend-dont break mode so I didn't expect much from them other than solid tackling. And they did that.

Luke is the real deal. Reminded me of watching Polamalu fly around the ball. Im excited about this guy. I hope he doesn't quit football to pursue an acting career with the next Superman franchise. Also stoked to see TD playing well. Interested to see this unit with Beason back in there. And im very worried about his rust. He is the QB of the defense. With 0 playing time he won't have the feel for the game immediately. Could cause major problems in the first few games and we need a good start this year IMO.

I'm just gonna keep hoping that CJ and Hardy step up. We can't afford to give the QB's in our division all day to find an open receiver because they will no matter who is at CB.

I think we start off ranked 25th or so and get better as we go.

We play Tampa after week one we will have a top 10 defense.

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