For those griping about the Panthers not drafting any secondary help...

[tiger7_88]

B/c the rules changed. Our corners today can't rape WRs like we did in 2003.

Pass rush aids a secondary....however, last year we generated the most pressure per snap and QBs had the best pass comp % against us even with that.

The reason we sucked so bad at giving up the mid-range pass was because our LBs constantly had to play up in the box to support the run because the middle of our lined sucked donkey nutz against the rush.

Strengthening our DTs is going to free up our LBs. I bet you Keeks gets 4 or 5 ints this year.

[Gabeking]

No I was referencing Luke Kuechly.

I think he knew that lol

[Herbert The Love Bug]

the key to this will become our LB's. because for teams to compete with this front, they will have to make quick short passes as well as the use of screen passes. it will be critical for carolina not to over penetrate and get beat by a screen pass.

I like our chances with Luke, Beason, Davis, AJ Klein, Chase Blackburn and co.

[fieryprophet]

sure they have...you simply can't do what we did in 2003 today. Need better talent now b/c of how games are called in the secondary

The differences in the way secondaries are officiated now and then is wildly overblown. It's been illegal since 1978 to intentionally contact a receiver after five yards, but it became a point of emphasis after the Patriots DBs pushed the limits against the Colts in those same '03 playoffs. People tend to forget that in the '04 AFC championship game after the illegal contact rules were emphasized the Patriots beat the Colts' ass again, holding them to 3 points. If anything, it's the proliferation of flags being called on head-hunting safeties that has impacted secondary play far more than the illegal contact rules on cornerbacks.

The "pass-happiness" of the league has less to do with rule changes then it does with the widespread adoption of spread principles, more pass attempts, and teams being forced to swap linebackers for their fifth and sixth defensive backs to compensate, thereby reducing the quality of players they are putting on the field.