Faulkner: Panthers to go 13-3

[gettlemanjack]

Associated Press:

Greg Hardy views the Carolina Panthers’ front four as an unstoppable force. It’s easy to understand the defensive end’s confidence ...The Panthers were #1 in the NFL last year with 60 sacks, 40 coming from the defensive line.

The Panthers didn’t accumulate those totals with a lot of blitzes or fancy schemes. Instead, it was mostly relying on the strength of the front four to get to the quarterback and cause disruption.

...

Nine defensive linemen had sacks for the Panthers. Hardy led the way tying a franchise record with 15, while Charles Johnson added 11 from the other defensive end spot. Veteran tackle Dwan Edwards provided the push inside with three sacks despite missing six games with a quad injury, and rookie tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short combined for 4 ½ sacks. Young ends Wes Horton, Frank Alexander and Mario Addison also found their way to the quarterback.

“The effort up front has been phenomenal,” DC McDermott said. “There is penetration inside and there are people coming off the edge, whether it’s Greg or Charles or Wes or Mario or Frank Alexander. When you spread it around like that, they are tough to block, especially when they are coming off the ball as fast as they were.”

...

Carolina’s defense hasn’t pressured the quarterback at the expense of stopping the run. The Panthers were second in the NFL in rushing defense. Overall, the Panthers allowed the second fewest total yards and points in the league

...

“Everybody is turning it up that extra gear,” said Hardy. “It’s not about money or going to the Pro Bowl or getting a sack and celebrating by yourself. It’s about getting with your team and embarrassing other people. (It’s about) winning and doing what we want to do."

[Rules&Regulations]

13-3 is incredibly optimistic. This guy must be the bizarro Peter King or something.

[Frizzy350]

BRUH 13-3 would be a dream. 10-6 or 11-5 is more realistic.

 

Agreed.  Even if we go 10-6 or 11-5 we might have a better football team.  12-4 is seriously difficult to live up to, even if we end up a stronger unit.

[ickmule]

This guy speaks of truth.....

[BANE]

Key is playing injury free. If this team remains injury free, 13-3 will happen. If injuries start to rear their ugly heads, eh it'll be tougher nabbing a playoff spot. 

[Frizzy350]

I don't get the pessimism regarding this team. 

 

 

The NFL fan base has grown a significant amount over the past 15 years (without a doubt, it is the most popular sport in the USA now).  I personally believe this growth has been caused by the NFL's embrace of modern technology. Specifically, I believe Fantasy Football and Madden are primarily responsible (as a younger dude, they definitely helped pull me completely into the world of the NFL).  This new fanbase places an extremely high value on high octane offenses due to the medium that exposed them to football.  Because we are perceived to have a sketchy quarterback and no names at receiver, we are bound to fail.

[ickmule]

Reading through this thread I wonder if some posters are really Panthers fans. I have been negative plenty in the past, but have never started a season thinking we would fall short of the playoffs. With this defense there is only a small chance this team has a losing season. 

[gettlemanjack]

When I look at the schedule its really really hard to pick out 13 wins. Call it pessimistic if you want, I'm just being honest.

[gettlemanjack]

When I look at the schedule its really really hard to pick out 13 wins. Call it pessimistic if you want, I'm just being honest.

being completely honest the schedule looked 13-3 to me.

[MedellinHeel]

Lol our OL will be solid? Da fug is this dude smoking to make a claim like that? 

 

We have one good OLman and the rest either suck or are unproven. 

[TheMaulClaw]

I see 10-6 and a wildcard birth.  Schedule is just too tough for 13-3. 

[Navy_football]

The NFL fan base has grown a significant amount over the past 15 years (without a doubt, it is the most popular sport in the USA now).  I personally believe this growth has been caused by the NFL's embrace of modern technology. Specifically, I believe Fantasy Football and Madden are primarily responsible (as a younger dude, they definitely helped pull me completely into the world of the NFL).  This new fanbase places an extremely high value on high octane offenses due to the medium that exposed them to football.  Because we are perceived to have a sketchy quarterback and no names at receiver, we are bound to fail.

 

Yes, but a QB like Cam is actually one you'd create in Franchise or Career Mode - right? Big, fast, strong arm, hard to tackle, elusive, maybe give a little on the accuracy for the aforementioned. He's also been a top fantasy QB since coming into the league. 

 

And defense wins games in Madden and top defenses are a high commodity in fantasy. 

[Navy_football]

Navy_football...Couldn't have said it better,brah!!!

 

Seriously...

 

It goes back to the idea that fans want pro bowlers at every position. You just can not field that team in the NFL anymore. Every team has holes and weaknesses in personnel. 

[rodeo]

It's a weird feeling to have a team that you legit feel could go either 13-3 or 5-11.