Sold on the offensive line yet ?

[TonyN]

Last season Panther running backs averaged 3.9 yards per rush attempt, while Cam Newton averaged 4.0 yards per designed rush attempt. 

 

Against the Bucs on Sunday, Carolina running backs averaged 3.4 yards per rush attempt. 

 

While this is a very small sample size and Lovie Smith's defense may end up being much improved over last season, this cannot be viewed as an auspicious start as far as run blocking is concerned. 

 

On the pass protection side of things, the Panthers only allowed 1 sack on 34 passing attempts against the Bucs, for a very, very good 2.9 sack %. 

 

Last season the Panthers had a very high 8.3 % sack percentage.

 

Detroit was average in rush defense last year, giving up 4.2 yards per rush attempt and downright poor in getting to the opposing QB, tallying only 33 total sacks and a poor 5.5% sack percentage. 

 

This sets up as an interesting matchup for the revamped Panthers offenisve line.

 

Sunday's game should shed some real light on where the revamped unit stands...

[SuperJTheGreat]

Not really. This game up will be a real good test

[shelbypanther]

No.

[the butch]

Meh.  You said it yourself:  small sample size.  Give it 3 or 4 more games before we can have an idea of what we are in for throughout the season.

[@bobbyagnese]

Small sample size, but other than the one sack, they didn't allow a single QB hurry. They also didn't allow any negative yardage runs. I think the constant rotation helped a lot, much like the defensive line.

[tondi]

No.  It will take more than one decent game against an unknown, to this point, defense to give me any kind of feel about our line. 

[CelibatePimp]

Yeah, I dunno if to view the NE preseason game as an aberration or more of what we are to expect. Hopefully they play like they did against the Bucs.

[TonyN]

Meh.  You said it yourself:  small sample size.  Give it 3 or 4 more games before we can have an idea of what we are in for throughout the season.

 

Of course you are right. There should be no real judgement made until after week 4...

 

but the Huddle is so reactionary that half the forum members will claim the Panther's have the "worst offensive line in the history of football" the first time Newton is sacked...

 

The change in style from the pocket loving Anderson to the run loving Newton sets-up another interesting dynamic.

 

I think most casual fans believe "pocket" QB's get sacked more often than "mobile" QB's...

 

While in actuality, exactly the opposite is the case...

[Who Said What?]

They were touting the Buccaneers as a defense to rival ours.  They were saying McCoy was the best defensive tackle in football.  Velasco and Turner abused him at times.  Claybourne and M. Johnson did absolutely nothing.  L. David struggled to exist and we kind of did what we wanted.  Now all of a sudden, it wasn't that good of a test.  What ever......................

[TonyN]

They were touting the Buccaneers as a defense to rival ours.  They were saying McCoy was the best defensive tackle in football.  Velasco and Turner abused him at times.  Claybourne and M. Johnson did absolutely nothing.  L. David struggled to exist and we kind of did what we wanted.  Now all of a sudden, it wasn't that good of a test.  What ever......................

 

I absolutely agree with what you are saying.

 

I think the Bucs may end up having a very, very good defense.

 

I liked what I saw for the most part, but still, it was only one game...

[UpstatePanther]

not sold yet. but i am impressed. lets revisit this after week 4

[ZeroZeroSeven]

If they can have another good showing against Suh, Fairley and Co. it would go a long way in selling me.  As of now, I'm just slightly above cautiously optimistic.

[jayflip]

TonyN still exists?

Reppin' Huddle West

[SCP]

Not sold but can definitely see that there is potential for it to be a solid unit. I need more than one game to crown them though. I want to see how they do through the bye week, then I'll make my judgement.

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Matt Ryan wears braided belts.