2013 defense vs end of 2014 defense

[juliosantos]

Which one do you feel is better?  Many will say 2013 because of stats but, was it really better?

This is the reason why I am going with the end of 2014 over 13 . Our secoundary was a key part of our late success norman benwikere and tre boston was better then munnerlyn , Melvin white , Mike mitchell and quitan mikell.

In 2013 even with the great pass rush we got our secoundary was still a liabillity which caused us to struggle vs the saints  in week 9 , vs miami and vs the 49ers .

In 2014 our secoundary shut down players like julio jones twice, jeremey maclin , vincent jackson.

2013 Obviously had the better pass rush but id take the team with the better secoundary any day. What do you guys think?

[JawnyBlaze]

2013 all day.  Hardy had THAT much of an impact.

[panthers55]

Problem looking at the end of 2014 is that our competition was not good so we beat some teams with losing records. Hard to say it was better than 2013 which included the whole year.  Does 2015 have the potential to be like 2013. Yeah. Will the core from 2014 play a big role in our success this year? Absolutely. 

[pantherking15]

The 2013 defense was very one-dimensional. The Saints, Patriots, and 49ers in the playoffs all exposed the glaring weaknesses in the secondary. Luke was actually somewhat average in coverage that year (according to PFF). We don't win that MNF game vs the Patriots without Cam converting a ton of 3rd downs and the offense excelling at ball control. And the 49ers playoff game showed us why we shouldn't put all of our eggs in 1 basket (pass rush). Once Staley shut down Hardy, that game was over.

The 2015 defense is way more balanced and will be able to adapt to any offense and give them problems. We will get a lot more coverage sacks this year. Also, the front 7 may be just as good as 2013 with more time to pass rush with a better secondary. Luke is now the best coverage LB in the NFL (according to PFF). We now have the best LB corps with Shaq. Star/KK are ready to take the next step and become elite DTs. Just need Kony and Frank to combine for 12 sacks.

[juliosantos]

Problem looking at the end of 2014 is that our competition was not good so we beat some teams with losing records. Hard to say it was better than 2013 which included the whole year.  Does 2015 have the potential to be like 2013. Yeah. Will the core from 2014 play a big role in our success this year? Absolutely. 

kind of true that we faced lower class teams but saints and falcons did have top 5 offenses 

[UpstatePanther]

kind of true that we faced lower class teams but saints and falcons did have top 5 offenses 

and we destroyed them both in their own houses. 

[Dex]

2014. DAT secondary and historic defensive performance in the playoffs. Ryan Linley*

[Kuech the Sneak]

I think 2015 could be better than the last two years, they'll be the most well rounded. Besides Harper(who might get replaced by a more capable kurt Coleman) there's no real weaknesses

[PantherWake]

2013 was one dimensional but that one dimension was the best in the league.

End of 2014 D was more balanced and i expect more of the same in 2015

[Red Zone]

Improvement in the secondary certainly created more balance. I am really hoping that both Big Frank and Kony step up and at least partially replace what Hardy brought to the table in 2013. Go Panthers!

[OneBadCat]

The 2014 defense was definitely more balanced but the overwhelming pass rush was not there like in 2013.

 

I would take the 2015 Panthers roster over any of the previous 2 seasons though. The offense is what it should be on paper to compliment this defense. And because of that they will outperform the 2014 squad and the pass rush could possibly rival 13 if Alexander and Ealy step up.

[hepcat]

Compared to 2013 I think the 2015 defense will have a better secondary, better linebacker play, but slightly worse up front.  Greg Hardy was an elite player in 2013.  They won't get close to 60 sacks.  But overall I think it's a defense with top 5 potential easily.

[pantherking15]

2013 was one dimensional but that one dimension was the best in the league.

End of 2014 D was more balanced and i expect more of the same in 2015

True, but a one dimensional defense can only take you so far, especially when you get in the playoffs where teams have the O-line talent to compete with our D-line. Also, a team with a creative offensive scheme and an elite QB (Patriots/Packers) can use quick passes to neutralize a monstrous D-line. 

IMO above-average secondary + good D-line > bad secondary + best D-line in the league

[panthers55]

We were 6th against the pass in 2013. Where do people get we had a poor secondary. We gave up more almost 800 yards passing in the last 4 games of 2014 and that included Tampa and Cleveland who had incredibly poor passing attacks. We averaged 214 yards a game passing in 2013 and close to that during the last of 2014. Don't really see 2014 as that much better balanced.