Is star regressing or are injuries to blame?

[micnificent28]

Title speak for itself. Not that I'm am calling for his head or anything but, it is clear he is not the same dominate force we are use to him being the last few years. He is eating up blocks as well as ever but that penetration and winning against the double team isn't there this year. 

 

So is this what we should expect for the rest of his career? Have injures robbed him of what was once a bright future? Or will we see a return to form next year? What say you?

[jbland]

He was never a great pass rusher. He is a space eater that demands a double team. He makes the rest of the line better. Short was and is the better rusher. They both have their place. 

[pantherclaw]

I don't think he has dropped off.  The interior of our line is it's strength, and it is heavily game planned for. 

I'm sure being off his foot did prevent him from being as well conditioned as previous years, but I don't feel it is cause for concern. 

Our defense is not as good without him.

[Guest Barry McCaulkinor]

huh? Star has been getting some praise for his play. 

[TheNewStandard]

1 minute ago, jbland said:

He was never a great pass rusher. He is a space eater that demands a double team. He makes the rest of the line better. Short was and is the better rusher. They both have their place. 

That pretty much says it all. Short is having the year he's having because of Star being double teamed in lots of plays.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Space Eating NT. He does his Job. If he didn't KK wouldn't have have those sacks. 

[OneBadCat]

I think KK is just that good. Star is damn important and I would guess his foot is a factor. 

[TN05]

He's not having a down year. He's holding up the middle, getting tackles for loss, and enabling our pass rushers to get to the outside.

[ok2h8pep]

OP has a good question.  

I don't have rewind or coaches film but the few time's I've looked for Star specifically I have not seen him being double teamed. I've seen him being handled by a single OL man on many occasions.

I do intuitively feel like there was a drop off for him early on but with the Titans game I started to notice him a lot more in the backfield.  Could be he's just playing himself back into shape.

[SinaloaPaisa]

correct me if i am wrong, but our run D hasn't been that great this season. 

what do you guys think is the difference this year and in the past. 

[panthers55]

Star did miss time this year and might be playing at less than 100%. I did notice him more against Tennessee

[t_bone034]

Star is getting more attention since we don't have Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy coming off the ends.

[teeray]

He is actually playing pretty well IMO.

[TheNewStandard]

27 minutes ago, SinaloaPaisa said:

correct me if i am wrong, but our run D hasn't been that great this season. 

what do you guys think is the difference this year and in the past. 

I agree. Our rush defense was way worse last year though. 

This year, You have to take into account CJ's absence, combined with Dwan, Luke and Shaq missing games. 

When all these guys get back to 100%, teams will really have a tough time gaining big yards on plays. 

This defense will be straight nasty once everyone gets back in the game and gets on the same page.