SI: How will the Panther Defense's personality change with Norman gone?

[KB_fan]

I'd heard that SI had reporters at minicamp this past week.  Looks like yesterday they wrote an article about the Panthers defense and the challenge of maintaining swagger or crafting a new identity in the wake of J-No's departure.   It's an interesting read:

Here's an excerpt:

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Now, as the Panthers begin the process of not only repeating last season’s success but exceeding it, they are dealing with a tough question to which they may not have an answer: do they have to rekindle the type of attitude they received from Norman, or do they have to forge ahead with entirely new approach and hope for the best?

“That's a good question and a fair question,” defensive coordinator Sean McDermott says in the back of the defensive meeting room. “I believe that every team has its own identity. You have to start from square one again every year.

“Certainly we have a certain culture in the building and that will carry over from year to year, and that starts at the top with Mr. [Jerry] Richardson. What doesn’t necessarily carry over is the chemistry. And I believe every team has its own chemistry because of the personalities. Josh was here, now he’s gone. Insert some good young rookies that we drafted, and they’ll bring their own personalities. That’s what we’re working on now.”

 

http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/06/16/carolina-panthers-cornerbacks-josh-norman

[Ricky Spanish]

Josh was Josh on the defense. His personality didn't dictate the overall personality of the squad, in my opinion at least.

Everyone else had a lunch pail mentality that I would say comes from TD. TD is the Defensive tone setter.

[KB_fan]

Here's a bit more.  I like Tre Boston's response and attitude.  I think he and Kurt Coleman have a strong bond and together will do a lot to help the Secondary gel.  We know the intensity that Kurt brings (playing with a broken nose....)  and one of my favorite memories from 2015 is the Dallas game, when Kurt got the pick 6 and Tre Boston was running the length of the field (on the sidelines) jumping up and down the whole way cheering him on...!

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So far so good, but Boston knows that the rookies will need to play to their personalities if the Panthers are to enjoy another feel-good season.

“We never try to replace anybody,” Boston said. “If they go, that’s them. If somebody comes in with the same attitude and it's the same person, we’ll let it be. But it’s a different team. We don’t like to look back on what we used to have because then you're looking differences instead of similar traits. Right now, we’re trying to get that, we’re trying to get guys to become more of their personalities. We want them to relax, we want it to flow. And then when that happens, we will see the guys that are at that pace, that want to talk, we’ll let them do that. Even myself, I’m going to get to a point where I’m going to be more relaxed. You’re doing to have a different swag.”

So far, Rivera is content with Life After Josh, but he knows there’s a long ways to go. And along the way, the Panthers will change their persona, just like they did last season.

“With a new season, you need new way of doing things,” Rivera says. “It’s kind of funny. Somebody said something about how Cam Newton’s not going to dab anymore. That’s because it's time to move on. When we first got together for OTAs, I told the guys, ‘The only way to get back and win it is we can’t start from where we finished, we have to start from the beginning.’

 

 

[Bronn]

I hope all of our new CBs have personality, but I don't care if none of them have $15 Million worth of personality.

[KB_fan]

By the way, hat tip to Bill Voth for the link.  It's included in the latest "what they're saying"

http://blackandbluereview.com/wts-june-17/

And no, I'm not worried about the defense being weak on personality in Josh's absence.  But I thought it was an interesting question to ask our coaches and players.

[KB_fan]

1 minute ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

As for as I'm concerned, TD is still here. So, invalid question.

Fair enough.  In fact all 3 of our defensive captains are still here:  TD, Luke and CJ...

[caatfan]

10 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

the challenge of maintaining swagger or crafting a new identity in the wake of J-No's departure. 

There is no challenge. There is no need to craft a new identity. As far as I'm concerned this is total media BS. Norman wasn't the identity or the leader of the defense or even the DB. 

[imminent rogaine]

I think Boston starting will actually help with that fire. All three LBs bring it too. I wouldn't mind seeing some skirmishes between the Offense and Defense during camp - specifically, Secondary v WRs and DL v OL.

[Bronn]

2 hours ago, caatfan said:

There is no challenge. There is no need to craft a new identity. As far as I'm concerned this is total media BS. Norman wasn't the identity or the leader of the defense or even the DB. 

Yeah... Just because some of the neighbors moved away, it doesn't mean that Thieves Ave. isn't still there...

[Donald LaFell]

Not really worried about life after Josh, defense wasn't bad without him beforehand. Need the overall team to be healthy. 

[motocross_cat]

Norman was great last year but most of the defense seemed annoyed by him most of the time.

Also mclain was pulled from under a rock and looked good in big games.  So the absence of norman this year is not as big of a deal as these idiots in the media think it is.

[pantherclaw]

I felt the defense's personality  was more a combination of Davis, Luke, and McDermott.

Josh's stood out, cause he was the most vocal.

 

[the butch]

Whatever edge Josh brought, just got picked up by the front 7.  KK coming off a breakout year.  Ealy freaking balled out in SB50 on another level.  Shaq has been tearing it up.  Oh, and we just drafted a freak of a DT that is going to have an IMMEDIATE impact.  If the KK situation is handled the right way [or even if not, we still have Luke and TD], our front 7 will be lethal, and we'll be saying, "Josh who?"

[dpm0409]

2 hours ago, imminent rogaine said:

I think Boston starting will actually help with that fire. All three LBs bring it too. I wouldn't mind seeing some skirmishes between the Offense and Defense during camp - specifically, Secondary v WRs and DL v OL.

Spartanburg heat will almost guarantee this!