The Panthers Need More From The Defensive Line

[MillionDollarCam]

I’ll say this, the defensive line is doing a fairly good job of stopping the run.

However, for the amount of money that they as a unit make, they are doing a horrible job of pressuring the quarterback.

Coming in to today’s game the Giants were giving up the fifth most sacks per game. The Panthers defensive line managed to get to Manning once. I won’t be as critical as some because I don’t think the Giants offensive line is as bad as people make it out to be (particularly Hernandez and Solder on the right side), but this isn’t a one game issue for the Panthers.

The Panthers have the third highest cap hit in the NFL for defensive line players yet they are in the bottom third in quarterback pressure. Furthermore, let’s keep in mind that this group remains relatively unchanged from the group in 2017 that was sixth in the NFL in pressure rate. Now some of 2017’s success of rushing the passer may be contributed to a “too agressive defense” that Wilks employed, but the Panthers have a better secondary this year that should be better prepared for a Kuechly, Davis (when eligible), or even Bradberry blitz.

This defense will get torn up by the Brees’s, Ryan’s, and Roethlisberger’s of the league if changes are not made.

I think we all knew that the defensive line had been bad but I don’t know how many knew they had been this bad.

[ichigo1057]

Yeah we definitely aren't getting to the QB quite as much as I'd like for us to do. Can't keep giving them so much time to throw and expect to keep making stops.I can say though I have seen a load of holding and on one play tripping out guys that isn't getting called by the refs. It makes things all the more frustrating seeing the lack of pressure when you combine the no calls into the equation.

[ecu88]

JPP played a lot and still seems not himself for pass rushing.

Efe had one QB hit and I hate it for him to be embarrassed on the Giants last TD with him late on the dropback coverage. 

Wes was wrecking people in the run game with little pass rush.

Mario got close a couple times.

Poe was held a lot if you watched the game.

KK was great in the run but was quiet.

 

We are a quarter way into the season. I am not freaking out over stats. This game was an ugly game, a very good win imo and a game that showed our fortitude when everything was not working our way for the most part.

[LordOfDaWingz]

The defensive line is why our entire defense is struggling. They aren't shedding blocks nor clogging the gaps. They get paid too much money to be this below average. 

[RumHam]

I just don't get how we had six against Dallas and nothing now. I think it's a combination that these scum refs are allowing more holding of our guys because if they didn't they'd be too disruptive and also QBs are getting it out quick against us. Eli is smart in the pocket and he stepped up a good bit yesterday. But either way, we thought KK and Poe would be disruptive in the pass rush and they aren't.

[Gladniator1]

This is purely theoretical, however with the Rules Committee creating even more rules to protect Quarterbacks, it would be possible that refs were told to hold off the holding penalties unless they were absolutely egregious.  Hence, ticky-tack (yet still illegal) holds get ignored.  I saw a lot of that yesterday.  We won't really know how much refs have held back (if they have) until more games have been played, but it's possible there is a willing choice to allow more holding to protect the QB's.  They've done everything else under the sun to protect them, so this isn't that crazy of an idea...

 

[DeAngelo Beason]

What a mystery.  Oh wait.  Peppers is 168 years old.  Mystery solved.