Defensive transition next season?

[pantherclaw]

Dungy had the undersized guys in Tampa, and he had them Indy too. You can say what you want about the Meeks/Dungy relationship, but the GM/HC make the major decisions. The DC gets to deal with it.

Perfect example is this last year with Meeks. If he truely wanted undersized guys, we wouldn't have signed and traded for the big tackles we got.

[panthers55]

Isnt it possible WR or CB could be addressed in free agency, allowing us to take the BPA, which might be a talented DT?

We usually do take the BPA but sometimes it at a particular position, other times we take BPA even it appears we are loaded at that spot like we did with Connor at Linebacker. The argument could be made that we should get a WR in free agency since we can't seem to develop them but with a new receivers coach that could change. It likely depends who is available and at what price. The attractive thing about a draft pick is that they usually sign a four or five year contract at a real bargain. If they pan out like Williams did, we get them for several years at a very cheap price.

The problem with FAs is that the best ones cost a good deal of money. Or if we could trade for one it could cost money and draft picks.

Given that this could be Fox's last year, I would expect them to do what they can to help the team immediatey instead of plan for the long-term. With that said if they follow that model we would actually trade draft picks for veteran players who can help us right away particularly if the FA market is thin and there are bidding wars.

[panthers55]

If we were to look at WR in FA, that would give us flexibility as far as positions we draft. If the pick is a DT, for instance, that player might not start initially, but in the next year or two when Lewis and Kemo are gone we'll have quality depth at the position ready to take on a starting role if need be.

IMO, a quality 3-tech is what our defense has been lacking for a while, but i wouldn't mind if that player were more of a 0-tech like Arthur Jones, a possible second rounder. If we draft a 3-tech, we have possibly a future starter in case Tyler doesnt play up to expectations and for when Lewis is gone. If we draft a 0-tech, we have a possible starter in case Leonard never pans out or Kemo isnt the same. I'm also taking into consideration the fact that we also don't know what type of player Irvin will be. I simply think it might be a smart move to bolster an important position on the team, while also thinking long-term. Any rookie DT might be a dud and not contribute immediately, but i look at that the same as if we were to draft a WR or CB.

From what I have seen in the short time he played, I think Leonard is the real deal. He could play the nose or the 3 technique. He has the size to take on double teams and the quickness to shoot the gap. We are lucky to have him given we almost lost him back to Pittsburgh. Tyler seems a solid guy but not very spectacular. Lewis seems to still have plenty left in the tank and fits well in our rotation. Corey Irvin hopefully will come back ready to play and contribute. I see him as more of Lewis's successor than Tyler at this point.

With 5 picks we could use on a DT but I would really rather see us get a guy who can contribute right away. In fact I would rather use a draft pick to trade for a guy who could contribute right away then a linemen who may or may not even make the squad. But what do I know????

[Yaboychris28]

Are you talking 0 technique which would be over the center like Kemo or Thomas did or are you talking 3 technique which is what Taylor or Lewis did this year lining up in the between the guard and tackle. You are mixing names and positions so I was unsure what you were referring to.

I would think we have some great DTs who have playing experience versus taking a draft pick who would certainly not start and would probably be on the practice squad or the bench depending on how high we drafted them. I know that the lure of drafting someone seems more interesting than sticking with what you have, but few players get drafted and contribute right away. I think we have more pressing needs that have to be addressed right away like WR and corner, for example. I would rather spend my second rounder on a shutdown corner in the Revis style who could come in and contribute or a wide receiver who could come in than a lineman who almost always needs years to develop. Plus we already invested trades and draft picks last year in the position.

I think we have a bunch of guys who filled in pretty well and with 3 guys coming back from IR, 2 of which would play the nose or 0 technique, I think we have more than enough to do the job and might have to cut some already.

we might have some good solid players but nothing good enough to win the superbowl with we need to improve in the offseason

[DaveThePanther2008]

Meeks seem to do alright with the type of players that were here. His defenses were never this good in Indy, so maybe there is something to the way Fox and Hurney have built it. Input from Meeks sure, but why change what seems to be working already.

So True, I think we never really got a chance to see how good this defense was. They were on the field so much trying to minimize the mistakes made by the offense. It wasn't until Moore started playing that our defense really started to dominate.

I would imagine our total defensive ypg going down significantly in 2010. Which should mean a top 5 defense for us in 10.

Go Panthers