Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

ESPN: Panthers have "worst group of D-tackles in the league"...

SnarkAttack

By SnarkAttack,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

SnarkAttack Newbie

SnarkAttack

Posted
Posted

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/10849/carolina-weakness-defensive-tackle

Steve Smith broke his arm and outside of him, this team has had very little in terms of receiving options of late. Without him, the Panthers will be among the weakest teams in this regard in the NFL -- even with a few rookie pass-catchers added to the equation. It seems as though there is a good chance Smith will be ready for the opener, but even if he is unable to go, the Panthers have a bigger weakness than their pass-catchers.

Even the most casual of fans realize Carolina lost Julius Peppers during free agency, but there is some young talent there in Charles Johnson and Everette Brown. At defensive tackle, Damione Lewis and Maake Kemoeatu are gone, and what remains is frankly very disturbing.

[+] EnlargeEd Wolfstein/Icon SMI

The Panthers traded for Louis Leonard last September, but he played in only two games before breaking his ankle.As of today, the foursome that should expect to see playing time at tackle consists of Nick Hayden, Louis Leonard, Tank Tyler and Corvey Irvin. And maybe Ed Johnson or Derek Landri will factor in. Seriously? Let me just go on record to say that this is the worst group of defensive tackles in the league, and I am not even sure that dubious competition is close.

I understand you can sometimes get away with tough guys who play hard and hold their ground at this position to help free up those around them, and I understand that several of these guys battled injury last season, but there isn’t a playmaker in this bunch, nor is there a guy who commands a double-team in the run game. Compounding matters for the long term, there isn't a young pup in the group who has yet to develop and is dripping with upside. I really don’t see a lot of hope here.

The Panthers’ run defense wasn’t very good last season. With this group of defensive tackles and now the loss of LB Thomas Davis (knee injury), expect it to be even worse in 2010. If the defense can’t get off the field, it will certainly make playing a ball-control, run-first style on offense all the more difficult.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Kurb Newbie

Kurb

Posted
Posted

Compounding matters for the long term, there isn't a young pup in the group who has yet to develop and is dripping with upside

While one could argue on the "dripping with upside" opinion.

Tank, leonard, and Irvin are young players that are either really young (irvin) or placed in schemes they didn't really fit into (Tank/Leonard).

I still hate we didn't go after Corey Williams.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Peppers90 NC Community Regular

Peppers90 NC

Posted
Posted

I do not honestly think it's that bad, not even close to worst in the league. Kemo and lewis wern't all that great to begin with.

They definitely will not be the worse when its all said and done, but right now, can we think of a team with less proven options? I wish I could but I can't

Link to comment
Share on other sites
methodtoll Proficient

methodtoll

Posted
Posted

One name comes to mind when I think of this situation...

Jordan Carstens

This guy came in for Jenkins when Jenkins went out with a injury and played extremely well.

The reason I bring him up is because everybody seems to be doubting our DTs but lets wait until pre-season and see what they can do before judging.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CharlotteBeer.com Newbie

CharlotteBeer.com

Posted
Posted

This guy came in for Jenkins when Jenkins went out with a injury and played extremely well.

The reason I bring him up is because everybody seems to be doubting our DTs but lets wait until pre-season and see what they can do before judging.

'Tis a good point. At one time, we had a bunch of no-names on our offensive line, many of which turned out very, very well for us. I can only hope we have the same success with some of these guys on our defensive line.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SorthNarolina Newbie

SorthNarolina

Posted
Posted

One name comes to mind when I think of this situation...

Jordan Carstens

This guy came in for Jenkins when Jenkins went out with a injury and played extremely well.

The reason I bring him up is because everybody seems to be doubting our DTs but lets wait until pre-season and see what they can do before judging.

Carstens routinley beat double teams, he was a huge find. Too bad he had those blood clots.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SorthNarolina Newbie

SorthNarolina

Posted
Posted

They definitely will not be the worse when its all said and done, but right now, can we think of a team with less proven options? I wish I could but I can't

Yeah I am basing that on a few things. I think people overate kemo and lewis tremendously, they aren't going to be hard to replace. I don't think our scheme demands anything that these guys can't do. I also think they will play well based on how they looked earlier before injury.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Jackie Lee
      OTA's

      By Jackie Lee · Posted

    • Jackie Lee
      OTA's

      By Jackie Lee · Posted

    • electro's horse
      Myles Garrett Traded to Rams

      By electro's horse · Posted

      I feel like this trade just lives rent free in people's heads and keeps morphing into different things. First thing is that the rumored trade was for future firsts. They wouldn't have any extra picks in 2023; the firsts would have been for 2024 and 2025. With very few exceptions, NFL GMs don't value picks that far away. You have to have a lot of job security to pull that off. Like Chiefs, Eagles, Rams kinda stability. That's obviously not the case with David Tepper, especially since he'd just fired his head coach. No GM except for like Howie Roseman is going to trade an asset you have now for a future asset you probably get to use.  Second, at the time you'd have to assume these are first rounders late in the first round. Obviously currency is currency and the panthers need young players, but these weren't slam dunk top ten picks. At the end of the day there's one pick that separates a first and second round pick.  Lastly, the only place that ever reported this trade was the Rams. All the reporters just repeated what McVay said and it became gospel. We have no idea how serious the negotiations were, if they ever really happened, if the offer was real, etc. And I personally believe McVay and Sneed are the kind of guys who would make up rumors like that to fug up other teams, mostly because I assume if I've thought of it someone smarter than me has.  I don't know how you'd call it the greatest draft haul of all time. Firsts quickly lose their value the farther out they are and Burns had 16.5 sacks last season. And anyway those picks would probably just been tossed into the burning inferno of the Bryce trade up so it's a moot point anyway. 
×
×
  • Create New...