Remaking the defense

[Mr. Scot]

We had some discussion on this a while back, but at the time it was purely speculative. Now reports are confirming that the Panthers will shift to a Cover 2 based scheme in the coming season.

From Gantt: Panthers will look to shore up defense ... eventually

everal players have said they've been informed about changes coming to the Panthers defense -- changes which will dictate the style of players they go after in free agency and the draft.

With new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks (a Tony Dungy disciple) taking over, the Panthers are expected to lean more heavily toward the "Tampa 2" style that Meeks is most familiar with.

That leaves them lacking pass rush from the front four, and that will dictate their next set of actions.

At its core, the Tampa 2 system is football stripped down to its basics -- and not unlike the system coach John Fox has been overseeing.

There will be fewer blitzes to generate pressure on the quarterback, as the four down linemen are solely responsible for that.

If they can talk franchised end Julius Peppers into staying, perhaps Meeks could get Dwight Freeney-like production from the right side. It could also mean Charles Johnson stepping up on the left, in order to get more rushers on the field.

But the key is going to be getting something up the middle, from whoever's there. Lewis should be able to contribute once he's well, but his contract restructuring opens the door to the possibility that he could slide back into a reserve role -- where he performed so well for the Panthers before getting a promotion last offseason.

Lack of interior pressure was a big pet peeve for me last year. Looks like the Panthers aren't too happy about it either.

So essentially, you can expect that the Panthers offseason strategy will concentrate on beefing up the defensive line, something that should make many Panther fans happy.

At the cornerback slot, don't be surprised if Pat Yasinskas prediction that the Panthers will stand pat (to coin a phrase) with Richard Marshall as the starter and C J Wilson as the nickel once the expected departure of starter Ken Lucas finally comes about. John Fox has always had a preference for physical DBs over cover types anyway. This scheme will play into that preference.

How much of the overall reworking will be free agency and how much will be draft is a question. Per this article, the Panthers have been in contact with DT Dewayne Robertson, but many sources (including Gantt) have predicted the defense overall will look fairly young in the coming season.

[tarheelpride]

There will be fewer blitzes to generate pressure on the quarterback, as the four down linemen are solely responsible for that.

with our line next year????

[JoCoLoco]

Will be interesting to see what happens with Kemo. I really was liking him more every year, too.

[JoCoLoco]

Also seems as if it will be a gradual shift, so I wouldn't expect anything too crazy next year.

[2jakefansinva]

Weren't we already playing a cover 2?

I swear I remember in the cardinals game.... they kept sending out 3-4 wr's and we only covered 2 of them.

[Mr. Scot]

Weren't we already playing a cover 2?

I swear I remember in the cardinals game.... they kept sending out 3-4 wr's and we only covered 2 of them.

Not as a base defense, but we did play those techniques a lot. Fox's philosophy isn't hugely divergent from that scheme on the whole.

with our line next year????

In fairness, we don't really know right now what our line next year will look like.

Johnson is the likely starter at one end. Kemo will play the 'nose tackle' technique at DT. That much we havem but the other two positions? Very much in flux.

[Seamonk]

weren't we already playing a cover 2?

I swear i remember in the cardinals game.... They kept sending out 3-4 wr's and we only covered 2 of them.

lol.

[The Link]

Chris Harris is not a cover 2 safety.

He is going to get burned even more.

We also need to be blitzing more, not less.

Especially with guys like Davis and Beason.

[Seamonk]

Chris Harris is not a cover 2 safety.

He is going to get burned even more.

We also need to be blitzing more, not less.

Especially with guys like Davis and Beason.

He played Cover 2 in the free safety spot in Chicago and they were a top 5 defense for both of those years. What makes you think he can't do it in the strong safety position in a cover 2 based system.

[pantherclaw]

Fox is no stranger to a tampa 2. I am surprised so many of you don't recall that Fox/Del Rio ran a lot of Tampa 2 when they first came here.

[carpanfan96]

Meek's will play to his player's strength's and Godfrey will have to take on more responsibilities with harris back there. Don't expect harris to get burned, if we go to a cover 2, he'll be fine. Godfrey will become a star under meeks though. Mainly because he has speed at the Safety position.

[ThatGuy]

Weren't we already playing a cover 2?

I swear I remember in the cardinals game.... they kept sending out 3-4 wr's and we only covered 2 of them.

that might be the best thing anybody has ever said on here... lol

[Mr. Scot]

Meek's will play to his player's strength's and Godfrey will have to take on more responsibilities with harris back there. Don't expect harris to get burned, if we go to a cover 2, he'll be fine. Godfrey will become a star under meeks though. Mainly because he has speed at the Safety position.

Harris will probably be used a lot like Bob Sanders was in Indy.

[carpanfan96]

Harris will probably be used a lot like Bob Sanders was in Indy.

agreed.