Our Defense will carry us this season.

[Achilles]

I don't want the defense to have to carry the team. That's what was happening last year but it came to a breaking point. Last year we actually did have a playoff ready defense, at least for the first half of the season before they got worn out to hell. Our defense was very very good. But when your offense is atrocious it doesn't really matter. Both the offense and defense need to do great this year and get the job done if we're going to have any success at all.

There is a lot of truth to that, but I wouldn't go as far as to say they were very good in any game last season. They couldn't get off the field on 3rd down. They did not get sufficient pressure up the middle of the field. There has been a lot of evidence this pre-season of still having these problems.

THe way I see it, this is Cam's team. That is where we are going to see the most dynamic change from last season. If Cam can extend the play and not create a lot of turnovers, this offense will move. THe running backs will find room and the recievers will start to get open.

One statistic that is more or less directly related to a defense's 3rd down stops % is the offenses 3rd down conversion%. If we can get ours up, in other words...run more plays and stay on the field longer, this will take a tremendous amount of pressure off our D. So much so that they will be able to play more aggressive.

I think our 3rd down conversion rate last year was around 31%. A 5-10 point improvement would translate directly into wins. In other words, if Cam does his thing, this defense will be able to play its game, instead of being dictated to by the opposing offense. THat was Fox-ball. THis is a whole different monster!

It's all on Cam.

[Punisher]

Sorry, I strongly disagree.

[DawgzLife]

I hope I'm very wrong, BUT...how to you coach up individual pressure or gap control from our 2 young DTs in a regular season game, but not in pre-season? That was our biggest problem, b/c then the LBs are all cogged up & no DBs can cover for extended periods.

I agree whole-heartedly that the D did not show all of their tricks during the pre-season, but I still have major concerns. I personally would not be good with our D being 15th or less in the league. If we 'turn on the pressure from blitzing' with this group of CBs...what happens next is not a mystery.

I have high hopes for Rivera & our D, but today will stop any..."it was just pre-season" excuses & we can get down to the real debates!

Yeh! I can't wait...it's football time today!!!

[Cape Fear Cat]

I choose to be optimistic. Until they show they aren't any good, I'll believe they can handle the job. As noted here, it would be incredible to see a D coached by the likes of Rivera and McDermott not be stout. So Go Cats!!!

[cookinbrak]

Our running game should carry us. If they stack the box, we have a WR and TEs that can open it up.

[Udogg]

Top 10 defense this year. Book it, write it down, twit pic it, whatever.

[Shotgun]

Having Clausen on the bench will really help the D.

[goodoleboy]

Smoke and mirrors won't stop the run. If we have to blitz scheme and slant linebackers to do that we are in trouble. There is no substitute for beef up the middle. We will not suck on D but we won't be very good either. It may not show this week...but next week against the Pack?

[CRA]

we will suck against teams that won't to lineup and run it down our throats pending they have the OL and RB to do it.

[EMSMedic79]

I really hope Greg Hardy shows up in a big way this season!

[jtm]

I think it will take the defense some time to learn the new scheme. I expect them to start off the season pretty weak and get better each and every week through the year. Next year I would think they have the potential to be strong if we can address DT.

Our running backs will carry us this season - if not, it will be a long season.

[panthers55]

There is a lot of truth to that, but I wouldn't go as far as to say they were very good in any game last season. They couldn't get off the field on 3rd down. They did not get sufficient pressure up the middle of the field. There has been a lot of evidence this pre-season of still having these problems.

THe way I see it, this is Cam's team. That is where we are going to see the most dynamic change from last season. If Cam can extend the play and not create a lot of turnovers, this offense will move. THe running backs will find room and the recievers will start to get open.

One statistic that is more or less directly related to a defense's 3rd down stops % is the offenses 3rd down conversion%. If we can get ours up, in other words...run more plays and stay on the field longer, this will take a tremendous amount of pressure off our D. So much so that they will be able to play more aggressive.

I think our 3rd down conversion rate last year was around 31%. A 5-10 point improvement would translate directly into wins. In other words, if Cam does his thing, this defense will be able to play its game, instead of being dictated to by the opposing offense. THat was Fox-ball. THis is a whole different monster!

It's all on Cam.

Last year we allowed offenses to convert 38% of their third down conversions which was 16th. Is it a big issue?? Not really. Atlanta who was 13-3 allowed 39% and New England who ended up 14-2 in the regular season last year allowed a 47% conversion rate.

Where did the defense fall down? Allowing 25.5 points a game. That was good for 7th place. Of those teams above us, only Dallas made the playoffs. Why?? They also scored 24.6 points on offense. New England led the league scoring 32.4 points a game. Atlanta scored 25.9. Even teams know as defensive teams scored 23.4 points a game.

You are right that the offense is the key though. No matter how good your defense, if you only average 12 points a game, you are going to beat few teams. In the end stats really come down to points for versus points against. If we average scoring 24 points a game this year we will win 7 games a year. Look at our history, it has always been defined by how much we score as much as how much we give up.

On an aside, if your offense moves the ball and controls the clock, your defense will always look much better. If you control the turnovers so you create more than you give up it give the offense more opportunities and limits the opposition. We were a -8. Can you make the playoffs with a neagative turnover ratio? Yes you can but you have to avoidn turning the ball over in your end and allowing the opposition to score points. Or you have to score a bunch yourself which makes what the opponent does less important.l

[brandon_87]

Top 15 by the end of the year, top 5 next year.

Lol your drinking already?

Or just hoping he can do for our D what he did for Chicago and SD?