Breaking down the defense

[Rags]

easy to look like Revis versus Gaffney when you just got done playing...Jennings, White, and Fitzgerald.

Jennings had 2 receptions for 55 yards, one for a TD.

White had 2 receptions for 21 yards, his worst receiving game in his career

Fitz had 3 receptions for 62 yards

I'm...not really seeing your point here. Gamble has been a baller for this season.

EDIT: Also no one has had 100 yard receiving games covered by Gamble.

[panthers55]

I've seen those numbers before so it's nothing new to me. But when you watch him play on the field (where it matters), you can tell he is slower than those around him. So no, it hasn't invalidated my whole argument.

If you actually know what you are watching you know he isn't slower than those around him. What you would see is that he doesn't have fluid hips and isn't quick backpetalling which makes him a liability in the pass game. In the run game he is very good.

Connor tested well in underwear, Beason playals better in pads.

Combine numbers have their place, but most analysts said Beason played faster than his times and had great sideline to sideline speed.

Beason is the better athlete and the better LB for a myriad of reasons, instincts being just one of them.

Beason has better lateral speed and can change directions pretty well. He has a nose for the ball and better anticipation of where the play is going. But he is not particularly fast. He is an every down linebacker and is a great leader.

Connor is actually better in the run game and is better shedding blockers and making tackles. He is just not a every down backer right now.

Combine numbers allow you to compare players from different systems and different levels of competition. The numbers are the numbers. How you interpret them is the issue, not the numbers themselves.

[Jackofalltrades]

Connor isn't better in the run game if you're comparing him to Beason and it's showing itself this season.

[Anybodyhome]

Why is there a thread on "Breaking down the defense" when we've watched every team the Panthers have played thus far do exactly that?

[panthers55]

Connor isn't better in the run game if you're comparing him to Beason and it's showing itself this season.

He is better in the run game and as a pure tackler. Beason actually struggles to shed blocks. The breakdowns in the run game as of late are around the edges and over tackle, plus some cutbacks. That is not Connor's fault for the most part. This is no knock on Beason as he is a great linebacker due to his all around utility, his leadership skills, and his experience. He has no significant liabilities and is very good against the pass but his size does make him somewhat suspect when linemen get to the second level.