McDermott struggling to get Panthers' defense on track

[scarface]

McDermott doesn't miss tackles.

[TAZZ]

[quote}How do teams go to the playoffs & win when starters get hurt, but we can't even get to out of 1 of the 2 worst defenses in the entire league?{QUOTE}

They have established coaches, players, and Systems

Thats why they are in the playoffs to start with .

Some fan's expected WAY Too Much!!!!

From a new coaching staff

From a lock out season

From new practise rule this season

2 starting Rookie D T 's

Loss of 3 Vet players and Connor also out

Not making excusses

Just have realistic expectations for 1st season

How soon we forget FOX & Hurney ran this team into the ground

It will take a few seasons before Panthers can replace players on Defense and still go to playoffs

But the players here now have been thrown into the fire

They will either burn or learn how to play this game

[Snake]

hey if you guys think mcdermott is bad we could always bring back trgovac first chance we get so he could assign our MLB to cover top 3 receivers in the slot running crossing routes like what he called against the texans in 2007. boy i miss that mastermind trgogenius

Thats what you get when you try to put a man coverage DC with a Cover 2 head coach. Trgo did some good things early on when Fox was not meddling in this business. I mean lets face it, Trgo chose not to come back to carolina and won a SB not doing it.

[jarhead]

McDermott has never shown any ability to improve a defense. I personally hope they let him go after this season, b/c I am tired of people claiming it is b/c of injuries. We are NOT the only team to lose starters!

So people are thinking the players aren't trying? Is it not partly the DC's job to help identify players to the HC & GM that can help the D (at least scheme-wise).

How do teams go to the playoffs & win when starters get hurt, but we can't even get to out of 1 of the 2 worst defenses in the entire league? It is not just players who don't care or don't have talent...you can say that every year that a team under-performs then.

Honestly, I'm just tired of us sucking. To score on O as much as we do & still lose games is quite ridiculous... bye bye McDermott :seeya:

I agree with most of what you are saying. Sure losing key players hurts but that is part of football.I am upset with the lack of fundamentals like tackling and most of all player development.Other than Gamble, I just do not see guys getting better.Rivera described Fua and McClain as hitting the rookie wall but I fell like that is sugar coating the fact they are not getting better and the term rookie wall either means we made poor draft picks or they are not getting the coaching they need. For an athletic tackle like McClain we should be seeing some week to week improvement but he cannot even stay in his gap much less penetrate.

I am not calling for his head just yet, but player development is his job and seeing young talent not improving warrents a red flag

[panthers55]

It's the players fault. People are in position to make plays and consistently don't make them, missed tackles etc

That is a good point. The whiff by Martin on Sunday is a perfect example. In fact 3 people missed the tackle on that play. I blame the poor tackling on a lack of padded practices where you work that out. In fact poor tackling is an issue across the league IMO.

We blitz quite a bit but are close to the bottom in sacks. Why? Poor execution by players. Coach's plan but player's execute. Poor execution of the best plan results in poor results.

[panthers55]

I agree with most of what you are saying. Sure losing key players hurts but that is part of football.I am upset with the lack of fundamentals like tackling and most of all player development.Other than Gamble, I just do not see guys getting better.Rivera described Fua and McClain as hitting the rookie wall but I fell like that is sugar coating the fact they are not getting better and the term rookie wall either means we made poor draft picks or they are not getting the coaching they need. For an athletic tackle like McClain we should be seeing some week to week improvement but he cannot even stay in his gap much less penetrate.

I am not calling for his head just yet, but player development is his job and seeing young talent not improving warrents a red flag

What rookie DT not named Suh had a good rookie year?? Go back through the last few years and show me where a third round rookie tackle started with no offseason or training camp and played well his rookie year. The reality is most every rookie linemen gets abused his first year. That includes first round picks on down. The problem was expecting him to start right off the bat. He is doing exactly what should have been expected, little to nothing. FWIW,Rivera said that while McClain was struggling, Fua was showing good improvement over the past several games. I figure that is as good as you can expect.

[Guest]

Give him next year with full off season and healthy players and see what happens.

[jarhead]

What rookie DT not named Suh had a good rookie year?? Go back through the last few years and show me where a third round rookie tackle started with no offseason or training camp and played well his rookie year. The reality is most every rookie linemen gets abused his first year. That includes first round picks on down. The problem was expecting him to start right off the bat. He is doing exactly what should have been expected, little to nothing. FWIW,Rivera said that while McClain was struggling, Fua was showing good improvement over the past several games. I figure that is as good as you can expect.[/QUOTe

I did not expect them to have a Suh type year nor was that my point.My point was is that I have seen very little player improvement (ie development) with the exception of Gamble on the team as a hole. In Rivera's words McClain is struggling.It may be the nature of the beast but as I said it warrents a red flag with regards to McDemott ability to develope a great defense.

[rayzor]

not sure you are paying attention. rivera said that mcclain hit a rookie wall, but fua has looked better.

[Cyberjag]

What rookie DT not named Suh had a good rookie year?? Go back through the last few years and show me where a third round rookie tackle started with no offseason or training camp and played well his rookie year. The reality is most every rookie linemen gets abused his first year. That includes first round picks on down. The problem was expecting him to start right off the bat. He is doing exactly what should have been expected, little to nothing. FWIW,Rivera said that while McClain was struggling, Fua was showing good improvement over the past several games. I figure that is as good as you can expect.

I'm curious, what's your opinion on our DLine coach as compared to Baker?

[pantherclaw]

I am NOT a fan of McDermott.

He's never proven himself to be a good DC.

With that being said, there is no way i can blame the coach, when we've had the injuries we've had.

I know some fans think we should be able to over come injuries.

I'd agree, if we weren't missing our two best linebackers.

No team in the league has play makers riding the bench, ready to step up when ya lose a beason, or a davis...let alone both.

I can go on, but those who don't want to hear it, won't hear it.

I also believe the lack of padded practices has really hurt...especially with so many key injuries to defense.

I've never been a fan of McDermott, but i don't blame him for things that are beyond his control.

He and Rivera will have to find away to teach better tackling, without more padded practices.

[Qu1million]

SM>Lack of Talent

[CRA]

He and Rivera will have to find away to teach better tackling, without more padded practices.

We are a young team on D....I think now we are starting to see why that missed offseason was important.

[rayzor]

We are a young team on D....I think now we are starting to see why that missed offseason was important.

seriously.

these guys needed OTAs desperately. they needed someone to help develop them and we haven't had anyone who could really do that for years. that wasn't exactly on fox's list of things to do, although it should have been.

i think meeks is a good teacher (which is why he was kept) as is most of the coaching hires, but they just didn't have time to work with the players on things they desperately needed.

during the season the focus on coaching is getting ready for the next week and working with what you've got to try and fit something together that will help you win.

the offseason is when coaches can actually help players get ready for the season and work on teaching the players unfamiliar with the system how it works as well as honing up on the fundamentals, like tackling. there are lots of teaching moments during the season, but you need to have a full offseason to really get people prepared.