Charles Johnson, Jon Beason, and Chris Gamble...

[mav1234]

So everyone here pretty much thinks that are defense will suddenly become even average if we plug in a couple of rookies and some second tier free agents??

I think some of these guys statistics have altered how good we think these some of these guys are. Our defense is terrible all the way around.

going to choose this particular post to respond to.

If we get Beason back healthy and if he is capable of playing at his old level, and if Ron Edwards is a decent run stopper and a good DT, and if our DC is decent enough (which is yet to be seen at all), then we are very close to being an average defense. Those two should theoretically make a gigantic difference in our ability to stop the run.

Anderson is good enough and his job is safe. Godfrey too. Neither of them are spectacular but we've also got far larger needs so I think it's unlikely we bring in "good" competition at their positions. The other three you listed are too, of course. But I think Godfrey and Anderson are both average-to-good starters in this league. While it'd be nice to pick up serious competition at those positions, when we have as huge of needs as we do elsehwere in the LB corps, at corner, at the other safety spot, it's hard to really be sure how we could afford to.

Hardy is still young, I think he's going to be a good one but yes, he needs some work. We already have a good bit of competition at DE with Keiser and Applewhite there as well, so I think DE is one position where we don't need to add much unless someone falls into our laps.

[CPF4LIFE]

James Anderson, Greg Hardy, and Godfrey are not fine. Anderson had a ton of tackles this season. He also missed a ton of tackles and was pretty pooty in coverage despite a handful of nice plays like the interception against Houston. Greg Hardy can't hold his edge and isn't even that great in pressuring the QB despite that being his "specialty". Godfrey is decent in coverage but rarely provides anything in terms of tackling against the run or against receivers after the catch. He is basically a cornerback playing safety and it shows when he actually has to try and tackle someone.

Being "pretty good" on this defense is like being the skinniest kid in fat camp. It isn't good enough to actually play in the NFL.

And in the NFL. Being under contract means very little.

This. I think some people are blinded by the fact that without Beason out there and bad defensive play Anderson looked better than what he really is, he was just solid thats it. Got burned a lot in coverage and missed tackles but also made some. To be honest he had a better year last year. You could almost make a case that he isnt even a every down linebacker YET. I will say this, when we get more talent around him keep a close eye on who the offenses identify as a weakness and exploit....dont be surprised if its him. Hopefully it wont be the case because he is improving.

[mav1234]

Anderson did have some screw ups, but he was also exposed at times due to the weakness of the team around him. He's not our best linebacker by any means but he's an above average starter in this league.

[bigjohn]

So everyone here pretty much thinks that are defense will suddenly become even average if we plug in a couple of rookies and some second tier free agents??

No. But I think Beason coming back full speed will help, THEN when you factor in a decent first round defensive back, some help at DT via free agency or return of the big guy that got injured (never can remember his name) we might be decent on defense.

If Thomas Davis comes back from injury (not counting on that), that's a huge plus.

[4Corners]

.... are the only players on the defensive side of the ball whose jobs should be safe.

All due respect to James Anderson who had a great statistical year and Greg Hardy who has moments where he looks like he can be really good, it is time to put loyalties to the side and add serious competition to every position besides the three named players on that side of the ball.

Not just warm bodies from the third tier free agent market and waiver wire. Real talent from the draft and free agency.

Doesn't mean everyone else has to lose their jobs. Just put true competition on the practice field and put players that are actually productive on the field on game day.

You need to add James Anderson and Godfrey.

Disgusting the amount of hate Godfrey still gets from this forum.

[4Corners]

I motion for gif bombs in this thread it is obviously worth it

[Matthias]

James Anderson has improved every year he's been here, his job is completely safe. Greg Hardy's job is safe for now, unless we can get Mario Williams. Charles Godfrey's job is also safe. We shouldn't be creating additional needs to a team that already has plenty. We need to improve in DT, CB, FS, and OT. Those should be our only focus this offseason.

[Raskle]

We need to upgrade some positions and have guys step up and play better than they did last year. The way to essentially have the same guys play better is for them to overacheive their performances of last year.. The best way to do that is make sure they know that every job is not safe and the players who win the position each week win the right to start. Guaranteeing starting jobs based on how they played last year is a Fox concept better not revisited.

This... I guess I'm old school, but I don't think anyone's job should ever be safe. They should have to go out and prove they deserve it each and every year, Not doing so, imo, leads to complacency, which we saw with many a Fox team over the years.

In a market "where if you perform, you get paid" takes place, the reverse should be just as true: "If you get paid, you should perform," and if you can't, then we should find guys who can. It's overall better for the team, because nobody likes dead wood that doesn't live up to their expectations. Simple as that.

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

Anderson had the best year of any defender. And arguably the same could be said for last season.

[Huffgolf30]

i definitely add anderson and maybe munnerlyn. i thought he played very well this year at times.

[Tarheels23]

NO LB IN THE LEAGUE CAN PLAY WELL IF THE PEOPLE UP FRONT SUCK. Everyone is acting like Jon Beason made every play. I remember plenty of times last year when Beason was healthy he was getting torched and missed some tackles also. Go back and look at the games and box scores.

Hardy is a valid point. However as someone said statistically his development is close to CJ so I would play it out a year. Competition isn't a bad thing.

Sherrod Martin consistently takes bad angles. Consistently misses asssignments, Consistently mistimes passes.

Charles Godfrey keeps getting poo. I really don't understand it anymore. It's like he can make 15 good plays in a row and 1 bad play he is the worst safety in the league. I'm tired of defending him tbh so I'll just disagree.

^

This deserves repeating!

Beason had his fair share of tackles that he over pursued as well. Same with all LB's including Ray Lewis, but Anderson was by far the best tackler on our team, and he's starter quality, who should have gotten Pro Bowl consideration. Plus the guy is super durable.

Judging a LB, by how well he plays in coverage is like judging a CB by how well he tackles. I'm not saying it's not important, but with the lack of pressure our DLine has gotten, I'm not about to measure how good Anderson is, by how well he can cover Graham or Gonzalez.

[JawnyBlaze]

Those numbers aren't fair because Hardy has started most of his career while Johnson came off the bench. However Hardy is fine. They both look beastly to me.

Hardy hasn't started most of his career. He got little playing time last year, was definitely not a starter, and this year he seemed to get less than your average starter's snaps. A lot of rotating with Keiser and Applewhite. He got 1 year of minimal use and 1 year of starting time. So your point is accurate, he has seen a little more time on the field in his first two years than CJ, it's not as big a difference as you seem to be making out.

[mav1234]

imo competition is always good, but when we have as many holes as we do and limited draft picks and free agent acquisitions (come on, this is the Panthers :P), we have to prioritize. We do want to increase depth and in doing so bring in some competition but we don't even really have a starter at CB#2 or one of our LB spots... and we really need to do something about Martin...

[JawnyBlaze]

So everyone here pretty much thinks that are defense will suddenly become even average if we plug in a couple of rookies and some second tier free agents??

I think some of these guys statistics have altered how good we think these some of these guys are. Our defense is terrible all the way around.

Well our offense jumped from last in the league to top 10 with just Cam and two decent TEs. I imagine our top 10 defensive pick along with the return of Beason and hopefully a couple others from injury could easily return our defense to at least average.

Anderson is easily safe. He might make mistakes every now and then, but if nothing else the fact we have to find another LB on the other side of Beason and a new FS and CB2 and maybe a new DT or two means we got MUCH bigger problems to fix than upgrading Anderson. Godfrey is pretty much the same deal, not the greatest ever but he's safe. At LEAST average talent level for the NFL, if not a little above average.