Dt - It Isn't Quite As Bad As You Think.

[NCstoner420]

Are Shirley or Kearse on the team presently?

Yes, Kearse is signed through 2014 and Shirley through next season.

[Marguide]

We should keep our eyes open June 1st for an available 3-tech. I like Neblett, but McClain didn't show very well.

As for Fua, we have enough ahead of him that he can be brought along slowly. He definitely wasn't ready last year.

[x djdrew x]

i really want to see the progression all of these young guys make. This will be the first time in their careers that they have had a real NFL offseason and/or the same coaching staff. Same goes with Cam....first time since HS he's had the same OC two years in a row........you gotta believe the improvement our team will make can be substantial.

2010 we were the youngest team in the league and by God it showed.

2011 was a year of transition with a rookie phenom QB and entirely new system for everyone.

2012 is naturally the year that this whole young group takes a profound step forward.

Kearse and Shirley actually did quite well I thought considering they were the replacements for a pair of 3rd round rookies. I actually thought that they looked more like our 3rd round picks rather than McClain and Fua. It was almost night and day. Kinda scary but they definitely stepped up their game and you could tell they were hungry and fighting for respect and a future roster spot.

If we don't see improvement across the board on the DL tho, I suppose everyone clamoring for more DL and CB help will get their wish in 2013.

Some also still are moaning us taking a LB in the first, but if anything, this SHOULD make our line better. Last year when we had Dan Connor and Jordan Senn starting at LB, it almost didn't matter what the DL did, they were pretty terrible and if we can maintain health at LB, our d-line SHOULD automatically improve.

I believe that we haven't fully even seen how good (?) the defense can play with Mr. Beason manning the center of the field and calling the shots with all of these new additions for most if not all of the season. If our guys see solid progression and we have another equally solid draft next year, this defense could actually be scary good going into 2013 and beyond.

[Dash Global]

im worried about the run defense. particularly the big gains we gave off the edges last year.

[Ivan The Awesome]

im worried about the run defense. particularly the big gains we gave off the edges last year.

"Hello Dash. My name is Luke. Nice to meet you."

[Keep Pounding]

I think Shirley, Kearse, and Neblett played good ever since the two rookies went on IR minus the Saints game, (If I remember correctly McClain held out for awhile trying to get more money last year), and we was on a shortened offseason, that told me that McClain was only about the money and not the team, with Edwards coming back and the development of Kearse, Shirley and Neblett, I've always thought getting a DT in the draft was stupid, I wanted a CB 1st, but getting Luke was a great pick also, BPA , if Claiborne was there, then I was all for him, but we upgraded a position that was important, and we have some decent corners in Butler and Hogan (limited playing time), but with a full offseason, I can see are DEF will be improved....

[JawnyBlaze]

"Hello Dash. My name is Luke. Nice to meet you."

I was about reply the same way til I clicked next page and saw you already did. To expound on your point, the runs off the edge were just as much the fault of having slow ass Dan Connor at MLB and mighty mouse Jordan Senn at WLB as any of the D-line. To defend a run off the edge, the play develops slower so your LBs have to be quick enough (and solid enough tackling) to be in position to tackle them for no or minimal gain.

[Jackofalltrades]

It's bad, and that's not sugarcoating it. And the fact we didn't bring in ONE single DT from the draft or FA is truly appalling.

I disagree and have since the end of the season. I also trust Rivera and Hurney's judgement on the issue more than the Huddle's.

[Rags]

"Jason Shirley - 4 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks and 1 FF."

I don't think anyone realize how impressive these stats are at DT with only 4 games played.

Mind you the last 4 o-lines we played weren't all bad

I'd like to see more of this guy next year.

also like Andre NeBlett a lot at NT

[MadHatter]

You we're right based on something that Ron had no control over. It was a freak injury. And I got news for you, einstein, sometimes a defense just needs a big fat "warm body" to just eat up space and let the LBs/pass rushers do their thing.

Man you are one of the worst posters on this board and everyone laughs at you.

Don't feed the troll.

He is not even a Panthers fan.

[Hotsauce]

All I saying is that when Ron Rivera says he feels good about our defensive tackle postion he actually mean it.

Are you suggesting that Ron Riveria knows more about NFL defense then the "expert" Internet huddlerz?

Good post man!

[MadHatter]

You could definitely make an arguement that Cox, Brockers, or maybe Poe (although I think he has bust written all over him) would have provided an upgrade to our DT unit. However, you have to weigh the benefit there vs. the benifit that Kuechly gives you at lb.

We have many young DT's that Rivera likes....and wants to give time to develop.

Go back and watch some of the Panthers games last season. The rushing yards that were given up had MORE to do with God Awful LB play than with the DT's. They were gashed on the edges....they were out of position in the middle....plain and simple our LB play was atrocious.

Having Beason adn Davis coming off major injury issues is NOT a minor issue. Beason will definitely be back, but will likely not be 100%. Davis is coming off his THIRD ACL tear on the SAME knee. That is HUGE and no one has ever come back from that severe of issues. Kuechly is a tackling machine and along with Anderson and Beason give Rivera the LB group that can play his scheme....with Davis being a back-up and situational guy.

Now, let's move to the 2nd round. Outside of MAYBE Worthy, there was not another DT in this draft that would be an upgrade over who we have. None of those guys would be able to come in and be a difference maker this season. We have two 3rd round picks (similar to the guys that everyone was wanting in the 2nd/3rd round) that have significant playing time and finally now have an offseason to work.

Rivera likes the young guys and wants to see exactly what he has before burning another pick on a position where we have 5-6 promising young guys. He chose to upgrade at positions where he KNEW he needed it (LB due to injuries....OL due to Wharton and Schwartz leaving).

[section543]

i really want to see the progression all of these young guys make. This will be the first time in their careers that they have had a real NFL offseason and/or the same coaching staff. Same goes with Cam....first time since HS he's had the same OC two years in a row........you gotta believe the improvement our team will make can be substantial.

2010 we were the youngest team in the league and by God it showed.

2011 was a year of transition with a rookie phenom QB and entirely new system for everyone.

2012 is naturally the year that this whole young group takes a profound step forward.

Kearse and Shirley actually did quite well I thought considering they were the replacements for a pair of 3rd round rookies. I actually thought that they looked more like our 3rd round picks rather than McClain and Fua. It was almost night and day. Kinda scary but they definitely stepped up their game and you could tell they were hungry and fighting for respect and a future roster spot.

If we don't see improvement across the board on the DL tho, I suppose everyone clamoring for more DL and CB help will get their wish in 2013.

Some also still are moaning us taking a LB in the first, but if anything, this SHOULD make our line better. Last year when we had Dan Connor and Jordan Senn starting at LB, it almost didn't matter what the DL did, they were pretty terrible and if we can maintain health at LB, our d-line SHOULD automatically improve.

I believe that we haven't fully even seen how good (?) the defense can play with Mr. Beason manning the center of the field and calling the shots with all of these new additions for most if not all of the season. If our guys see solid progression and we have another equally solid draft next year, this defense could actually be scary good going into 2013 and beyond.

I seem to remember RR saying when asked why run D was so bad him saying something like LB's not playing where they're supposed to be, wrong reads and gaps, etc. I think run D will be better with starting LBs back, DL improvement,and we'll probably have the opportunity to upgrade after June 1.

[CatMan72]

We're just gonna have to trust Coach and Hurney on this one, if they think we're good at DT then we're good at DT.

Remember: it normally takes 2-3 years for a DT to grow into the position in the NFL, so it's WAY too early to dismiss Fua and McClain.