How much better will the defense be against the run

[Captain Morgan]

pretty dang good...lots to be optimistic about here

[TruCatzFan]

"How much better will the defense be against the run?"

If I knew the answer to this question, I'd bet my entire savings on us this year.

[SuperMan]

Unless we can figure out a way to stop Graham (NO), Gonzalez (ATL), or any of the other baddass TEs we play (or even the mediocre ones, sometimes) it won't even matter. There is no doubt that our run D was awful in several areas, but I think just by the virtue of having Beason (a true leader) in the middle, the upgrades of Keuchly and Edwards, and MUCH improved tackling we will fare better.

Still, within our own division, points come out of the passing game against us and there's no denying that. Hopefully the scheme will improve along with the execution.

Certainly our D will be somewhat better against the run. I still think teams will chip away a few 100 yard games. THere may be one or two backs that break out against us. But if we can contain, and leave it up to a much improved passing D, that will be where the improvement in the run game helps the most. Run D sets up the pass D on 3rd and long, so what are we gonna do on 3rd and long? Run D can't help you then.

If we can improve the overall 3rd down efficiency on both sides of the ball (but esp. on D). We have GOT to get off the field on 3rd down. Whatever the run D can contribute to that is welcome!

We keep TD healthy, and we place Keuchly at MLB.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

as bad as last season was, here's something to chew on...carolina's run defense rankings over the past few seasons per nfl.com

2011 - 25th

2010 - 23rd

2009 - 22nd

2008 - 20th

2007 - 18th

2006 - 11th

2005 - 4th

it's good to have key players back from injury, but until carolina builds a disruptive defensive line, i expect to see more of the same headaches when it comes to stopping the run.

[TruCatzFan]

Crazy to think about how good I remember us being in 2008 and we were 20th against the run....

[nosuchthingasapanther]

Crazy to think about how good I remember us being in 2008 and we were 20th against the run....

opponents rushed for 100+ yards 11x against carolina's defense that season...but who cares when you're winning games.

[CRA]

Crazy to think about how good I remember us being in 2008 and we were 20th against the run....

We were out scoring teams....not stopping them in 2008. Double Trouble was pretty comical in regards to how easy they torched people.....and Smitty also lead the league in yards per game.

I hate thinking about 2008 and how Fox screwed us against AZ. I still think that game was a display of the worst single game coaching I have witnessed in Carolina....by far.

[DaCityKats]

worst game coached in any sport, Fox did. but it starts up front and and our eggs are in the same baskets from last year. hopefully Edwards and Frank can give this DL a spark but i dont really expect any new results.

[Frizzy350]

Even without improved DT play, just having beast back and getting keuchly our run D should be vastly improved. stretch plays, pitches and cutbacks consistently murdered us and having solid, smart and fast linebackers should really limit gains on those plays.

[Frizzy350]

as bad as last season was, here's something to chew on...carolina's run defense rankings over the past few seasons per nfl.com

2011 - 25th

2010 - 23rd

2009 - 22nd

2008 - 20th

2007 - 18th

2006 - 11th

2005 - 4th

it's good to have key players back from injury, but until carolina builds a disruptive defensive line, i expect to see more of the same headaches when it comes to stopping the run.

so basically once we lost brentson buckner and mike rucker, everything went to poo.

[CRA]

so basically once we lost brentson buckner and mike rucker, everything went to poo.

Yeah, once we slowly started losing DL talent and not replacing it.

Buck, Ruck, then Jenkins.

Can call Johnson and Pep a wash. But that is still a lot of spots

[jayflip]

Yeah, once we slowly started losing DL talent and not replacing it.

Buck, Ruck, then Jenkins.

Can all Johnson and Pep a wash. But that is still a lot of spots

Truth. Kemo was ok for us, but other than that we've been marching a nonstop parade of journeymen and practice scrubs out there for DT. If Nick Hayden gives you the "best chance to win" then you're fuged. Even though Kemo was only ok for us, even when we lost him we replaced him with lesser talent and not someone who was equally ok. Enter Ron Edwards. He's not a world beater, but he was brought in to be solid. I'm not expecting him to be like our 03 DTs, but having marginal starting talent will be a huge boost in itself.

I'm not ready to write off McFua either. DT play requires a lot, both physically and mentally, and of they were physically and mentally ready last year, they would have been 1st round selections. All that experience will help them mentally, and an actual NFL offseason should help them physically. Hopefully the light will turn on for both of em, if not one of them. Still, I'm not expecting an all star being born from either, but if they can just get to ok, we'll be tons better up front.

[panthers55]

Giving up 100 yards on the ground isn't a problem if it takes them 30 carries to do it. Instead of total yards we need to look at how many big rushes we gave up and the yards per carry surrendered. Last year we gave up an average of 4.6 yards per rush good for 24th place. We gave up 110 first down, 18 TDs and 15 plays of 20 yards or more.

To be top 10 we need to average 4 yards or less per carry, 95 first downs, around 12 TDs and less than 10 runs of 20 yards or more.

Yards per game can be misleading. If you give up 100 yards on the ground per game because you are surrendering 300 yards in the air, you are not doing a good job as a defense. For example the Saints* gave up 108 yards rushing a game but surrendered 5 yards per carry. They surrendered 275 yards a game in the air which equated to 12 yards a completion. On the other hand we gave up less passing yards at 257 yards a game but it equated to 13 yards a completion which is not good at all, as we gave up 52 passes of 20 yards or more.

[MHS831]

Statistically, You have to expect mprovement from one or two of the rookie DTs from last year. Odds are that one will show signs of busting. The Neblett stupidity hurts because he is our second most experienced DT.

Since we will show some 3-4 looks, this could be good in the long run. In addition, Hardy is 300 lbs and can rush from inside on passing downs from the 3 technique.

I expect better end play and obviously better linebacking to be the reason we should expect to be at least average.