Per PFF - The Most Improved Team is....

[h0llywood]

Carolina with a + 240.3 increase from the previous season.

Kansas City comes in second with a +203.3 increase.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10329780/nfl-carolina-panthers-top-2013-most-improved-rosters

 

The article is ESPNInsider so I will only post a snippet. However, the article singles out Star, Kawaan, Luke and TD but doesn't mention a single offensive player.

 

 

 

Stepping Up: We'll get to why they were so much more effective, but there's no denying that the duo of Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis delivered in 2013 with their combined grade shooting up by 12.0 points. Most of the hype has been directed at Kuechly, the tackling machine who was cast as the figurehead of the Panthers' resurgence. But it's actually Davis who graded better, chiefly because of his work in coverage. In an increasingly pass-happy league teams need their linebackers to be able to cover, and Davis is really something special in that regard. He earned the highest grade of all 4-3 outside linebackers in that facet of play.

 

[rayzor]

can't disagree there.

 

that's real trending upward.

 

can't wait to see the growth into next year.

[Cary Kollins]

Clearly we have the pieces on defense to make the playoffs every year.

It's up to the offense to get us over the hump to the Super Bowls.

[jtnc]

Clearly we have the pieces on defense to make the playoffs every year.

It's up to the offense to get us over the hump to the Super Bowls.

The secondary is still ass and undersized

[Lemory]

The secondary is still ass and undersized

 

Cap is the only starter undersized.

[Awesomeness!!]

I don't think the secondary is THAT bad. A lot of young guys that can grow and learn under Wilks. Capt being the exception.

[frash.exe]

Pfffft what does pff know about anything football they didn't think Kuechly should be in the pro bowl

E: Oh wait they raved about the team so I won't complain in this thread about how biased they are

[Cary Kollins]

The secondary is still ass and undersized

Secondary could be better of course but we were still the best scoring defense and 2nd overall.

It'll be big to get Mitchell and Mikell back.

[jtnc]

Pfffft what does pff know about anything football they didn't think Kuechly should be in the pro bowl

E: Oh wait they raved about the team so I won't complain in this thread about how biased they are

Oh wait, you mean they actually graded a team that went 12-4 and went to the playoffs well?

THIS MUST BE TOLD!

[Cary Kollins]

Browsing defensive stats....

 

 

Didn't realize we only gave up FOUR rushing touchdowns in the regular season, compared to 11 in 2012.  That's good enough for best in the NFL, tied with Seattle.  Thanks Star and KK. 

 

 

The Washington *Native Americans* were on the other end giving up 23(!) rushing touchdowns. 

[El Chingon]

Good stuff.

[Panthers8969]

I'm glad Davis I finally getting some recognition

[KillaCamNewton]

Interesting write up from ESPN. The stat that blew my mind is that TD was the best coverage LB in the league which is unreal considering his injuries. Im not sure how to quote articles on my iPhone so mods please clean this up if you need to.

1. Carolina Panthers, +240.3 increase

Stepping Up: We'll get to why they were so much more effective, but there's no denying that the duo of Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis delivered in 2013 with their combined grade shooting up by 12.0 points. Most of the hype has been directed at Kuechly, the tackling machine who was cast as the figurehead of the Panthers' resurgence. But it's actually Davis who graded better, chiefly because of his work in coverage. In an increasingly pass-happy league teams need their linebackers to be able to cover, and Davis is really something special in that regard. He earned the highest grade of all 4-3 outside linebackers in that facet of play.

Big Addition: Rookie GM Dave Gettleman didn't need long to figure out the team was weak at defensive tackle. It wasn't just about the team needing to get some space eaters, but the Panthers needed penetration in the run game and against the pass. So they drafted Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short. The results saw their defensive tackles grade swing from minus-45.2 in 2012 to plus-23.8 a year later. Lotulelei was a huge part of that with his work in the run game, finishing with a 12.9 run stop percentage that was second best of all defensive tackles.

Key Unit: While the Panthers won their battles up front and shut down the running game, it would have meant little if the back end of the defense didn't hold up. Despite minimal investment in the position the team somehow got better, even though its pass-rush grade fell off somewhat with Charles Johnson getting considerably less pressure (10 fewer quarterback disruptions). Undrafted free agents Melvin White and Robert Lester both held up, while veterans Drayton Florence and Captain Munnerlyn raised their games to levels nobody saw coming.

[pepaw]

10 fewer pass rushes from 2012?  He never looked the same after that leg whip. Can you post link or is this ESPN outsider?