Could the secondary be a solution to the Panthers' pass rush?
While Greg Hardy is no longer a Carolina Panther (although he's really been gone from on-field action for a while now), the team is left attempting to find the answer to their pass rush. While many believe that Hardy is the reason for the decrease in sacks last season, one person who thinks it may be due to something completely different is general manager Dave Gettleman.
According to Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer, Gettleman believes the defensive backs didn't get enough sacks last season.
“The drop-off was with DB sacks,” Gettleman told The Charlotte Observer. “That’s where the big drop-off was.”
As Person explains, it does make quite a bit of sense.
"After losing blitz specialists Quintin Mikell (retired), Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Mitchell (left via free agency), the Panthers’ defensive backs accounted for only two sacks in 2014 after recording 11 during the 12-win season in 2013." Person stated.
So while we're all looking to find the replacement for Hardy (and the defensive line produced 7.5 fewer sacks last season than in 2013), there still may be some work for the defensive backs to do. It'll be interesting to see how the pass rush comes together in 2015 for the Panthers.
(h/t The Charlotte Observer)
Photo Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images
-
2024 NFL mock draft: 4 QBs in top 5, 4 receivers in first 10 picks
2024 NFL Draft order: Every pick for all seven rounds
2024 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Top 100 led by Caleb Williams
-
2024 NFL Draft RB rankings: No clear stars, but deep top 10 prospects
2024 NFL Draft WR rankings: Marvin Harrison Jr. leads stacked top 10 prospects
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Chargers, Giants land star wideouts after QBs go 1-4
-
2024 NFL Draft OT rankings: Scouting the best tackle class in 20-plus years
2024 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available
2024 NFL Draft TE rankings: Historic prospect Brock Bowers leads top 10
-
2024 NFL mock draft: 4 QBs in top 5, 4 receivers in first 10 picks
2024 NFL Draft order: Every pick for all seven rounds
2024 NFL Draft prospect rankings: Top 100 led by Caleb Williams
-
2024 NFL Draft RB rankings: No clear stars, but deep top 10 prospects
2024 NFL Draft WR rankings: Marvin Harrison Jr. leads stacked top 10 prospects
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Chargers, Giants land star wideouts after QBs go 1-4
-
2024 NFL Draft OT rankings: Scouting the best tackle class in 20-plus years
2024 NFL free agency tracker: Signings, updates, best players available
2024 NFL Draft TE rankings: Historic prospect Brock Bowers leads top 10