Carolina's Defensive Line is a Problem

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The Panthers’ defensive line is a problem for opposing NFL offenses. Sure you can say it was just the Jets whose offensive line struggles tower even the Carolina Panthers, but it’s clear that this defensive front will harass quarterbacks all season. The Panthers’ defense was relentless Sunday against the Jets, pressuring Zack Wilson on 74% of his passing attempts and grounding 6 times in his debut. When asked about a late-game sack by Derrick Brown, Wilson said “felt like I got hit by a truck.”

Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus

Everyone got in on the action. Hasson Reddick notched 1.5 sacks, Brian Burns got to Wilson once, and both seemed to be swiping at his feet on nearly every play. Perhaps most impactful, Derrick Brown was far more than a run-stuffer in this game, he was a disruptive force that buried Wilson that left people expecting him to get up as a two-dimensional object. Shaq Thompson and Marquise Haynes were able to get to Wilson, and it is stunning that somehow Yetur Gross-Matos didn’t notch a sack because it felt like he hit the quarterback repeatedly.

Carolina got home Sunday--a lot. The defense is currently on pace for a 102 sack season. While that pace will surely slow, sacking the quarterback isn’t the only sign of a successful defense. This defense has demonstrated that it can generate constant and relentless pressure. It’s a league where making quarterbacks uncomfortable is paramount to success, and Carolina’s defense appears to be ready to cause problems for opposing offenses.

By Tony Dunn
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