Panthers Look To Solve Defensive Woes

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Photo credit Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The run defense of the Carolina Panthers had high expectations entering the season.

With the addition of defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and head coach Ron Rivera switching to a 3-4 scheme from a 4-3, the Panthers were thought to be improved from a defense that ranked 12th in rushing defense last season.

That 12th ranking was considered to be a down year especially given that Carolina has been ranked in the top six in four of the last five seasons.

However, through nine games, improvement hasn't been the case. 

In fact, the run defense has gotten worse - a lot worse. 

“It’s just not a magic fix,” Rivera said. “We’ve got to collaborate as a group, coaches and players, and just go out and do our jobs.”

The Panthers rank 29th in rushing yards allowed at 136.7 per game and are tied for worst in the league by allowing 5.2 yards per carry. 

"We are a gap-controlled defense which means there is accountability," Rivera said. "When you look at the gaps, when you look at the scheme, are the guys where they are supposed to be?"

In the last three games, Carolina has allowed 516 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

Rivera attributed the biggest issue as giving up "chunk plays."

The Panthers lead the NFL in giving up the most runs of at least 10 yards.

"The biggest thing we have going is not feeling like we have to make all the plays," Rivera said. "Stay in our gaps and play in our gaps and not allow that." 

Not helping the situation is the fact that Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2. As a result, the defense has had to rotate a lot of different players on the line.

"Probably one of the best fits I have on this defense is Luke Kuechly," Rivera said. "He's as good as there is at middle and inside linebacker. The biggest thing is we have new people in new positions." 

But even with Kuechly tied for sixth in the league in tackles, the run defense has been porous.

According to The Riot Report, only five teams in NFL history have given up 5.2 yards per carry or 1.89 rushing touchdowns per game over a full season. 

No team has ever given up both in the same year.

"We've got to play our gaps," Kuechly said. "An easy fix is not the way to put it but everybody knows where they need to be and we've got to do a better job at being where we need to be.

"That just comes down to trust in your linemen and trust in where you need to be." 

Not every aspect of the defense is struggling. The Panthers lead the league with 36 sacks, which is a pace that would break the franchise record.

But that doesn't matter much if a long run is allowed immediately after a sack.

It's not one player getting burned on long plays. It's been an issue throughout the defense in what Rivera calls a, "gap and half technique." 

"If it was the same guy it'd be very easy (to fix), unfortunately, it's been a guy here and a guy there," he said. "One of the things we ask guys to do is lock up with a blocker. As the ball commits, you get off your block and work over the top. If you do that too soon with a good runner, he'll cut back and crease you. That's happened to us a couple of times." 

The Panthers will have a prime opportunity Sunday against a bad rushing team to figure out their problems. 

The Atlanta Falcons (2-7) come to town ranked 29th in rushing and will be without starting running back Devonta' Freeman. 

"If you took away those big runs and we were still averaging six yards per carry, then I'm concerned," Rivera said. "We just can't allow that consistently and the last few weeks it has been consistent."