What we should have learned over this past weekend.

I think most of the defenses you’re referring to were led by their front 4 more so than front 7 (I’m thinking specifically of the Giants & 49ers). I agree that having a dominant front 4 would be awesome; however, the easiest way to make my point is saying, simply; “you can’t force it”. I don’t see any DE/DT/(or even LB for that matter) in this draft worth a top 10 pick. You could maybe make a case that Brockers upside makes him worthy (similar to Newton with the #1 pick) but there is no clear cut talent. Coupled with the fact that ‘as of right now’ our defensive style is to blitz and play zone coverage and I think our choice is obvious: Dre K. He isn’t fantastic in man coverage but he has zone experience and has the physical tools to be elite.

Disclaimer – After reading a bit about the Steve Wilks situation I find myself wondering if he is the back-up plan in case Sean McD doesn’t pan out. If we didn’t run a zone blitzing scheme I’d be screaming my head off for a proven DT but given the lack of talent and current scheme I find myself being less concerned. Show me someone worthy and I could be swayed.

but not because of this weekend. I’ve been waiting to push my moch draft out to CSR because it doesn’t make since to before the combine, senior bowl, and pro-days. I do enjoy everyone elses and it makes for good reading now that the season is over.

Last year I was all by myself on the Cam Newton bandwagon before Andrew Luck said he’s returning to school. This time I’m going on a limb again and say that Carolina will draft Quinton Coples.

I believe that we have the players that we need at the defensive tackle position to avoid choosing one in the first round. River is big on Edwards and we drafted two DT’s last draft. Not to say that we won’t draft one but it won’t be in the first round.

I would love Dre Kirkpatrick but we have a couple corners coming back from injury. A Defensive End with measurables like Coples you can’t find later in the draft.

If we go pass rush then we should take Mercilus.. Mercilus is Simeon Rice 2.0. Same size, was a beast in college and both went to the same school. I know people on here say stats dont matter, i disagree. When a prospect like Mercilus has domimant stats everywhere like he does then it matters a great deal. 9 forced fumbles, 16 sacks (tied with Simeon Rice’s school record BTW) 22.5 tackles for loss!! 22.5! Some DEs dont even have that many overall tackles, let alone anywhere near that amount TFLs. BTW, those stats.. All from just one season.

Scouts have him as a perfect fit for a 4-3 defense. We need to draft Mercilus or Dre K although im leaning Mercilus more and more

I think we pick up Mercilus in the first. Then I have a feeling either Coples,Brockers, or Crick will fall to us in the 2nd rd. It never fails every year a player will slide to the 2nd round just because they were passed over by other teams cause they did not fit a particular teams need at that time.

Good stuff. Thanks.

but i dont think ours needs to be addressed as badly as people think it will. Ron Edwards is our ONLY defensive lineman over the age of 26. The Kraken didnt have a great year in terms of sacks but this is only his 2nd year in the NFL, his first year starting, no offseason, and he didnt even play or practice in the preseason because he was recovering from a motorcycle accident. I have faith that in time he will develop into a dominant force and i dont think it will take long (could see it next year). Ron Edward, our veteran presence and most experienced lineman, did not play last year and is returning this year. All of the other player (except for Neblett) were not on the team last year and are either rookies or young FA pick up that came here with no offseason. I think that these guys will vastly improve if you give them some time together and a full offseason.

Upgrade and create a dominant front seven from free agency and the draft. Then we’ll see that Gamble/Munnerlyn/Hogan/Godfrey make a pretty decent secondary. (I’m not counting Sherrod Martin.)

The better coverage we get from the secondary, the more time our D-Line has to get to the QB. I think we can address the D-Line through coaching up or FA, and get our secondary some help through the draft.