How Bad Are Panthers S's At Tackling? 82nd & 77th Out Of 88

by PanthersRoar on Jan 26, 2012 8:08 PM EST

ProFootballFocus.com has ranked the NFL's S's ability to tackle, and the Panthers starting S's ranked 82nd (Sherrod Martin) and 77th (Charles Godfrey) out of a total of 88 players.

www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/25/2011-tackling-the-safeties/

The worst ranking belongs to the Buccaneers Tanard Jackson, at #88, had 24 missed tackles in only 10 games.

Ex-Panthers SS Chris Harris of the Bears was next to last, at number 87.

Current Panthers Starting S's:

82nd - Sherrod Martin - 938 snaps - 68 attempts - 15 missed tackles - 4.5 tackles per missed tackle, he also had a 6.8 rate in 2010

77th - Charles Godfrey - 821 snaps - 88 attemps - 18 missed tackles - 4.9 tackles per missed tackle

Some have suggested that the Panthers sign a Free Agent Safety, and I'm all for it, if they have the cap room. My top choice is the Raiders 25 year old SS Tyvon Branch (6-0, 205, 4.31-40, 1.43-10, per my personal Combine notes), because of his youth, speed, 4 years experience, and record of high tackle numbers. Here is Branch's ranking:

15th - Tyvon Branch - 1060 snaps - 89 tackles - 6 missed tackles - 14.8 tackles per miss

In pass coverage only - Tyvon Branch - 655 snaps - 40 attempts - 2 missed tackles - 20.0 tackles per attempt

9 S's had 0 missed tackles, lead by Cowboys S Abram Elam, who's also a Free Agent.

As for the 2012 NFL draft class of S's, I'm not overly impressed. The Panthers might just be better off signing 2011 UNC FS Deunta Williams (6-2, 205, 33 1/4 inch arms, per my personal Combine notes), who was projected as a 2nd round pick, before an injury prevented him from being drafted, or even being signed or playing in 2011.

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And to think

Carolina would have probably won a couple more games if they had safeties/corners who grasped the concept of passing defense. I’m all for a FA signing and I find it amusing how people were talking about bringing Harris back after he was released. Aren’t you glad the Panthers left well enough alone?

Integrity first. Service before self. Excellence in all you do. -- USAF Core Values

by Disciple of Carolina on Jan 26, 2012 9:05 PM EST reply actions

Martin is terrible

i think Godfrys bad numbers come from him trying to head hunt. he goes for the knock out tackles as opposed to wrap ups. He also plays down field a lot which can often lead to over pursuing or missing a quick move.

I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was

by pcroadrage on Jan 26, 2012 9:06 PM EST reply actions

Agreed

Too often it seems like Godfrey is in wide open space 1on1 against a WR

CAM....CAAAAAAAAM

by CamNewtonSBMVP on Jan 27, 2012 4:13 PM EST up reply actions

people act like a defender shouls always be able to make the 1on1 tackle

but it is a lot harder than people think it is. especially if the ball carrier is fast and shifty. 1on1 in the open field is a defenders worst nightmare

I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was

by pcroadrage on Jan 27, 2012 6:10 PM EST up reply actions

It blows my mind

That there are 6 safeties worse than Sherrod at tackling.

"What do you want to say to those critics now?"
"Just sit back and watch the show." -Cam Newton

by Smitty89 on Jan 26, 2012 9:16 PM EST reply actions

haha

"The way y'all are lollygaggin around here with them picks and them shovels, you'd think it was 120 degrees...can't be more than 114."

Follow @greg24211

by SouthernPanther on Jan 26, 2012 9:19 PM EST up reply actions

That 2009 draft is turning into an all-time worst

"The way y'all are lollygaggin around here with them picks and them shovels, you'd think it was 120 degrees...can't be more than 114."

Follow @greg24211

by SouthernPanther on Jan 26, 2012 9:19 PM EST reply actions

There will be a new sheriff in town this season.

The new secondary coach should spend a bit more time teaching (and preaching) tackling.
I think some (most) of the backs will become students and believers.

by criolle on Jan 27, 2012 12:04 AM EST reply actions

I have to think they'll be a new starter a safety.

I like to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack.

by ERL on Jan 27, 2012 10:05 AM EST up reply actions

Or at the very least someone will be brought in to seriously compete.

Of course, competing with Sherrod is a very low bar after last season.

by Aleins4u on Jan 27, 2012 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

you never know what competition can do

I honestly think LaFell wouldnt be half as good right now if it wasnt for Rivera being on him and him being lowered on the Depth Chart. Bringing in some competition should at least make Martin better, even if only a little

I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was

by pcroadrage on Jan 27, 2012 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Mark Barron

Trade down, get your 3rd rounder back and draft “the Barron.”

Safety is this team’s greatest need as these tackling stats prove. If a safety misses a tackle, guess what usually happens? Godfrey isn’t going anywhere but Martin needs competition. My money’s on Barron.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUPrI8sI63A&feature=related

by blueridgecat on Jan 27, 2012 1:11 PM EST reply actions

2 problems

1- Barron wont be there in the 3rd, he is bottom 1st or top 2nd
2- Barron is a SS and wouldnt transition well to a FS. He doesnt have the coverage skills or athleticism for it

Markelle Martin is a better option. Martin is a natural FS (something we havent had in a long time), solid tackler, and is good in coverage. he is projected as mid 2nd to 3rd

I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was

by pcroadrage on Jan 27, 2012 6:13 PM EST up reply actions

If I'm not mistaken,

Godfrey is a natural FS, so we could just move him back if we drafted Barron. I like the pick in the 2nd if he is there.

by got6792 on Jan 27, 2012 8:33 PM EST up reply actions

Godfry was actually a CB when we drafted him

I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was

by pcroadrage on Jan 27, 2012 8:42 PM EST up reply actions

I stand corrected.

Thought I had read that somewhere. My bad.

by got6792 on Jan 27, 2012 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

I think he meant take Barron with our 1st rounder

But for him to be anything close to a BPA, we would have to trade mighty far back or multiple times, which would mean a lot more than a 3rd rounder.

Which I would be okay with depending on who we used the other picks on. Picking up Barron, Ta’amu (spelling?), and Janoris Jenkins at the bottom of the first/top of the second could potentially be fantastic.And on top of those three we’d probably still have some late 2nd or 3rd round picks left from trading back far enough to make Barron a BPA.

With all that said, it would be extremely unlikely we could trade back that far even if we wanted to.

by Aleins4u on Jan 28, 2012 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

doesn't cover everything

These stats are misleading, but I think that mistake helps our safeties statistically. This doesn’t account for the times when our guys couldn’t make a tackle because they were so far out of position that they were irrelevant on certain plays. I mean, how many deep balls did we see where we sat back and wondered where the safeties were. And then there were the plays when they did make the tackle, after being beat deep.

by usana_gaines on Jan 28, 2012 10:13 PM EST reply actions