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.”
32 Pressures for the defense yesterday… THIRTY-TWO FAM.
Zach Wilson Dropped back to pass 43 Times!!!!
Dude was under pressure 74% of the time… SHIT!!!!!!!
— PNP (@PantherNationPC) September 13, 2021
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.
NASCAR package. Result: a lovely little game up front, and 600 pounds falls on top of Zach Wilson here. pic.twitter.com/kvIT72U7Lm
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) September 12, 2021
Welcome to the NFL, Zach Wilson
Meet Brian Burns 🤝
pic.twitter.com/T4X6WmFagl— PFF (@PFF) September 12, 2021
Zach Wilson is literally running for his life out there!!!!
pic.twitter.com/y9tt6eYYDI— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 12, 2021
With all the love and props the #Panthers DLine is getting, I hope Marquis Haynes is getting included. This is really impressive against a good LT in Mekhi Becton.
Zach Wilson had nowhere to go, especially with pressure in his face. pic.twitter.com/ntqxleyeSr
— Edgar Salmingo, Jr. ✌️ (@PanthersAnalyst) September 13, 2021
If this Zach Wilson play doesn’t give you hope for the future, you won’t like it here
Defender in his face before he’s even done with a play fake, pure athleticism to avoid and get out, flick of the wrist to a place where ONLY his WR could make the playpic.twitter.com/Sw0WQhW2yQ
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) September 13, 2021
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
Follow @Cat_Chronicles for the latest Panthers news and opinions from the fan perspective.
Leave a Reply