09-23-2018, 08:24 PM
Well, it kind of neutralizes a pass rush when you go into a game knowing you're facing a quarterback that can take off running at any time and gash you. Couple that with having to pick their poison in the ground game when their interior line started blowing open holes for McCaffrey, and it's tough to pin your ears back and be aggressive. This team doesn't not have the caliber of player in the linebacking corps to stop a team that can run like the Panthers.
I think the linebackers are the second biggest weakness on this team, right after the right side of the OL. I'm not so sure the backers aren't the worst now. We're running out two guys in Evans and Nickerson that are a 6th round pick and a UDFA. Neither of these guys fell because of behavioral issues or injury. They fell because they aren't really all that great. Nickerson is slow and Evans is small and lack physicality. Carolina was a terrible matchup for that group. We'd better hope we get Brown and Burfict in the lineup quick or teams with plus ground games will have their way with the defense.
I think the linebackers are the second biggest weakness on this team, right after the right side of the OL. I'm not so sure the backers aren't the worst now. We're running out two guys in Evans and Nickerson that are a 6th round pick and a UDFA. Neither of these guys fell because of behavioral issues or injury. They fell because they aren't really all that great. Nickerson is slow and Evans is small and lack physicality. Carolina was a terrible matchup for that group. We'd better hope we get Brown and Burfict in the lineup quick or teams with plus ground games will have their way with the defense.
