Unser Chat » The Carolina Panthers defense seems to be finding its st

ride in recent weeks. They gave up 28 points to the Buccaneers Stitched Curtis Samuel Jersey , but only ceded 4.6 yards per play to what had been the NFL’s best offense in terms of offense coming into the week. That performance was preceded by holding the Eagles and Ravens to 17 and 21 points respectively, both below those team’s averages. But tonight’s test will be tougher than any of the previous three. The Pittsburgh Steelers enter this Week 10 showdown ranked fourth in the NFL in total yards and ninth in scoring. They scored 74 total points in their last two home games, which is part of a four game winning streak they’re currently riding. Even without Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers offense is humming. With little time to prepare, it’s unfair to expect the Panthers defense to completely stifle Ben Roethlisberger and company. The Steelers are going to move the ball. They’re going to score points. But there are things the defense can do to give the Panthers a chance:Tighten up in the red zone. The Steelers have the second most efficient red zone offense. The Panthers have the second least efficient red zone defense. Weird stuff happens on Thursday nights, and that needs to be the case here. With the Steelers boasting too many weapons to completely shut down, the Panthers defense will need to force field goal attempts instead of touchdowns at the very least. As an added bonus Youth Christian McCaffrey Jersey , kicker Chris Boswell has missed three of his ten field goal attempts and four extra point tries, so field goal attempts are not free points for the Steelers. Get Ben Roethlisberger all the way to the ground. Big Ben is one of the league’s best quarterbacks at escaping from sacks. Whether it be because his feet are planted so firmly in the ground that he won’t fall or because he makes an ill advised pass while in the grasp of defenders that somehow doesn’t get intercepted, he’s almost unsackable. The Steelers are one of only three teams that have allowed fewer sacks than the Panthers this year, giving up only 11 all year. The Panthers have averaged a respectable three sacks per game over their last three, with defensive end Mario Addison accounting for four total during that stretch. They need to build off that momentum tonight. Limit run after catch yards. The Steelers have three players in the top twenty in total yards after catch this season- Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and James Conner. All three are dynamic with the ball in their hands Stitched Christian McCaffrey Jersey , so the secondary and the linebackers need be sure with their tackling. The Panthers defense will be stretched to their limit tonight, but recent performances suggest that they could be up to the task. The Steelers defense, while better lately, is fallible. Just like last week, the defense just needs to make a few big plays and key stops to give the Panthers a chance to win. Newfound stability in the front office may lead to continued success on draft day." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteCat Scratch Readera Carolina Panthers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsAboutPanthersOddsShopStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Keep Sounding PodcastPanthers 2019 NFL DraftCSR Film RoomThe 2019 NFL draft holds a lot of promise because the 2018 class was greatNew,4commentsNewfound stability in the front office may lead to continued success on draft day.ESTShareTweetShareShareThe 2019 NFL draft holds a lot of promise because the 2018 class was greatPhoto by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty ImagesIt’s only one year in, but the Carolina Panthers’ 2018 draft class is already looking like a home run. D.J. Moore Youth Marquis Haynes Jersey , Donte Jackson, and Ian Thomas are a promising group of young athletes who are poised to become multi-year starters at their respective positions. Hitting on three out of eight picks might not seem like a good rate, but it is far better than the Panthers have been averaging for years. Factor in that five of those picks were in the fourth round or later, which are more akin to lottery tickets, and you could say that fans have every reason to be happy with the 2018 draft.Some of you are going to complain about Rashaan Gaulden here. Some of you should let that go. For one thing, the jury is still out on him, even if the evidence doesn’t favor optimism on his behalf. For another Stitched Marquis Haynes Jersey , it’s one pick in an otherwise stellar class. The Panthers could be better right now for a different pick. They aren’t and the 2018 draft is well finished by this point. There are no take backs. Let’s move on.The quality of that draft after the most tumultuous period in the history of the Carolina Panthers is a great sign of things to come. For all that we complain about general manager Marty Hurney’s draft history —his boom or bust nature is as legendary as it is terrifying— we have to acknowledge that his leadership combined with the scouting department he inherited from Dave Gettleman improved the roster from 2017 to 2018.Gettleman stole away a couple of his lieutenants after the draft, but the Panthers scouting department was not pilfered by him or other teams during the rapid changes at the higher levels of the organizations. A few guys got promotions and a few new voices were brought in, but the promising thing is that the bulk of the talent that led to last year’s draft class has been retained.Consistently good draft classes start with consistently good scouts. 2019 presents the Panthers with the opportunity to prove they have those. The draft is about projection and hope. It is the idea that there is untapped greatness both in sight and hiding under rocks, all of which is waiting for your favorite team to take advantage. It’s how some teams become good and why so few stay that way. It’s why that consistency matters.The Panthers aren’t going to draft Pro Bowlers with each of their seven picks. Every Thomas is always balanced by one or more Gauldens. The 2019 draft probably won’t propel this team to Super Bowl LIV. But another three rookies that are talented enough to win starting jobs in the NFL would be a good start. The reason behind that start will probably be Carolina’s very recent stability.