Cat Crave » Dwight Freeney

Have the Carolina Panthers Moved on Without Julius Peppers?

Eric Quackenbush — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:59:34 +0000

The latest news around the web concerning Julius Peppers’ doubtful future with the Carolina Panthers came late Sunday night. While speculation mounts, the future and uncertainty of the Carolina Panthers and Julius Peppers may clear up sooner than expected.

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Who is Everette Brown?

John White — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:48:26 +0000

I’m trying to picture the scene in the Carolina Panthers war room on Saturday. There is Marty Hurney with John Fox seated next to him. Ron Meeks has to be in there somewhere, or had we all forgotten about him?

Yes, it was Meeks who turned a guy from Alabama A&M into a heckuva good defensive end with the Colts - Robert Mathis. He also worked with one of the finest pass rushers in the NFL in Dwight Freeney.

We are left with the uncertainty of Julius Peppers situation. With day one of the draft complete, and no deal done it’s pretty much official – either Peppers is on the field next season for the Panthers or he holds out. The choice will be up to him and his agent, Carl Carey.

Enter, Everette Brown, the defensive end from Florida State after a draft-day deal that put Carolina at 43rd overall to select him.

They gave up a lot to get him but this could be a guy that could fit the bill. Is he Robert Mathis? Is he Dwight Freeney? Maybe. Maybe not. But no NFL team (outside of Oakland, possibly) drafts a player without having plans for him. Can Meeks turn him into the pass rusher that we need him to be?

According to several sources, Brown held a first-round draft grade at one point. Check out some of the scouting reports we’ve provided. This kid was ranked as high as number six on some overall value charts.

I’ll grant you that there will be no first-round pick for a second straight year but if he’s as good as some of these reports say he is, they may have pulled off a coup to get him.

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Making Meeks Defense Fit in Carolina

John White — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:37:20 +0000

How many of us have honestly closely paid attention to the Indianapolis Colts in recent seasons? Sure, we’ve watched them win some playoff games and a Super Bowl but we watch our Carolina Panthers much more closely.

How much do we know about the defense that Ron Meeks will bring to Charlotte?

Statistically, the Colts finished the ’08 season 11th in total defense (310.9 ypg), 6th in passing defense (188.1 ypg) and 24th in rushing defense (122.9 ypg).

In 2007, the Colts were third in total defense which had been a major improvement over 2006 when they were 21st.

There were well-known players in Indy as well in DE Dwight Freeney, DE Robert Mathis, SS Bob Sanders and CB Kelvin Hayden. Meeks has left all of them behind now to take over a different group.

The unit he inherits in Carolina compares fairly well to the one in Indy. But we’ve outlined five questions that Meeks and his new staff in Charlotte will have to answer prior to the kickoff of the 2009 campaign. Check it out after the jump.

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