Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Rizzuti: Carolina’s defense has been dealt blow after blow this season. Nevertheless, they’ve persisted.
For one, the group has piled up a who’s who of injuries. The following players, to one degree or another, have missed time at some point this season: Jaycee Horn, Shaq Thompson, Vonn Bell, Xavier Woods, Justin Houston, Jeremy Chinn, Yetur Gross-Matos, CJ Henderson, Marquis Haynes Sr. and Brian Burns.
They’ve also lacked in the big-play department. The Panthers have recorded the fewest takeaways (seven) and the second-fewest sacks (18) thus far.
But somehow, they rank sixth in total defense—allowing just 304.5 yards per game. A ton of credit goes to first-year defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, who has kept the Panthers in games they (thanks to the other side of the ball) have no business being in.
