The Panthers defense had a brutal outing this past week, giving up 51 points on the road against the 49ers. Despite that gruesome performance, Carolina still has one of the most effective passing defenses in the NFL this season. The defense’s ability to get pressure without blitzing is a big part of that.
According to NFL Matchup on ESPN, the Panthers have the second-highest pressure rate in the league when sending four or fewer pass rushers in 2019.
Getting pressure without blitzing is a hallmark of an excellent pass rush. Combined with strong play on the back end led by James Bradberry, the Panthers are one of the toughest teams to pass against.
That said, they have a lot of work to do when it comes to stopping the run. Kawann Short’s absence has officially become a huge problem and the Niners weren’t the first opponent to take advantage.
Fixing those issues up front has to be a priority for Ron Rivera as he prepares to face Derrick Henry and the run-heavy Titans.
