A very talented Carolina Panthers defense has been able to fly under the radar over the past three seasons, but now that they can effectively pair three of the NFL's most athletic linebackers together on any given play, it will be hard to keep their strength a secret.
At the moment, the 2-0 Panthers have the fifth best total defense in football, and as their offense figures out a way to move the ball without wide receiver help, Sean McDermott's unit has been firing on all cylinders.
One of those linebackers, Thomas Davis, stopped by NFL HQÂ on Wednesday morning where he was asked a fan question about the Panthers striving for another great defense.
"We're trying to be the No. 1 defense at the end of the season and I definitely feel that we can get it done," Davis said. "It's just all about us going out and continuing to play the style of defense that we've come accustomed to playing."
After the draft I said I wouldn't be surprised if Shaq Thompson won Defensive Rookie of the Year. After seeing how he is used, that prediction might not be possible anymore but it could propel the Panthers into the next tier of great defenses. Just check out his first two games (60 snaps total) and look at what he's adding in terms of mid-level pass coverage and run support.
Davis, who has been holding the unit together along with Luke Kuechly, has every right to be confident.
