Do Pittsburgh Panthers Have Top 25 Potential?

Defense

The Panthers defense isn’t as loaded for the future as the offense is, but it’s still pretty set. And there are a number of returning starters for it to improve upon the 27 points per game given up last year during the season. However, there are very key contributors gone, and whether or not the defense can even match last year’s performance depends on if it can replace those guys. That starts up front.

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Inside the Loud House

The defensive line would appear to be in good shape with four regular contributors from last year’s rotation back. But it’s not. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald might be the biggest loss any defensive line in college football has suffered after an incredible 51 tackles, 28.5 tackles for a loss, and 11 sacks. No defensive line could replace that. Tackle Tyrone Ezell added another 26 tackles, which includes 3 for a loss and 2 sacks, and he’s gone as well. So the middle will see a huge drop-off. Junior tackle Darryl Render will be one starter, and he can be productive at 285 pounds after 18 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and half a sack last year while playing sparingly. Junior Khaynin Mosley-Smith is back after sitting out during 2013 due to a yearlong suspension, and he has plenty of experience practicing with the team and played in all 13 games in 2012. But it was very limited. How he plays as the full-time starter is up for debate, but it’s an easy prediction to say Mosley-Smith and Render, although potentially productive, won’t match Donald and Ezell. Luckily, on the ends, everybody is back. Senior David Durham will be the leader of the unit after 16.5 tackles last year, and Devin Cook is back after playing only three games last year before going down to a season-ending injury. Those two guys will make for a pretty strong defensive end, and junior Ejuan Price and sophomore Shakir Soto will also be in the rotation. Look for senior LaQuentin Smith and sophomore Tyrique Jarrett to also be in the mix in the middle. If you’re thinking about the future, Jarrett has lots of potential standing at 6’3″ 340 pounds. This eight-man rotation should be enough to have a decent line, but it won’t wreak havoc like it did last year. Expect a major drop-off, but know that the future is set here too. In addition to Jarrett, there are four freshmen who could make an impact this year and will be with the unit for years to come. Not to mention there four juniors in the regular rotation who will all be back.

Although the front line takes a hit, the linebacker corps. is loaded with talent and experience. Shane Gordon is the only regular contributor who is gone. But the top two contributors, seniors Anthony Gonzalez and Todd Thomas, are both back. And they’re both good, having combined for 126.5 tackles and 9.5 tackles for a loss. Junior Nicholas Grigsby has the most raw talent of the bunch and should see lots of action this year after 4 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks as one of the secondary players in the rotation. Don’t worry, the future is set here too with Grigsby and sophomore middle linebacker Matt Galambos, who managed 28.5 tackles and a tackle for a loss as a freshman last year. With these four guys as the major players in the rotation, the unit this year should be better barring injury. Add sophomore Bam Bradley, who played sparingly last year but has talent, and sophomore Mike Caprara and freshman Jamal Davis II, and this is a unit that is also set for the future. However, Chryst will have to do more recruiting here to provide some depth after this year.

The secondary loses two starters, but they were the two least important starters in strong safety Jason Hendricks and cornerback K’Waun Williams. Senior free safety Ray Vinopal is by far the best player on the unit and managed 68.5 tackles, 3 interceptions, 6 passes broken up, 2 forced fumbles, 3 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks last year. He was all over the field and should only build on that his final year of college. Junior cornerback Lafayette Pitts should be better this year as well after 3 tackles for a loss and 4 passes broken up. Replacing the two departing players, sophomore cornerback Titus Howard and sophomore safety Terrish Webb showed talent last year and should have no trouble being inserted full time into the starting lineup. Sophomores Trenton Coles, Ryan Lewis, and Reggie Mitchell once again provide incredible depth for the future, and Chryst brought in two freshmen as well. The secondary should be a little better than last year with more depth and experience.

The defensive unit as a whole, despite lots of returning talent, can only hope to match last year. Donald is that big of a loss at tackle. The line will have such a drop-off that having a slightly better linebacker corps. and secondary isn’t enough for a better unit. Still, the good news is that Chryst has lots of young talent here as well, and although it’s not as loaded for the future as the offense, it’s still pretty set for at least two years. Continue to Next Slide for Special Teams