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But Kuechly cautions the Panthers can't simply assume they'll be better.
Rivera knows what it's like to have a No. 1 defense.
Together that group of rookies played in 85 combined games, had 169 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries as rookies.
Carolina allowed 301,Wholesale Basketball Jerseys.3 yards and 15,Wholesale Authentic NFL Jerseys.1 points per game last season; the Seahawks allowed 276.3 yards and 14.4 points.
Luke Kuechly said even though the Panthers were No. 2 in the NFL in defense last season he sees plenty of room for improvement.
"That's a huge plus for us," Rivera said. "As a coordinator you get to the point where the more you get in, the quicker you can refine things and start working on your opponents. ... It can shore things up where you can be a top three defense."
Cason was a member of that squad and said this team "is a little different" than the Chargers team in terms of personnel, but has big-time potential.
With so many players familiar with the defense and a plethora of NFL experience, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the team has already been able to install 75 percent of its defense just one week into training camp.
The Panthers lost only two defensive starters from 2013 — cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and safety Mike Mitchell — but replaced them with veterans Antoine Cason and Roman Harper,Cheap NFL Jerseys. They also added veteran safety Thomas DeCoud.
It all lends itself to a potentially promising season under,Jerseys Cheap Wholesale, the team's fourth-year defensive coordinator who runs a 4-3 base defensive scheme with some occasional 3-4 looks.
"I feel like we can be the league's number one defense," said second-year defensive tackle Kawann Short.
Kuechly, the team's middle linebacker and last year's AP Defensive Player of the Year, points to early season losses to Seattle and Buffalo in which Carolina gave up late touchdowns.
"Just the fact that most of the defense is a solid group in terms of veterans, that helps," Rivera said.
"Hey, there were times we played really well last year and times we didn't play well," said Kuechly, who had 176 tackles and four interceptions last season. "We've got to get on the same page starting from day one."
He was the defensive coordinator in San Diego in 2010 when the Chargers finished first in the league.
Rivera said with he expects defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Short,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, defensive end Wes Horton, linebacker A.J. Klein and cornerback Melvin White and safety Robert Lester to take another big step in 2014 with one year behind them.
The Panthers allowed the fewest touchdowns (21), had the most sacks (50) and were third in red zone defense last season under defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.
Kuechly said if the Panthers are to build on 2013 and take the next step toward separating themselves from other teams they'll need to be more consistent.
The Panthers defense flourished last season despite playing six rookies — sometimes all at the same time.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers defense is looking to take one more step in 2014.
The Panthers return veteran defensive end Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy, who combined for 26 sacks last year, defensive tackles Dwan Edwards and Colin Cole, and linebackers Thomas Davis,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Chase Blackburn and Kuechly from last year's team, giving Rivera a host of veteran leaders on the field.
Only the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks allowed fewer yards and fewer points last season than the Panthers.
With everyone returning everyone from a disruptive front seven and with some added NFL experience in the secondary, some Panthers feel like they can unseat the Seahawks as the league's elite defensive team.
"We need to do a better job of finishing games," Kuechly said.
And the youth isn't bad either.
Carolina avenged its early losses to Buffalo and Seattle last year by winning 11 of its final 12 games to finish 12-4 and win the NFC South championship. But the Panthers couldn't get past San Francisco, falling 23-10 at home in the divisional playoffs.
"Everyone is together, everyone picks each other up," Cason said. "Everyone hustles and does exactly what they need to do within the defense to make it work." |
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