DL aged nicely last season

The DL appeared to need reinforcements after opening 2011 by allowing 146.8 rushing ypg over the opening 10 games (eight losses). But through Weeks 11-15, with Frank Kearse, Jason Shirley and Ogemdi Nwagbuo joining the rotation, the defense allowed 95.6 rushing ypg. “Early, we threw a bunch of young guys to the wolves,” coach Ron Rivera told panthers.com.