Carolina Panthers Free Agency: Ron Edwards Joins Panthers Rebuilding Project

ProFootballWeekly.com reports that the Carolina Panthers have agreed a deal to add Kansas City Chiefs nose tackle Ron Edwards to their defense.  Official confirmation is expected Friday.

This is a smart, low-key signing by the new Panthers regime.  Edwards played in a 3-4 scheme during the past two seasons for the Chiefs.

New Panthers head coach Ron Rivera has indicated that he will retain the 4-3 front, given Carolina's personnel.

The transition should be simple for Edwards as he has played in a 4-3 before.  Rivera himself coached a 3-4 in San Diego last season and could use Edwards' system versatility to incorporate some hybrid looks into the Panthers' defensive schemes.

One of the priorities for the Panthers has been to get bigger and better at defensive tackle.  Standing 6'3" and weighing 315 pounds, Edwards is an aggressive run stuffer.  He combines power with a quick hands technique to pressure the pocket.

In the draft the Panthers used consecutive picks to select young tackles Terrell McClain and Sione Fua.  The 32-year-old Edwards has 10 seasons of pro experience which could be invaluable to the two youngsters.

Fua himself played nose tackle in a 3-4 at Stanford.  It's possible that Rivera wants an anchor man on the nose to help free up a more active 3-technique at the other tackle spot.  He used the same combination with Tank Johnson and Tommie Harris during his days with the Chicago Bears.

New defensive coordinator Sean McDermott also likes to align his defensive ends very wide in a college style four man line.  This kind of front requires big interior linemen to occupy the center and both guards and clog up the middle rush lanes.

Having moved quickly to retain the services of the superb Charles Johnson, Rivera is making a concerted effort to fortify the trenches.

With a talented set of linebackers already in place, the Panthers defense just might prove capable of keying a quick turnaround in 2011.