1.  Defensive line coach John Blake left at the end of the regular season to take the head coaching job at the University of Oklahoma.

2.  Defensive line coach Odell Haggins hopes the strength comes in numbers this season.

3.  Defensive lineman Erik Gardner (knee) was in shoulder pads and shorts for the first time since being injured in the season opener against Boise State.

4.  Defensive lineman Karl Dunbar, who spent the past two seasons as a backup defensive tackle, re-signed for one year.

5.  Defensive linemen Ryan Nielsen, Matt Childers, Lonnie Ford and Shamsud-Din Abdul-Shaheed are all exceeding expectations this season.

6.  Defensive slipups and costly home runs have eroded some of the Giants' confidence, on the eve of their biggest series of the season.

7.  Defensive tackle Chad Hennings led the charge with his first sack of the season.

8.  Defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield said the Panthers seemed to know a lot more about the 49ers last season than the 49ers knew about them.

9.  Defensive tackle Leon Lett will miss at least the first 13 games of the season because of a league-imposed drug suspension.

10.  Defensively, Georgia surrendered 241 rushing yards, its highest total of the season.