Who's laughing now?

by Thomas Musick

It was a softball of a question, and should have drawn a simple answer. A few days ago, David Yu, captain of the Gangsters of Love was asked to divulge the single element that made the team's defense most combustible.

"The Asian Blurr."

The interviewer laughed. "No, really. Come on, David."

"It's Pan," Yu insisted.

Now, the name doesn't seem like such a punch line. Pan is not a member of the "D-Trinity" of Cory Funk, Neil Kitchen and Josh Stender. He's not the most acrobatic (Cory Funk) or colorful quote (Josh Stender) on the team.

But he is, as Yu said, the element that puts the team's defense on another plateau.

After two games, he's leading the team in quaterback hurries (15), sacks (6), and has refurbished the mothballed concept of a "killer Defensive Lineman.".

"That guy, he can flat get past the offense line and get to the quaterback," Vince Cannistraro said. "He's so deceptively quick. That first game of the season I played with him, he got behind the offensive line a second after the quarterback got the ball from center."

Pan's big days add "rocket" fuel to the Gangster of Love's already stingy defense. Pan is an explosive pass rusher with great speed off the edge. He can get off the line of scrimmage like a shot. Pan has great pass-rush instincts and can fly...runs like a deer when he is chasing the quarterback. Figures to get bigger and better as the season progresses. It seems like Pan goes 110 mph, has a non-stop motor and is relentless when rushing the passer. His abilities has helped complicate matters for offenses that never schemed much beyond have more than two lineman block. With Pan's presence, offenses are keeping their center to help block for the quarterback. Now that Pan is consistently torching the "trenches", he's added a dimension for the Gangsters of Love's defense that few can handle.