Fox hasn't made a decision on starting safety

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- Carolina Panthers coach John Fox wouldn't say whether Sherrod Martin would keep the starting free safety job, but he's glad to have had the rookie Sunday.

Martin had two of the Panthers' five interceptions in the 34-21 win at Arizona, not bad for a guy making his first NFL start. Though he played safety at Troy, the Panthers drafted Martin in the second round with the idea of making him a cornerback. But Charles Godfrey's ankle injury forced their hand, and Martin was thrust in against the dangerous Arizona passing game. Fox credited secondary coach Mike Gillhamer and the staff with preparing Martin, but the rookie looked at home in his new-old spot.

“The guy played well,” Fox said. “We're leaning on some young guys in a lot of different areas. (Cornerback) Captain Munnerlyn played 50 plays in the game, and he's a rookie. For Sherrod Martin to go in there against a very potent passing attack and manage the game as a safety, which you're very involved with as far as calls — situation calls, down-and-distance calls — I thought he ran around and played pretty well.”

Martin was slowed by a preseason knee injury but mostly struggled with not getting enough time at either position to get comfortable.

“You have to train guys at different spots; we just don't throw them out there,” Fox said. “He's kind of a tweener guy. He was in college, both as a corner and as a safety. It's a good skill set to have, a little bit like Charles Godfrey when we took him a couple of years ago. He had training at both. The problem was he got set back due to injury.”

That begs the question of who will start when everyone is healthy. It seems like a moot point at the moment, since Godfrey didn't even travel to Arizona, but Fox sidestepped the question. It's a legitimate one, as Martin's two picks were double Godfrey's output in 22 career starts.

“Right now, he'll be day-to-day, and we'll make those decisions as we go,” Fox replied when asked if Godfrey would keep his job.

Asked what in the world that non-answer meant, Fox said: “It means I'm not going to answer that.”

INJURY UPDATE — Fox offered no real updates on his injured players, as is his custom. It seems quarterback Jake Delhomme will be fine after suffering a chest contusion. He was taken to a nearby hospital after leaving the game in the third quarter, when he was sandwiched by Cardinals defenders Chike Okeafor and Darnell Dockett.

Delhomme said he was hit when he was trying to jump in the air and dump a pass off to fullback Brad Hoover, and the two Cardinals converged on him. Asked Monday how he felt, he grinned and said: “Sore, like every Monday.”

Of more concern will be the condition of Hoover, who was on crutches with a right ankle sprain. He said he thought it was broken, and was surprised when the X-rays turned up negative. That problem was then made worse when backup Tony Fiammetta left with a concussion.

That had tight ends Jeff King and Gary Barnidge lining up in the backfield at times.

“Our personnel groups had to change some,” Fox said. “But that happens with every team in the league when guys get hurt — (Injuries) are part of the game, and everybody deals with them. You adjust. I thought our two tight ends did a good job, because they were both able to fill in at fullback for us in crunch time in the fourth quarter. There were a lot of guys that stepped in and did things they're not normally accustomed to doing and did a good job.”

PEPPERS STAYS HOT — Fox said defensive end Julius Peppers' recent hot streak was a culmination of several factors, specifically having more time with new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and line coach Brian Baker. Fox downplayed Peppers' absences during the offseason workouts but said Monday that familiarity was key.

“He's getting used to a new system; he's getting used to a new position coach,” Fox said. “All those things that go along with any kind of new job or new situation. He's just getting more and more comfortable and you're seeing that on game days.”

Peppers now has seven sacks, which is second in the NFC and sixth in the league. He had one sack Sunday, along with a forced fumble and an interception he returned for a touchdown.

EXTRA POINTS — Fox said he was far more impressed with kicker Rhys Lloyd's tackle than a previous effort at Tampa Bay, which left him with a sprained ankle and helped the Buccaneers to a 97-yard touchdown. “It was effective,” Fox said with a grin. “It was an improvement over (his) last effort. And he got up in one piece, too, which was good.” …

Fox said he would watch some of Monday night's New Orleans-Atlanta game, but most of his energy was devoted to watching Saints tape from previous games.