Loss of Davis means changes in Panthers' schemes, play-calling

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- Not only are the Panthers changing personnel at linebacker, but it will likely have them making some scheme changes as well.

With the loss of weakside linebacker Thomas Davis last week, the Panthers are subbing Landon Johnson into the playmaking spot of their Tampa-2 style system. While not as athletic as Davis — few in Charlotte are — linebacker Jon Beason said he hopes there aren't too many changes with the switch.

“I think there are maybe some calls that allow Thomas to shine and gave us good match-ups and use him to make a lot of plays,” Beason said. “But it's not a big adjustment, probably more so just with some of the calls.”

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The Panthers might not be as aggressive in their base defense, and it might cause them to use some more of the unique sets like the Dante Wesley as “joker” in their multiple defensive back packages. Those won't be called for as much against Atlanta as they were in New Orleans and Arizona, but there will be some adjustments regardless.

Beason laughed when asked where they'd miss Davis most, on run or pass plays.

“Both,” he said. “He's a great blitzer and a great cover guy. He was playing extremely hard chasing the football and making plays and giving extra effort. I'm going to miss him knowing he's not there. We talk a lot during plays and compete against each other to make plays, and it raises our games to a different level.”

Davis was second on the team in tackles with 71 (Beason has 80) and could stay that way the rest of the year. Defensive ends Julius Peppers and Tyler Brayton are tied for third with 34 each. While Johnson had played in Davis' place against Buffalo, they lose a measure of explosiveness without the former first-rounder.

Beason said the team “didn't miss a beat,” against the Bills with Johnson on the field, and he pointed to his 53 starts with Cincinnati in four years. Three of those seasons, he led the Bengals in tackles: “So he is a veteran guy who we have a lot of confidence in.”

The bigger issue for Beason is seeing his friend injured, and knowing it spoils a great chance for Davis to make his first Pro Bowl.

“First off, Thomas is a great dude and a great human being,” Beason said. “He made the transition from safety to linebacker, and now you kind of see he can be a dominant player. In my eyes, and in a lot of people's eyes, he was the most dominant outside linebacker in the league in the first half of the season. To see him go down and not receive a Pro Bowl bid, which I know is important to him, is unfortunate.

“We're missing a big part of our defense. The good thing is James Anderson and Landon Johnson are proven players, and I look for them to pick up the slack. All of us have to raise our level to make up for Thomas.”

INDOORS AGAIN: For the second straight day, the Panthers had to resort to the nearby indoor facility for practice. While the rains subsided, the practice fields at the stadium have absorbed 7 inches of rain in the last two days according to the grounds crew, and coupled with the still-gusty winds, they elected to move indoors.

This week was the first time they've resorted to that facility since 2006, when they worked there prior to the Atlanta game in which they unveiled their version of the Wildcat. It's believed to be the first time they've worked there twice in the same week since 2002, when an ice storm shut down much of Charlotte.

They've occasionally resorted to having glorified walk-throughs on the stadium concourses, but coach John Fox said that was easier in the past since those teams were more experienced.

It does crimp their style a bit, since Thursday's typically the only day they practice in full pads. Combined with the inability to punt or throw deep passes because of the size of the field (they work crossways to get to regulation width), it's a sort-of practice.

“I think the facility that we use still allows you to go through the mechanics and the operations of your game plan,” wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. “It's a whole lot better than going upstairs on the balcony where we're just walking through and you can't watch film and you can't critique. When we practice up there, we still get full movement.

“You can't throw the deep ball, obviously. You can't throw the ball down the field, but I think you can still get good work.”

Punter Jason Baker, who basically had the day off other than holding for field goal practice (no goalposts either), said it would have been worse earlier in the year, but having a break in November's something no one will turn down.

“If it was Week 2 or something, I would probably say I don't really need that,” Baker said. “But at this time of the season, I'm good with it.”

EXTRA POINTS: The Panthers were able to exhale Thursday, as their backfield was back to work. Starting running back DeAngelo Williams (knee) was limited after taking Wednesday off, while backup Jonathan Stewart (Achilles) returned after his normal maintenance day.

Fullback Brad Hoover (high ankle sprain) and safety Charles Godfrey (ankle) were the only ones held out, while the rest of the names on the report practice fully, including Peppers (hand), Muhammad (knee), tight end Dante Rosario (knee), fullback Tony Fiammetta (concussion) and kicker John Kasay. ...

Linebacker Kelvin Smith, promoted from the practice squad Tuesday, will wear number 56. For most of the past decade, that was long snapper Jason Kyle, who signed with New Orleans this offseason. He should be active this week for special-teams duties, since he's the sixth linebacker.