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Monday, Aug. 25, 2008

D-line looked solid in dismantling 'Skins

CHARLOTTE -- The running was nice, and all the points were just fine.

But the best sign to come out of the Carolina Panthers' 47-3 rout of Washington Saturday was clear.

The defensive line, which still could be the liability of that side of the ball, finally showed some life. If that holds up, it'll enable the Panthers to play defense the way they're used to, which should help everyone.

The front four generated four sacks in the first half against a not-bad Redskins line, the first indication that the re-made unit can reverse last year's disappearing act.

"I hope so, I really do," defensive tackle Damione Lewis said when asked if it could be an indicator of things to come. "If we go out and play like this every week, it's going to be hard to beat us.

"Especially up front, because how we go up front is how we go as a defense. So we just really need to be able to put this in week in and week out."

They never did last year, and the results trickled down through the rest of the team. The Panthers managed a franchise-low 23.0 sacks last year, but only 14.5 came from the linemen. That was not only the low raw number of the John Fox era, but at 63.0 percent, was more than 10 points off the portion of the team total the linemen usually contribute.

It's obvious last year was a disaster, but the offseason moves left unclear whether things were improving.

They replaced the retired Mike Rucker with Tyler Brayton, a guy with 6.0 sacks in five seasons. They're still waiting for youngsters Charles Johnson and Stanley McClover to develop. They're using smaller, quicker defensive tackles (other than massive nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu) in an effort to create more pressure, but training camp offered few clues it was coming.

Perhaps the biggest difference would be a return to form by Julius Peppers, who managed a lifetime-low 2.5 last season. He's nearly matched that in three preseason games, showing signs that his move to the right end spot will enable him to look like the player he once was.

Against Indianapolis in the preseason opener, his sack-forced fumble came from pure speed, bursting through the line clean. But Saturday's demolition of Pro Bowl left tackle Chris Samuels was even more impressive. Peppers took the 314-pound Samuels and bull-rushed him straight back into quarterback Jason Campbell, knocking the ball loose.

It was a sheer power move out of the Reggie White playbook, the kind Peppers wasn't always able to show on his former station of left end. He ducked out of the locker room without talking to reporters, but Lewis said the move has the dynamic Peppers better able to show his freakish athleticism.

"It was awesome," Lewis said, laughing at the mention of the one-sided play. "He's really doing good on that right side. And I think he's going to be a force to be reckoned with over there, and it's really awesome to see him playing like that. It's just natural for him. Left-handed, he's able to get off the ball better, able to work his hands better and turn it into power. So it's a real plus for him moving over there.

"You've got to get back and try to block him because he's so fast. It makes it hard on a guy. If he gets them going upfield and turns it into power, he's going to knock him back because he's got leverage on them. He's doing some awesome stuff, and just seeing him come in and act like he's pass-rushing, when a quarterback starts scrambling, the way he covers ground on the other side of the field's just unbelievable."

Of course, having him make those kind of plays may be just as important for what it keeps the Panthers from having to do.

For all the talk about simplifying the defense, the reality is the Panthers were planning on bringing pressure from multiple spots this season. Knowing they couldn't risk another year without pass-rush, the plan was to send more linebackers, safeties and corners in an effort to make sure somebody got there if the line couldn't.

That's still coming, but if they can get production from the front, it's more in line with Fox's philosophy, and their play-calling preferences.

"It makes a world of difference when we're able to sit back and cover and they're getting pressure and getting it out of the quarterback's hand fast," linebacker Thomas Davis said. "Once the defense gets a good rush, the quarterback can't sit back and hold the ball. He's got to get it out quick. Gives us time to get on our man, and if we're playing well on the back end, they can get some coverage sacks, too."

Likewise, cornerback Ken Lucas said it makes his job easier when Peppers and the front four make the opponent move.

"We feed off each other," Lucas said after the game. "There were plays out there where we had good coverage and it allowed them to get to the quarterback, and there were plays where we messed up on a couple of coverages and they covered it up for us.

"That's what a team's all about, helping one another out in a time of need, and we did that."

Brayton, who had one of the sacks, wasn't completely satisfied -- "We left some on the table, too," he said -- but the reality is it was some good news for a unit that needed it.

"I think we're doing pretty good getting to the passer," Lewis said. "We're moving good, playing together. Kind of building a chemistry between us.

"We've still got a long way to go, but I think we'll get there."