News - Sports

Tuesday, Oct. 07, 2008

Defensive unit one of best in NFL

Panthers third in points allowed, fourth in total defense

CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers’ defense was playing well, but we knew that already. What was amazing is how much better the numbers looked a day after the 34-0 shutout of Kansas City, and how they shined light on the improvements on that side of the ball.

The Panthers leaped from sixth to third in the NFL in points allowed (12.0 per game) and eighth to fourth in total defense (254.4 yards per game). That marks just the third time in franchise history they’ve been in the top five in both categories, along with the end of the 2003 (fifth in scoring and second in yards) and 2005 seasons (fifth and third).

It’s even more impressive considering they were barely in the top half of the league in defense a year ago (15th in scoring, 16th in yards).

“Well, we’ve had some really good defenses here in the past,” coach John Fox replied when asked if he thought his defense was ahead of schedule. “I don’t think you go to two championship games and a Super Bowl and win a championship game on the road with the score that we had (14-3) without playing good defense. So we’ve had a good scheme, and we’ve executed that scheme at a high level when we’ve won.

“I don’t know that simplifying the defense is the answer; getting guys that are executing the defense is the key.”

The changes made were subtle, but significant.

Only two starters — rookie safety Charles Godfrey and defensive end Tyler Brayton — were around a year ago, but just five are playing the same position or role as last year.

After all, defensive end Julius Peppers and linebackers Thomas Davis and Na’il Diggs swapped sides, while defensive tackle Damione Lewis was promoted to the starting lineup after being a pass-rush specialist last year.

“I don’t like to evaluate until the body of work is done, and we’re still very early into it, very early into the second quarter,” Fox said. “We’ve played good enough defense to be our record right now. What we do moving forward is hard to predict. I like what our group has done; I like the way they’ve gone about their business. We’ve got a rookie (Godfrey) starting at safety. He’s been very good from day one actually. For the most part, Tyler Brayton has been a good addition.

“We don’t have all that many changes. We have some new guys we’re calling upon and some guys that are a year better — the Thomas Davises and the Jon Beasons. There are some young guys there sprinkled in with some veterans that right now have good chemistry.”

That hazy concept has been mentioned often, and since there weren’t that many personnel changes, it’s easy sometimes to see who they’re referring to. This group gets along, and they talked last week about the bond they’ve built.

“We’re a tight group, everybody likes each other,” Lewis said. “There’s no egos, and everybody’s meshing and enjoying playing together more than anything. “It’s laid back, easy going, everybody likes what’s going on.”

That coming together is particularly key to the run defense, which is built on 11 players being where they’re supposed to, with little room for freelancing. That’s where you find out if guys really believe in their teammates, because they can have the discipline to leave a gap open knowing someone’s coming behind them.

“You’ve got to trust,” safety Chris Harris said. “If you don’t, say a guy is in a gap and sees somebody cut back into another gap and runs over there. Then you leave the first gap wide open and the guy who’s supposed to be there isn’t there, then you’ve got a gap wide open. That’s where big plays come from.”

They’re not coming in the running game.

The Chiefs were held to just 35 yards, with star back Larry Johnson limited to 2 on seven carries. It was the first time he’s been held to single digits when he starts, and his 0.3-yard per attempt average was 15 times less than his career 4.5-yard average.

The Panthers’ run defense was misleading anyway, because four backs they faced before Sunday are in the league’s top eight in rushing yards, and the other is San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson, last year’s rushing champ, who’s 13th now.

Lewis said offseason practices and training camp were periods of intense instruction.

“We really got after it and honed in on stopping the run. We’re reaping what we sowed earlier this year,” he said. “Guys are working together, things are simpler than what they had been in the past. Our linebackers are flowing unbelievably, we’re doing a good job up front staying in our gaps, and safeties are coming down when it’s eight in the box and hiding.

“Everything’s working together like a puzzle.”

Of course, the Chiefs were easier to solve than others. So, as good as the performance was, they have to shelve it, their 24 hours to savor their dominance done.

“Really, it’s just one game, and I know it sounds clichéd, but it is,” Fox said. “We played really good; the results were really good. Again, there’s always room for improvement. You turn on the tape (and think), ‘We could have done this better; we could have done that better.’ We missed some opportunities.

“The result was good, so we get 24 hours to look at that one and learn from it and wipe it away and get ready for the next one. But the results were very good.”