NFL team preview: Carolina Panthers

INSIDE SLANT

With new starters at seven positions this year, not much has been expected of Carolina's defense this year.
But in preseason games against the Ravens, Jets and Titans, the Panthers have been lights out.

They rank first in overall defense -- and it's not even close -- and second in fewest points allowed. They also have a league-high 18 sacks, despite losing Julius Peppers to free agency and parting ways with long-time starters like Damione Lewis, Nail Diggs, Chris Harris and Maake Kemoeatu this offseason.

Preseason or not, the fact that Carolina's defense is allowing just 174 yards and 10 points per game is impressive.

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It's been the one highlight for the Panthers in a preseason marred by inconsistent special teams play and a flailing passing game led by young quarterbacks Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen. While the offense was viewed as the strength of this team entering the season, it now looks as though the Panthers will need their defense to carry them if they're going to have a winning season. The offense failed to score a touchdown in its first 42 possessions in the preseason.

"I wouldn't say I'm surprised, but I would say I'm happy with the way we've played," linebacker Jon Beason said of the team's defensive effort.

And why not?

On Saturday night, the Panthers limited the Tennessee Titans to 50 yards on 24 plays in the first half and held Vince Young and Chris Johnson scoreless for three quarters en route to their first win of the preseason -- 15-7 at Bank of America Stadium.

Led by defensive end Charles Johnson, the Panthers had seven sacks and forced two turnovers.

"The thing we preached this summer was playing fast and doing your assignment and not trying to do someone else's assignment," cornerback Richard Marshall said. "And that's what we've been doing the last three weeks -- everyone doing their own jobs to their best ability. Everything is working right now."

Especially the pass rush.

Carolina's 18 sacks have come from a variety of players, with six players having multiple sacks led by their new leader -- Charles Johnson.

"Charles is playing over the top along with all of the defensive ends," Beason said. "It's hard to single out one guy. He's doing his job. The good thing about it is he's being greedy out there, so to speak, every play is a new opportunity to go out there and make a play."

Added linebacker Dan Connor: "The D-line did a great job with keeping us free on some of those plays; we could just read and react and we didn't have to worry about any blockers or anything. We could just hit our gap."

Everette Brown, who has three sacks, said the continuity on defense has been amazing.

"The most important thing is we're playing fast," Brown said. "Everybody is just playing their position fast and its allowing us to go out there and be successful."

Even coach John Fox has been pleased.

"They've been pretty salty all three preseason games so far," Fox said of his defense. "We are getting a look at a lot of different players. That one touchdown, we had a group in there that got a little discombobulated as far as matchups. Overall I thought it was a pretty strong outing again on first, second and third down."

COACHING: John Fox, 9th year, 9th with Panthers (76-60).
REMEMBERING: 2009 record: 8-8 (3rd in NFC South); did not make the playoffs.
PREDICTING: 2010 regular season record 6-10: (3rd in NFC South).

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

The Panthers placed WR Wallace Wright on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, a move that will hurt them on offense and special teams.

"He was a guy we were counting on pretty heavily both at the receiver position and in the kicking game," coach John Fox said.

In other moves, defensive end Hilee Taylor was also added to injured reserve with a knee injury, and linebacker Thomas Davis was placed on the reserve-PUP list with a torn ACL, meaning he can't play until at least Week 7. The team also released wide receivers Dexter Jackson and Oliver Young to get down to 75. The final cut-down to 53 players comes Saturday.

Fox said Wright will need surgery to repair the shoulder, although he didn't specify the nature of the injury.

A free-agent pickup from the New York Jets, Wright was signed primarily to play on special teams and was a clear upgrade in that area for the Panthers, who struggled on special teams in 2009. However, he also caught the coaching staff's attention with his speed and hands, and was positioned to be the team's third or fourth receiver this season.

The move likely opens a roster spot for wide receiver Charly Martin, who spent time on the roster last season but missed a good portion of training camp with a broken finger on his hand. Like Wright, Martin can also contribute on special teams. It could also help rookie David Gettis or Kenny Moore.

In fact, Fox brought up Martin's name as a possible replacement without being asked about it.

"We have Charly Martin back up and he'll get some action," Fox said. "The next guy has to step up, just like all injuries."

"Honestly I come into this game attacking it the same every day," Martin said after learning of Wright's injury. "There are moves that are going to be made and changes on the roster and guys that are up and guys that are down. I just try to do what I can and work hard and help this team win."

Martin had been having an outstanding first week of training camp before breaking the middle finger on his left hand.

He's just now getting back to the point where he can catch passes.

"I'm working on it," Martin said. "I'm not quite where I want to be yet but I've been cleared to catch a few passes from the quarterbacks at least. I'm just trying to work back into it."

The Panthers are still hoping to get Davis, their normal starting weak side linebacker, back on the field at some point this season.

PLAYER NOTES

--WR Wallace Wright was placed on injured reserve with a separated shoulder, a huge blow to Carolina's special teams.

--WR Charly Martin will be asked to fill the role of Wallace Wright, working as a third or fourth receiver and running down punts and kickoffs on special teams.

--WR Steve Smith said his goal is to play in the regular season opener against the Giants.

--RT Jeff Otah hasn't practiced since having his knee was scoped in early August but the plan is for him to be back in time for the season-opener Sept. 12 against the Giants.

--DE Hilee Taylor was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury Tuesday.

--LB Thomas Davis will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list.

--QB Tony Pike is battling for the No. 3 spot with Hunter Cantwell entering the final preseason game.

DRAFT PICKS TO STICK

Rd. 2/48, QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame -- Will be the team's No. 2 guy behind Matt Moore.

Rd. 3/78, WR Brandon LaFell, LSU -- Has a chance to start opposite Steve Smith.

Rd. 3/89, WR/KR/PR Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State -- A college quarterback, he's making the transition to receiver and returner at the next level. That will take time. He could be used in Wildcat packages, which would be a nice wrinkle in an otherwise conservative offensive scheme run by Jeff Davidson.

Rd. 4/124, LB/DE Eric Norwood. South Carolina -- Will see action at linebacker and on special teams and could line up at defensive end and rush the passer, too.

Rd. 6/175, DE Greg Hardy Ole Miss -- He's been a camp shocker. Outstanding preseason and looks like a real stud defensive end who'll be around for years to come.

Rd 6/202 S Jordan Pugh, Texas A&M -- Will be a backup safety and see action on special teams.

UNIT BY UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Matt Moore. Backups -- Jimmy Clausen, Tony Pike, Hunter Cantwell.

Moore gets his shot at a starting job with Jake Delhomme vanquished to Cleveland. Moore is 6-2 lifetime as an NFL starter but struggled in the preseason with his top weapon Steve Smith on the sidelines. He doesn't have much to work with other than Smith as the Panthers are young at receiver. Clausen is clearly the No. 2 quarterback at this point and really isn't a threat to take Moore's job right away. However, if the Panthers are struggling at midseason they may ponder making a change, but otherwise Moore should have a pretty long leash. Pike, a sixth-round pick, and Cantwell are battling for the No. 3 spot.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- RB DeAngelo Williams, FB Tony Fiammetta. Backups -- RB Jonathan Stewart, RB Mike Goodson, RB Tyrell Sutton.

The Panthers are stacked at running back with Williams and Stewart each coming off 1,100-yard seasons, the first running back duo in league history to accomplish that in the same season. Stewart hasn't played in the preseason while healing from a foot injury, but should be fine for the regular season. Goodson and Sutton, who are both talented, will battle for reps on third down. They give the Panthers the deepest backfield in the league. Fiammetta takes over as the starting fullback after the team dumped 10-year veteran Brad Hoover this offseason. Hoover had the eyes of a running back and was great at opening holes, so it will be interesting if the running game drops off with Fiammetta leading the way.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Jeff King. Backups -- Dante Rosario, Gary Barnidge.

The Panthers don't really have a true starter here as all three guys see significant playing time. All three are former fifth-round draft picks and each brings his own unique strengths to the table. King is the best blocker of the bunch, while Barnidge can stretch the field and Rosario has good hands and a knack for getting open. Last year, King had 25 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns; Rosario had 26 catches for 313 and two scores and Barnidge had 12 catches for 242 yards, averaging 20.2 yards per catch. The Panthers like to use Rosario as an H-back.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell. Backups -- Dwayne Jarrett, Armanti Edwards, Charly Martin, David Gettis, Trent Guy.

This position is very much unsettled heading into the regular season as nobody has stepped up to claim the No. 2 receiver spot. Adding to the uncertainty on who will make the roster is the season-ending shoulder injury suffered in the preseason by Wallace Wright, who looked to have cemented the No. 3 receiver spot. LaFell and Jarrett now find themselves competing for the starting spot with no clear leader. Jarrett has been a disappointment for three seasons, and LaFell is a rookie who's just getting his feet wet and his hands may be a little shaky. Edwards is a former college quarterback who is making the transition to receiver at the NFL level, so he will need time. Wallace's injury could open the door for Martin, who is a try-hard guy who impressed coaches in practice last year. Gettis and Guy have outside chances of contributing, although a hamstring injury continues to play the latter.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Jordan Gross, LG Travelle Wharton, C Ryan Kalil, RG Mackenzy Bernadeau, RT Jeff Otah. Backups -- T/G Geoff Schwartz, G Duke Robinson, OT Garry Williams, OT Rob Petitti.

Carolina's offensive line has been together now for a few years and they're very good at run blocking, but not particularly great against the blitz. That's something they need to improve upon this year. They allowed 33 sacks last year, far too many for an experienced line. Gross is steady and returns from a broken ankle that ended his season early last year. Otah is his bookend, but he's missed all of training camp with a knee injury. He should be good to go by the regular season opener. If not, Schwartz will start at right tackle. Kalil went to the Pro Bowl as a second alternate last year and Wharton is steady. The only spot up for grabs is right guard, where Bernadeau has spent the entire preseason. But when Otah returns, Schwartz could slide over to compete. Robinson was viewed as a potential competitor there too, but he showed up to training camp overweight and out of shape and struggled in pass protection in the preseason. Overall though this is a pretty strong unit.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LE Charles Johnson, LT Louis Leonard, RT Ed Johnson, RE Tyler Brayton. Backups -- DE Everette Brown, DE Greg Hardy, DT Derek Landri, DT Tank Tyler, DE Eric Moore, DT Nick Hayden, DT Corvey Irvin, DT Andre Neblett.

Julius who? The Panthers got good production from all five defensive ends in the preseason as each had at least two sacks through three preseason games, and they have everyone forgetting Julius Peppers was ever here. The team had 18 in their first three games. Johnson is locked in as a starter, but Brown could compete and overtake Brayton, who is recovering from a sprained ankle. Hardy, a sixth-round pick out of Ole Miss who was once ranked by Sports Illustrated as the top pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, has been terrific and has shown star potential. He'll be in the rotation. Both starting defensive tackle spots remain up for grabs following the offseason departures of Damione Lewis, Maake Kemoeatu and Hollis Thomas. It's anybody's guess who starts, but the four rotating in are Leonard, Johnson, Tyler and Landri. Moore has had a great preseason but is on the bubble along with Hayden and Irvin, last year's third-round draft pick.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Jon Beason, MLB Dan Connor, SLB James Anderson. Backups -- OLB Jamar Williams, OLB/DE Eric Norwood, OLB Quinton Culberson. MLB Jordan Senn, OLB Mortty Ivy, WLB Thomas Davis (PUP).

Davis will miss at least the first six weeks and probably longer while trying to hurry back from his second torn ACL in his knee. In the meantime, Beason has moved over to the weak side and Dan Connor is starting in the middle. The defense has looked exceptional in the preseason, so it's hard to complain about the job they've done. Still, Connor could be a liability in pass coverage. Anderson takes over at the strong side after filling in for Davis on the weak side the second half of last year. The depth is fairly weak behind the current starting three, but Williams and Culberson bring some experience. Norwood is a rookie who will be used some as a pass rushing defensive end. The team likes Senn for his special teams ability.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Chris Gamble, RCB Richard Marshall, FS Charles Godfrey, SS Sherrod Martin. Backups -- CB Captain Munnerlyn, CB Robert McClain, CB C.J. Wilson, CB R.J. Stanford, S Jordan Pugh, S Marcus Hudson, S Aaron Francisco.

Gamble, Marshall and Munnerlyn may be the fastest trio of corners the Panthers have ever had. Munnerlyn is the nickel back and shined as a rookie last year. Gamble and Marshall are solid. The fourth and fifth corner spots remain up in the air, but the Panthers seem to like McClain, a seventh-round pick. At safety, Godfrey returns for a third season as a starter while Martin takes over for Chris Harris, who was traded back to Chicago. Pugh, a sixth-round pick from Texas A&M is well thought of and has great leadership ability. Hudson and Francisco were added as free agents because of their special teams ability, but Francisco has been sidelined most of training camp with a hamstring injury.

SPECIAL TEAMS: PK John Kasay, P Jason Baker, LS J.J. Jansen, KOR Mike Goodson, KOR Todd Carter, KOR Trent Guy, PR Armanti Edwards, PR Captain Munnerlyn, PR Trent Guy.

Baker is having a great season punting the ball and Kasay is as reliable as ever. The return game has been a mess, although Goodson did take one back 91 yards for a score, possibly solidifying that spot. The team would like Edwards to win the punt return job but it's been an adventure for him as he transitions from college quarterback. Munnerlyn might be the safer option. Guy is also a possibility. Carter is likely to be the teams kickoff specialist, replacing Rhys Lloyd, who signed with Minnesota.