Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009

After slow start, team gets defensive

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Captain Munnerlyn, the Carolina Panthers' loquacious rookie defensive back, can't remember who it was he was talking to last week. But Munnerlyn was eager to discuss the Panthers' newly formidable defense.

"We were saying how this defense really works," Munnerlyn said. "You get some pressure on the quarterback, get some interceptions and away you go. I guess it has taken a while, but look at how it's working now. Everybody's happy."

"Happy" is not a word to describe the Panthers' defensive situation in September, as the season unfolded with three consecutive losses after a winless preseason. New defensive coordinator Ron Meeks' system remained a mystery to many players. The team was unable to stop the run. Injuries tested the depth. The defense's best player, Julius Peppers, was again being criticized for a perceived lack of effort.

What a difference a month makes. Today, after three wins in four games, the Panthers (3-4) prepare for their biggest test of the season, against the unbeaten New Orleans Saints and their top-ranked offense in the Superdome.

Much of the recent success can be attributed to the defense.

After forcing six turnovers against the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Panthers' defense has stabilized. Carolina is ranked seventh in the league in total defense (288.1 yards per game), and its pass defense is No. 1 (160.6). The Panthers have improved most notably in their run defense. After spending one week ranked last in that category (182.7 yards per game), they're allowing 127.6 yards per game and have moved up to 24^th in the league.

Even in Carolina's lone loss in this stretch - 20-9 against Buffalo - the defense held the Bills to 167 total yards.

"The pieces of the puzzle are finally being put together," tackle Damione Lewis said.

Here is how the puzzle is fitting:

Meeks' scheme - based on the "Tampa 2" defense of his mentor, former Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy - is taking hold.

The addition of veteran tackle Hollis Thomas has helped shore up the run defense.

Injuries, which decimated the interior line and linebacking corps early, have for the most part healed.

Peppers, coming off a memorable performance last week against Arizona, is playing at perhaps the highest level of his career.

Meeks inherited a defense that wilted late last season, allowing 30-plus points in five of its final seven games.

The scheme depends on speed - which Carolina has in abundance in players such as Peppers and linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis - to pursue the ball and pressure the quarterback, while safeties generally play a deep zone.

At training camp, coach John Fox and Meeks preached patience while the players struggled with the intricacies of the new defense. But it was a trying transition.

"We were trying to do too much a lot of the time," Meeks said. "We had guys trying to do someone else's job. You do that, something can explode on you."