Panthers' 'D' deserves 'A'

Five factors fuel Carolina's turnaround

CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers don't rank in the top half of the NFL's 32 teams in sacks or turnover ratio, yet their defense is arguably the league's stingiest.

Carolina (7-2) ranks second behind the Tennessee Titans (9-0) in points allowed (133), and its defense has allowed fewer touchdowns than any other (11).

Last year, the Panthers gave up 18 TDs in their first nine games and 35 for the season.

How has the defense been so successful without an abundance of sacks or turnovers?

Here are five factors:

SPEED: Defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac said this is probably the fastest defense the Panthers have had since head coach John Fox arrived in 2002.

"It's kind of designed that way," Trgovac said. "When we look at players, we like guys who can run. That's what you're always striving to do, increase your team speed."

Right defensive end Julius Peppers runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 to 4.8 seconds , which is extraordinary for a player 6 feet 6 and 283 pounds. Left end Tyler Brayton plays with a "high motor," meaning with lots of energy.

Outside linebacker Thomas Davis, a former college safety, ran about 4.6 coming out of college. Middle linebacker Jon Beason runs between 4.6 and 4.7 but seems to play even faster.

In the secondary, rookie free safety Charles Godfrey and No. 3 cornerback Richard Marshall have both been clocked in less than 4.4 seconds.

SIMPLER SCHEME: Since training camp, the defensive players have talked about the scheme being simpler and more fun to run. Outside linebacker Na'il Diggs said the coaches shortened the terminology for play calls.

"Let's say we used to call it '3 M box triple blitz 2 double Sally,'" he said. "That's a lot to put together. Now, we call it '3 M box left.' Believe it or not, that makes a big difference."

POSITION MOVES: Peppers was switched from left end, which he played for six years in the NFL, to right end, which he prefers and which he played in college at North Carolina.

Davis and Diggs swapped outside linebacker positions, allowing Davis to play the weak side, away from the opposing tight end. Davis, who is freer to use his speed to chase down plays, already has 78 tackles, 18 shy of his career high.

Defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu is playing as more of a straight nose tackle instead of being responsible for a wider area in between the tackles. That has helped him tie up blockers better, freeing up the linebackers to make tackles.

"We took a hard look at ourselves at the end of last year," Trgovac said. "It's one of those things as coaches you do. You evolve."

SWAGGER: The Panthers believe they can stop any opponent.

Their confidence, Diggs said, was born in a 47-3 exhibition win over the Washington Redskins.

"I really believe that's where we kind of developed ourselves," he said. "We just knew we weren't going to give anything up. We were hustling every play, every minute of the game. ... You don't forget something like that."

TRUST: The defensive players say they have a unique chemistry. They expect a lot from one another, and hold each other accountable.

"Of all the plays we make and all the swagger we have, trust is really the overwhelming factor in all of it because it keeps us on the same page," Diggs said.

Where there is harmony, there used to be division.

"We've had some bad apples before, and luckily we [were] able to clear those bad apples out," Diggs. "These players [now] may not be as talented as the bad apples, or as big or whatever, but they're team players."

The primary problem, multiple sources say, was defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, who devolved from an All-Pro to a malcontent was traded to the New York Jets, where he is once again flourishing.

"I'm not going to sit here and say any names at all," Diggs said, "but I think there are some players who fit in here as a Carolina Panther and some who didn't."

Damione Lewis took over for Jenkins, lining up next to Peppers, and has not only played well but is popular with teammates.

Diggs said the increased trust on defense has helped Peppers return to form. After struggling last season, he has a team-high seven sacks and leads the NFL with four forced fumbles.

"It's allowing him to play lights-out," Diggs said.