It wasn't until 2000 -- when the franchise was six years old -- that an opponent first blocked a Panthers punt. The most blocks by Carolina opponents came in 2003, when they knocked away three Todd Sauerbrun punts in the Panthers' 20-game Super Bowl season.

This season, then, is an aberration of whopping proportions.

When Tampa Bay's Geno Hayes glided in untouched to block a punt by the Panthers' Jason Baker in the first quarter of Sunday's game at Raymond James Stadium, he was the third opponent to do so against Carolina in a season that's only six games old.

It has become a troubling trend.

"It's very frustrating," said Dante Rosario, who plays on the punt team. "Because for the most part, we've had a strong unit [over the years]. We've controlled returns, and it's too bad when we mess things up for the punter."

Hayes' block -- which he parlayed into a touchdown -- was the costliest of the three this season. It came on the Panthers' first possession, and Carolina never recovered in a 27-3 loss.

The other two came in victories. Chicago's Brandon Lloyd scored after Darren McClover blocked a Baker punt -- also on the Panthers' first possession -- but Carolina eventually won, 20-17.

Baker dropped a snap against Atlanta two weeks later, leading to a block by John Abraham in a 24-9 Panthers victory.

There doesn't seem to be a common reason for the blocked punts. McClover's came from the outside, Hayes' from the inside and Abraham's from Baker's mishap.

"It was a miscommunication on the protection," Panthers coach John Fox said of Hayes' block. "I don't even believe it was a rush. I think they had a return set up, and we made an error in our protection."

Rosario, who was on the side that Hayes came through, said the Panthers didn't have Hayes accounted for.

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