Carolina Panthers Look to Rebound after Disappointing End to 2008-09 Season

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Carolina used its other second round pick on Sherrod Martin of Troy, a speedy cornerback who tied a NCAA record with three interceptions in one quarter during a 65-0 pasting of Alcorn State last year. He is expected to compete for a starting role and give the team some depth.

Carolina’s defense ranked 18^thin the league last year and will turn to new coordinator Ron Meeks to right the ship.

Meeks comes over from the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent the last seven seasons. During the 2007 season, the Colts defense was tops in the league in scoring defense and third in total defense.

He is credited with being the mastermind behind the Colts figuring out how to play defense during their run to the Super Bowl championship in 2006 when they had been one of the most enigmatic units throughout the regular season.

The Panthers will need all the help they can get in trying to re-produce its 12-4 campaign from a season ago.

The NFL schedule-makers have given the Panthers the second toughest schedule for the 2009 season, with the 16 opponents it will face having a combined record of 123-84-1. Buffalo (7-9) is the only team on the schedule that had a losing record last year.

Also, the bye week will come after their third game. That will mean 13 games in 13 weeks, and one of those (November 19 against Miami) will come just four days after hosting division rival Atlanta on November 15.

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