The 2009 Carolina Defense: Inside Out to Outside In

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Trgovac's defenses were complex, relying on sharp execution and misdirection to prevent opposing offenses from finding and exploiting holes. His defensive backs needed to move according to the playbook, and the leaders were like conductors of a defensive orchestra. They directed players to go here and pointed there, and young players often found themselves out of position or in each other's way.

Meeks's defense is simple. The "Cover Two" emphasizes reacting to the ball and staying behind the play.  Players get in their zone, read the play, and react accordingly.  Where Trgovac would shift players around and try to create mismatches, Meeks will play more straight-up and shut down the big play. 

Trgovac wanted his players in certain positions on the field, so if a player got beat, there would be someone in another area to provide cover. Meeks wants his players to forget strict positioning, but instead cover zones of the field and swarm to the area where the ball is. 

Trgovac brought pressure from all over the field.  It was common to see a defensive end drop into coverage while the weakside linebacker or a safety blitzed. His units were set up to bring pressure on the quarterback quickly, to hurry the throw.

Meeks just turns his line loose to go get the quarterback, and trusts the secondary to give them time to get there.

In the secondary, Trgovac's defenses were deliberate and controlled. Meeks likes his defensive backs to be fast and instinctive.

Where it's been all technique and execution in the past, this year the linemen will be given a lot more freedom to get to the quarterback any way they can. Defensive line coach Brian Baker is emphasizing exploding off the ball and quick changes of direction in his drills.  

It's going to be a big change for Panthers faithful. While Trgovac liked the blitz much more than Meeks, Meeks's players have freedom to react instead of execute, and it looks far more aggressive.

The defense will be a lot easier to understand for players on both sides of the ball, but that hasn't made the "Cover Two" any less effective in other systems where it's been installed.

Will it work here? In 2002 the Colts turned their young, inexperienced defense over to Ron Meeks and gave him that explosive defensive end. The unit responded by going from 29th to 8th.

And as far as personnel are concerned, the Panthers have three things that the 2001 Colts lacked—a Pro Bowl defensive end, a Pro Bowl middle linebacker, and a shutdown corner. 

It could be a very, very good year in Carolina.

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