Why the Panthers’ secondary could hold the key to a successful NFL regular season

Panthers defensive coordinator Phil Snow believes Carolina has one of the best defensive back rooms in the league.

“You know, arguably we have the top three corners in the league as a group,” Snow said. “You could argue that we do.”

Panthers fans understand his rationale. Donte Jackson is a fan favorite, a team leader and one of the fastest players on the team. C.J. Henderson is a former No. 9 overall pick. And Jaycee Horn is on the cusp of superstardom.

“He is one of the best players in the league and will be,” Snow said of Horn. “I’m looking forward to watching him.”

Horn can and will play all over the field. Depending on the situation, Snow can deploy Horn in the slot as a nickel corner while the veteran Jackson and Henderson anchor the outside. Behind them is Jeremy Chinn, another fan favorite who the team believes is a future All-Pro. But standing next to him is the player who oversees everything.

Free safety Xavier Woods is the key to the Panthers’ secondary creating more turnovers this season. This unit’s high expectations for themselves are rooted in how they communicate.

Bringing him here was a factor,” defensive back coach Steve Wilks said. “It’s the way he communicates. Not just with the secondary but the team. He has made Chinn better and taken a lot off his plate by being that general and organizer in the defense.”

There are times when Wilks and the defensive coaches watch film and notice Woods being a major factor. He may not have had a direct impact on the play but his presence during the play and pre-snap communication led to a favorable result, not possible without Woods’ factorization.

Carolina had the No. 2 ranked defense in yards allowed last season. This year they want more turnovers and explosive plays. Woods joined Carolina during free agency, signing a three-year nearly $16 million deal.

This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 5:51 AM with the headline "Why the Panthers’ secondary could hold the key to a successful NFL regular season."

Ellis L. Williams

The Charlotte Observer

Hailing from Minnesota, Ellis L. Williams joined the Observer in October 2021 to cover the Carolina Panthers. Prior, he spent two years reporting on the Browns for Cleveland.com/the Plain Dealer. Having escaped cold winters, he’s thrilled to consume football, hoops, music and movies within the Queen City.