Last week, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales called on his linebackers to improve their performance and show more urgency. “The time is now,” Canales said last Wednesday. “We have four games under our belt with different packages, playing against different styles of offenses, and that’s the production and that’s the urgency that’s being communicated is, guys, we need better play here in different spots.”
The unit responded during Sunday’s 27-24 win over the Dolphins. Christian Rozeboom led the team with nine tackles, matching his season high from a previous game against the Falcons. Trevin Wallace contributed four tackles. According to Canales, a key factor was changing who wore the green dot—the signal for calling defensive plays—shifting that responsibility from Rozeboom to Wallace.
“It was a really interesting dynamic where Trevin felt really comfortable making the calls, and that was something that we asked him to do to take on that challenge, and Christian just looked like he was playing a little freer out there,” Canales said. “Running sideline to sideline making hits; all the things that we saw bringing him in here, and so flipping the roles, I thought really helped both guys settle into a comfort zone in a role.”
Wallace had previously called plays during his rookie season when Josey Jewell was unavailable but admitted it took time for him to become clear and concise in relaying calls to teammates. Over time and through offseason rotations by coaches Ejiro Evero and Pete Hansen, he became more comfortable with the responsibility.
On Sunday, players noticed an improved flow within the defense. Outside linebacker Nic Scourton commented: “Honestly, I mean, I think about the same,” when asked if he saw any difference with Wallace calling plays. “I mean, I didn’t really see much of a difference. I think guys were just really prepared playing free. Guys were letting it loose this week.”
Scourton also praised Rozeboom’s performance: “I felt like we were playing really hard. Like guys are really getting to the ball. Shout out to Rozeboom, man. He was playing his butt off,” Scourton said. “He was to the ball every play, but I think it was just effort.”
Rozeboom acknowledged feeling more at ease without having to call plays: “I think every week’s a different week, and for whatever reason I felt like I was kind of able to fly around yesterday and play free…and I think that showed,” he said Monday.
Rozeboom added: “I just think everybody’s flying around…we were playing free and just getting everybody to the ball…the game plan [was good], coaches put us in good spots and we just made the plays.”
Several factors contributed to what coaches described as faster defensive play beyond Wallace’s new role as play-caller—including keeping Wallace on-field during dime packages for added speed.
“We left Trevin out there a little bit more and got a really fast group out there of guys that were aggressive in the run game and in the pass game,” explained Canales.
Another contributor has been safety Tre’von Moehrig’s continued strong tackling near scrimmage; Moehrig made seven tackles (three for loss) against Miami and ranks second on Carolina’s tackle list this season behind Rozeboom.
“Yeah it’s huge,” Rozeboom said about Moehrig’s role close to the line of scrimmage.”He’s a great tackler…I’m glad I’m playing next to him for sure.”
Ultimately players credited their success Sunday with increased urgency among defenders—a point echoed by Rozeboom: “It’s just like you’re not afraid to mess up…you go make plays that come your way…just trusting each other.” He concluded: “…it’s just belief—first off in my unit [and] then belief that offense is going score points…”
