A quick glimpse at the numbers suggests the Panthers should focus on upgrading their defense next offseason.
But that's not necessarily the team's thinking as it begins to look ahead to 2012.
Although the Panthers rank 23rd in the NFL in total defense this year — as opposed to fifth on offense — general manager Marty Hurney and coach Ron Rivera feel the defense is much improved over the past month.
The Panthers (5-9) have held three of their past four opponents to fewer than 20 points entering Sunday's game against Tampa Bay (4-10).
Combine those numbers with the fact that the Panthers get middle linebacker Jon Beason and four other potential starters back from injured reserve and a complete overhaul of the defense may not be as big of a priority as some might think.
"I think the defense will make great strides next year," Hurney said. "I think we still have a good core group intact. You always look to add some pieces, but I think it's encouraging what we've seen the last four weeks."
Hurney and Rivera attribute the improvement on defense during that span to keeping the same starting lineup intact for most of that time.
"We really haven't had the continuity we'd have liked to have from the beginning," Rivera said.
That's an understatement.
The Panthers have been decimated by injuries on defense and the starting lineup has been a revolving door.
It started when they lost veteran defensive tackle Ron Edwards in training camp, forcing them to start the season with two rookies — Sione Fua and Terrell McClain — in the middle.
Beason torn his left Achilles' tendon in the season opener and outside linebacker Thomas Davis re-tore his left ACL the next week against Green Bay, leaving the team without its two defensive leaders.
As the season progressed, the injuries kept mounting.
Linebackers Thomas Williams and Jason Phillips landed on injured reserve after being handed starting roles. Later, McClain and Fua were lost to season-ending injuries, continuing the season-long trend.
Despite all of that, the Panthers were able to limit the playoff-bound Texans to one touchdown in a 28-13 win last Sunday.
"I think just by getting some of those guys back from injuries next year and with the experience some of these (backup) players have gained this season it will naturally help us down the road," Hurney said.
Hurney said the Panthers will attempt to upgrade in all three phases — offense, defense and special teams — through the draft and free agency, but doesn't view one as more pressing than the others.
So even though the offense has made magnificent strides in going from last in the league in 2010 to fifth this year behind Cam Newton, Hurney said he won't rule out adding pieces to help Newton.
"I think you always want to keep your strengths strong," he said.
Beason said Tuesday he's ahead of schedule in his rehab.
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