Safety Marcus Hudson signed with the Carolina Panthers in March with the main purpose of contributing to special teams.
One of Hudson’s goals for the Panthers kicking game was to become the best special teams unit in the NFL.
The Panthers’ front office had the same thing in mind because they also signed safety Aaron Francisco and receiver Wallace Wright. They traded for linebacker Jamar Williams and claimed cornerback Brian Witherspoon off waivers.
Hudson’s goal became more difficult Tuesday when the Panthers placed Wright on injured reserve. Wright, who started two preseason games at receiver, will require surgery on his shoulder, which was injured in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans last Saturday night.
But for Hudson, who was a game captain and played on the first-team defense in the Titans game, there are no excuses. He said someone else has to step up and play well in Wright’s (lineman) position.
“It’s a lot of competition out here on all sides of the ball,” he said. “We are not doubting no one who is here. Otherwise, they would not have been here or made it this far. We have the right people to backup or compete for that starting job (left vacant by Wright), so it not an issue. We will miss Wallace though because he is a great leader, and he exemplified everything we needed to see as a leader.”
Coach John Fox said he felt bad for Wright because he worked hard in the offseason and had a good training camp. Fox even said the coaching staff and Wright felt disappointed.
“He was a guy we were counting on pretty heavily in both the receiver position and the kicking game,” Fox said. We have (receiver) Charly Martin coming back up. He will get some action. The next guy has to step up like always.”
Hudson, 27, who had four tackles against Tennessee, will have to continue his good play and take more of a leadership role now.
The Panthers are still without Francisco, who is recovering from a sore hamstring. Carolina has played preseason games without other special teams players such as receivers Charly Martin (finger) and Trent Guy (hamstring), linebacker Jamar Williams (ribs and back spasms) and running back Mike Goodson (ankle).
The Panthers’ injuries have piled up at times. But Hudson said the special teams’ struggles of the first two preseason games were overblown and injuries had nothing to do with the kicking game performance against the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets.
“I don’t think it was due to injuries because all the guys who came in and filled in as a relief man or just competing for a spot did their jobs,” he said. “Some things were magnified were it took the focus off everybody else and put it just maybe on one person on a certain play, but as far as a whole team and a whole unit we watched film and we know what we need to correct.
“And as you can see this past game there was a difference. We have been making strides, but we had a couple of turnovers that caused us to lose the ball, which made it look bad for us. But we know we are a good special teams unit. We just have to buckle down and focus.”
Hudson said the key to the special teams’ good game against the Titans was that it took advantage of the field position.
He said special teams has a lot to do with were the offense and defense begins a drive. Hudson said the special teams are responsible for putting the offense and defense in the best field position, and that was the difference from the first two preseason games to the third preseason game.
Hudson wants to bring the momentum from the last game into Heinz Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night and into the regular season. He said it is vital to send a message that special teams must succeed, so the defense and offense can be successful.
“Looking at the film, whether it is good or bad and taking everything from that and bringing it to this Thursday’s night game (is important),” Hudson said.
Panthers Notes
The Panthers made a few moves to get down to the 75-man roster by 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Panthers waived receivers Oliver Young and Dexter Jackson. The Panthers also placed defensive end Hilee Taylor, who recently had knee surgery, on injured reserved with Wright.
Carolina put linebacker Thomas Davis on the reserve-physically unable to perform list.
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