There was an enormous amount of excitement around the Carolina Panthers' joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Head coach Dave Canales demanded a strong response from his players, and despite starting slowly, they picked things up later on.
But for Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown, the session once again proved just how valuable he'll be to the Panthers' chances this season.
Nobody needs to be told how good Brown is. He's widely regarded as one of the league's most prolific interior linemen. His unique blend of size, speed, and brute force is rare. The Panthers are lucky to have him, and he is a true franchise cornerstone in every sense of the term.
Derrick Brown turns on the style in Carolina Panthers' joint practice with the Jaguars
Anyone who needs a reminder should look no further than joint practice with the Jaguars.
Brown set the tone from the moment he stepped onto the field. He was incredibly difficult to move off the block, making a series of impressive stops against the run to leave oncoming ball-carriers dead in their tracks. Considering the 2020 first-round pick out of Auburn has been dealing with knee soreness, it was a highly impressive day at the office.
The Panthers have problems elsewhere; there is no denying that. But in Brown, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero has a course-corrector for everyone else on his unit to feed off.
It's a responsibility Brown takes seriously, too.
He's gone from a promising prospect to arguably Carolina's best overall player. Brown was perhaps understated earlier in his career, but the seasoned pro has found his voice. He commands instant respect, and not just from his own teammates.
Everyone who goes against Brown knows exactly what they are up against now, too.
This was a positive sign. The Panthers have been cautious with Brown throughout the offseason, and with good reason. They need their talisman fit and firing on all cylinders from the first whistle. They need him to lead from the front, and they need him to take the next step into the All-Pro conversation.
Based on this outing in Jacksonville, he looks more than capable of achieving this objective.
For all the defensive improvements made, this unit will go as far as Brown takes them. It all starts upfront, and he's one of the most prolific performers anywhere in the NFL. When he plays well, it makes things easier for everybody, and looking so explosive versus the Jaguars was another positive step in the right direction.
Just how much time Brown sees in the preseason is debatable. The live-fire reps are beneficial, but he's experienced enough to stay on the sidelines.
But when the Panthers need Brown to step up, he'll deliver.
This was just further proof, as if any were required.
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