Williams and Tuttle anchor Panthers’ revamped defense

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Panthers nose tackle Shy Tuttle (left), a native of Lexington, N.C., is key to stopping the run in Carolina's new 3-4 defensive alignment.

DeShawn Williams looked at a pile of wooden pallets and envisioned a dream.

In August 2020, the former NFL defensive lineman found himself in all-too-familiar employment territory. After being let go by the Calgary Stampeders, Williams found himself between gigs – again. Needing to do something to keep in shape and make financial ends meet after the CFL’s season was canceled during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams accepted a job at an Amazon warehouse.

Among his responsibilities, Williams did a lot of heavy lifting and loading trucks. The occupation’s top bonus proved to be its strength training, which paid dividends when Williams received a call from the Denver Broncos, who provided him with a career break.

Now back in the Carolinas, Williams is prepping for his new role as a starting defensive end for the Panthers, the NFL franchise he favored while growing up in Central, S.C. Not bad for someone who was cut 10 times since 2016 and was forced to sharpen his professional focus – and drive – on a loading dock.

Williams: ‘Time to flip that switch’

The Panthers on Tuesday released their gameday depth chart for Sunday’s opener against Atlanta and Williams was listed on the first unit.

After resurrecting his career during his third stint with the Broncos, Williams broke through with 4.5 sacks in 15 starts last season. When Ejiro Evero was hired away from Denver in February as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator, he recruited Williams to help alter the defensive philosophy to a 3-4 alignment.

Williams was one of the first free agents to sign with Panthers’ new coaching staff, headed by Frank Reich.

“DeShawn looks good,” Reich said after Monday’s walkthrough. “He has experience in this system. Leader. Effort guy.  

“He has a knack for making plays.”

The Panthers need a few new playmakers with top pass-rushing threat Brian Burns sitting out consecutive practices in a contract dispute and Marquis Haynes Sr. landing on injured reserve. As of Tuesday evening, Burns was questionable for the Falcons.

Williams remains prepared for a more significant role against the Falcons.

“Everything is coming together,” Williams said. “It’s time to flip that switch to game season. No more camp. Everything counts now.”

The Panthers’ transition into an effective 3-4 unit likely will take longer than one offseason, but Williams has experienced “that bond. Not just the [defensive] line, but the whole defense, the whole team since OTAs.”

Tuttle’s plan to contest Falcons’ running game

Starting next to Williams is nose tackle Shy Tuttle, another Carolinas native and early free agent signing who was coming off a career campaign. Tuttle, who collected two sacks for the New Orleans Saints last season, took a deep breath last week when asked about the challenges of defending the Falcons’ athletic quarterback Desmond Ridder and rookie Dijan Robinson, who was elevated to RB1.

“Atlanta has a great run game,” Tuttle said. “The easiest way to compliment a young quarterback is hand it off. They are going to run the ball 40 times, I feel. That’s what I’m focused on.”
A native of Lexington, N.C., Tuttle is keeping time with the defensive unit’s preseason development, helping to keep them in rhythm.

“Each day is a learning lesson,” he said. “Polish it. Try to make it better so when game time comes around, you’re not thinking, you’re just playing fast. Each day, you get more and more comfortable.
“Practice. Repetition.”

And keep the faith when challenges arise.

“I’m not saying there aren’t going to be growing pains, because that’s anybody, any season,” Williams said. “Everything’s not going to be perfect.”

It’s still a long way from a loading dock.

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