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With five sacks in the past three games, defensive end Julius Peppers once again has affirmed his status as one of the NFL's top pass-rushers and eased some of the public debate over his $1 million-a-game salary.
On Thursday, in his first interview in a month, he attributed his improved play, and that of the Carolina Panthers' defense in general, to becoming more acclimated to the new system installed by first-year defensive coordinator Ron Meeks.
It's a matter of "just adjusting to the defense, knowing what you're supposed to do within the scheme and allowing yourself to play faster," said Peppers, whose tally of six sacks on the season ranks eighth in the NFL.
"Everybody is getting a little more familiar with the responsibility of what we're supposed to be doing, and it's leading to a better performance by the group."
Peppers had just one sack in the first three games, all Carolina losses.
Peppers said he likes that his role involves alternating between right and left defensive end, an intriguing affirmation considering he said in January and February that he preferred to play for another team because he felt he had maximized his potential in the Panthers' system.
Peppers praised the flexibility of his fellow defensive linemen.
"We have a lot of guys who can play both sides, a lot of guys who can play inside and out," he said. "It's the best rotation I've been a part of since I've been here."
However, Peppers wasn't saying this defensive line, which lacks any other established star, was superior overall to the one he played with several years ago that included tackles Kris Jenkins and Brentson Buckner and end Mike Rucker.
"I'm talking about as far as being interchangeable," he said. "I'm not saying it's the best line I've been part of, but as guys being able to play different positions and switch in and out with each other."
Peppers said the early-season addition of veteran defensive tackle Hollis Thomas helped the overall defensive improvement. Carolina ranks fourth in the NFL in total defense after being as low as 23rd earlier in the year.
"It allows us to (play with) a little more schemes and a little more games up front because he's taking up a lot of space inside," Peppers said of Thomas. "Since he's gotten here, he's helped us out with the run defense tremendously."
Peppers declined to discuss reports of an inspiring talk he gave to teammates before an Oct. 11 win at Tampa Bay, in which he encouraged them to do as he said he'd done - look honestly at themselves "in the mirror" and respond accordingly on the field.
"That's something we did as a team, private," he said. "I have no comments on anything that happened as far as anything that's supposed to be kept within the team."
