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TAMPA, Fla. Blocked punts have been a rare occurrence against the Carolina Panthers throughout their 14-year history.
It wasn't until 2000 – when the franchise was six years old – that an opponent first blocked a Panthers punt. The most blocks by Carolina opponents came in 2003, when they knocked away three Todd Sauerbrun punts in the Panthers' 20-game Super Bowl season.
This season, then, is an aberration of whopping proportions.
When Tampa Bay's Geno Hayes glided in untouched to block a punt by the Panthers' Jason Baker in the first quarter of Sunday's game at Raymond James Stadium, he was the third opponent to do so against Carolina in a season that's only six games old.
It's become a troubling trend.
“It's very frustrating,” said Dante Rosario, who plays on the punt team. “Because for the most part, we've had a strong unit (over the years). We've controlled returns and it's too bad when we mess things up for the punter.”
Hayes' block – which he parlayed into a touchdown – was the most costly of the three this season. It came on the Panthers' first possession and Carolina never recovered in a 27-3 loss.
The other two came in victories. Chicago's Brandon Lloyd scored after Darren McClover blocked a Baker punt – also on the Panthers' first possession – but Carolina eventually won 20-17.
Baker dropped a snap against Atlanta two weeks later, leading to a block by John Abraham in a 24-9 Panthers victory.
There doesn't seem to be a common reason why each of those punts was blocked. McClover's came from the outside, Hayes from the inside and Abraham's from Baker's mishap.
“It was a miscommunication on the protection,” said Panthers coach John Fox of Hayes' block. “I don't even believe it was a rush. I think they had a return set up and we made an error in our protection.”
Rosario, who was on the side that Hayes came through, said the Panthers didn't have Hayes accounted for.
