Mike Minter, Mike Rucker and Dan Morgan. For years they were heralded as the defensive leaders of the Carolina Panthers.

But now, with all three retired, the torch has been passed and coach John Fox is counting on new set of leaders to step up on that side of the ball.

Enter middle linebacker Jon Beason and strong safety Chris Harris.

Although just in their second season with the Panthers, they've emerged as the guys who'll lead this defense into the next decade. While former first-round draft picks Julius Peppers, Thomas Davis and Chris Gamble have all been here longer, their personalities don't quite mesh with the label of being a leader.

But Beason and Harris do.

In his rookie season, Beason not only made people forget about Morgan in the middle of the defense, but he also made an impact on his teammates in the locker room.

"It's probably more rare than not for a rookie to do that," Fox said. "But a lot of that is part of the evaluation process - what kind of guy they are and what kind of football character they have. We felt pretty strong about that side of him coming in."

There came one defining moment for Beason.

Prior to last December's game against the Dallas Cowboys, Beason stood up before his teammates and gave a riveting speech.

Cornerback Ken Lucas, who has been in the league for seven years, said he's never heard anything like it before from a player or a coach.

"It's one of those Martin Luther King Jr. types of speeches," Lucas said. "It had that feel. When he got done, everybody looked at each other like, ‘Man, that was a powerful speech.' He brings that type of energy. He's a natural leader."

Although the Panthers lost that game to a Cowboys team that wound up as the NFC's number one seed, they were able to keep it close for much of the game.

"He has an infectious attitude," said quarterback Jake Delhomme. "You see it on the field. He's all over the place and he's explosive. It carries over. You see it in him. You see it in Chris Harris."

Harris' route to the leadership throne came quite naturally. He came over from a great defense in Chicago and stepped right in and didn't miss a beat. His teammates say it took him about a week to master Carolina's defense.

"He's a pro. It's a little different with him," Fox said of the fourth-year player. "He's operated in a pro defense and understands what it takes to be successful."

Of course, as with any leader, you have to prove it with production as well.

And both Beason and Harris did that last year.

In 2007, Beason established a new single-season franchise record with 160 tackles despite not becoming the full-time starting middle linebacker until Week 5.

Harris, despite missing all of minicamp, clicked right away in Carolina, setting another Panthers record with eight forced fumbles.

"He's a vocal guy anyway and he's a very smart guy," Lucas said. "He was willing to come here and help us in anyway he could. I'm glad to have him back there. He's a playmaker. I don't know how he does it but he finds a way to get that ball out and made a lot of plays for us."

Harris said being a leader comes fairly natural to him and it's a role he relishes.

"You've got to have leaders," he said. "Every good team has leaders. I'm trying to take on that role, be a leader on that back end and make sure guys are lining up correctly."

Surely, there will be other defensive leaders to emerge in the coming seasons, perhaps cornerback Richard Marshall and safety Charles Godfrey.

But for now, this is defense is in the hands of its new leaders, Beason and Harris.

"You always need some names in there to call," Fox said. "You need to find those guys and identify them and develop them."

 

 

 

 

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