CHARLOTTE — When rookie Sherrod Martin arrived for preseason football camp in late July,

the Carolina Panthers still weren’t sure how to use the second-round pick

Martin was primarily a safety in college, but the Panthers projected him as

a cornerback, and that’s where they needed help the most.

Martin wasn’t seeing much time as a cornerback, and then starting free

safety Charles Godfrey went down with an ankle injury.

Martin is now in the lineup as the starting free safety — and he’s making

plays.

Two starts into his NFL career, Martin already has three interceptions. More

importantly, Carolina is 2-0 when he starts, compared to 2-5 when he was a

paid spectator.

Carolina was planning on Martin being the third cornerback this year, but he

was beat out by a seventh-round pick (Captain Munnerlyn).

Looking like a potential bust early on, Martin seems to be a natural at free safety.

Late in the first half of Sunday’s 28-19 home win over Atlanta, Martin read

that Falcons QB Matt Ryan had put too much on a pass and picked him off —

returning the ball 12 yards to Atlanta’s 33.

It led to Steve Smith’s 4-yard touchdown catch that put the Panthers ahead

14-3.

“I was just patrolling the middle,” Martin said of his responsibility on the

play. “It was a good call by the coaches and we got a lot of pressure up

front. I knew he had thrown it too high and I just made a play.”

Martin seems to have that knack. He intercepted Kurt Warner twice in his

first NFL start, a win at defending NFC champion Arizona.

As a senior at Troy, Martin had three interceptions in the same quarter

against Alcorn State.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Martin said, “especially when you’re winning.”

Playoffs?

With two straight victories over teams with winning records, the Panthers

are not out of the playoff hunt just yet.

Carolina (4-5) might still eke into the postseason, but the last month of the

schedule includes trips to New England and the New York Giants, in addition

to home games against Minnesota and New Orleans.

Season-ending injuries to two of the Panthers’ best players in the last two

weeks makes the task even taller.

Pro Bowl left tackle Jordan Gross broke his ankle on Sunday, and linebacker

Thomas Davis, who was having a Pro Bowl year, tore an ACL the week before.

Huddling overrated

After going three-and-out on their first possession, Carolina went to a

no-huddle offense on their second drive and went 80 yards for the touchdown

to take the lead for good on Sunday.

The hurry-up can help an offense find a rhythm when it’s struggling, and can

also lock the defense into bad matchups because they can’t substitute

between plays.

Carolina QB Jake Delhomme is a rhythm player, and says he’s “very comfortable” in

the no-huddle. It was a good change of pace, literally, and probably

contributed to Sunday’s win.