CHARLOTTE -- Everette Brown barely had a chance to get used to left defensive end when he found himself lined up on the right side Tuesday morning. But there was scarcely any adjustment for him to make.
"Through college probably 90 percent of my plays were on the right side, so I wasn't a stranger to it," Brown said. "But it's definitely going to help in the long run. When we are playing teams, you can game plan better and they can't expect which side you are going to come from because you are coming from both."
The ability to send him from both sides will give opposing offenses plenty to ponder regarding the Panthers' first 2009 draft pick. But there's been an equal amount weighing on Brown's brain as he adjusts to pro football, with Tuesday's session representing only his 12th day of on-field work in the NFL.
Over those days, Brown has been forced to adapt.
"The biggest adjustment has been technique," Brown said, "working hand placement and key things to keep offensive linemen off of you. Even though we're in helmets, hands are key and they are going to be key all season. Just the repetition of hand drills and playing with good leverage."
The other area of adjustment has been just big -- looking across the line of scrimmage and seeing massive right tackle
"I think it will definitely put me ahead of the learning curve in the long run," Brown said. "It's really making me work on my technique because some of the things I did in college don't necessarily work. This isn't his first go-round, so he's just making me work and sharpen my tools."
At the non-contact organized team activities, the size discrepancy doesn't matter so much; speed and quickness are rewarded in the seconds before a coach's whistle blasts. Training camp, however, will be a full-contact trial by fire.
"It's going to come down to me getting a great takeoff and playing with good leverage and ultimately getting into him before he gets into me so the weight factor won't take over as quickly," Brown said. "If I can get into him before he gets into me, I'll have a better advantage."
But Otah can already see that Brown will be a handful.
"(Brown) has got real good quickness and unexpected strength that it doesn't look like he has," Otah said "He's not a weak guy, either. He's not as big as some D-ends, but he's real fast."
And as the tempo accelerates later this summer, Brown will be able to utilize his quickness and burst to an even greater advantage. Then the Panthers and Brown will have a better idea of his potential for 2009 and beyond.
"The thing they (the veterans) tell me is the speed will pick up, which I anticipate once pads come on," Brown said. "I'm looking forward to getting to Spartanburg and getting after it."
So is Otah, who already senses that their coming duels will sharpen him as much as it aids the rookie.
"He's going to be fine," Otah said. "Every day he's learning something new. The coaches are doing a good job of turning him into a good player."
David Monroe contributed to this report.
MORE FROM SUMMER SCHOOL:
• Photo Gallery: Day 9
• Endless education for Godfrey
• Photo Gallery: Day 8
• O-line on guard against complacency
• Photo Gallery: Day 7
• Foxhole: Team-building
• DE Johnson out front
