CHARLOTTE — When you're practicing against your own guys, even when you're going hard, you're still going against your own guys.

On Wednesday, the Panthers got to go against someone else.

Of all the changes the Panthers made this offseason, the most drastic might have been the work put into shoring up the run defense.

After employing too many sub-300-pounders up front last year and linebackers who were signing on Tuesday and starting on Sunday, they worked aggressively to fix a number of problems this offseason.

That included their first day of free agency splurge, which included defensive tackle Bobby Brown III to add an anchor to the middle between Derrick Brown and A'Shawn Robinson. Then they signed an edge-setter who can also rush the passer in Patrick Jones II, a downhill linebacker in Christian Rozeboom, and a safety who is more comfortable in the box in Tre'von Moehrig, all with the goal in mind of fixing one of last year's biggest problems. Coupled with filling in during the draft with a pair of pass-rushers in Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, another downhill safety in Lathan Ransom, and a massive run-stopper in Cam Jackson, the Panthers went about correcting the problem intentionally.

And on Wednesday, even without Derrick Brown on the field (resting a mild rib/oblique issue), it looked like the progress was substantial.

The Panthers held up well against a good Browns offensive line and were stouter inside than they had looked in some time. Last year, long after Derrick Brown was hurt, but when other attrition took hold, they allowed over 200 rushing yards in each of the last six games, which sparked the aggressive moves in free agency.

"I think just having that mentality of just stopping the run, being physical up front, making the tackles that we need to make," Moehrig said of the run defense on display against the Browns. "I mean, going against our guys or somebody else, we always will have to have that mentality to stop the run, to get things done the way we need to do it."

Panthers head coach Dave Canales hadn't gotten a close eye on that side of the practice fields when he talked to reporters, since he was busy running the offensive side.

But he said he passed defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero during a break, and got a positive first report.

"Can't wait to watch it," Canales said. "I just fist bumped E, and he said it went pretty good."

Even during days when you're going against your own, Moehrig's impact is clear, as his intensity has been evident throughout camp.

While most people think of safeties as pass defense, he was brought here to add some ballast to the third level of the defense. He had 104 tackles and five tackles for loss for the Raiders last year, and was rated the sixth-best safety in the league in run defense grades (and three of the guys ahead of him in that category went to the Pro Bowl — Brian Branch, Kyle Hamilton, Derwin James Jr.).

And as he was flying around on Wednesday, Moehrig said he could sense a group effort.

"Man, just a lot of energy flying around making plays and just having fun," he said. "You know, going against somebody new, not going against the same offense we've been going against every day in training camp and OTAs, so it was fun.

"I think we just had a lot of energy like I said before, and everybody fed off of it, making plays and, you know, just excited to be out there."