During defensive tackle Derrick Brown’s four seasons with Carolina, the Panthers have compiled a 19-48 record. Last year was the worst of those seasons – the second-worst in franchise history – as Carolina posted a 2-15 mark.

That’s not exactly the springboard to “do something special,” but the former Auburn All-American said the Panthers might just do that in 2024.

“We got a fresh opportunity to go out and do something special,” Brown said at Carolina’s training camp. “So it sucks to go 2-15. You know, you got to come in and go to work every single day with that hanging over your head. And it is what it is. But you’ve got to go out and do your job, so this presents the opportunity for us to go out here and turn this around and do something special.”

Brown has played for two head coaches and two interim head coaches since joining the Panthers. He has another new coach this season, with Dave Canales coming aboard from his previous post as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator to take the reins in Carolina.

Brown said Canales already has made a difference.

“I think it started the first day we reported for OTAs,” Brown said. “I think the tone was set by coach Canales and (defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero) for us. It was: We’re going to do things, we’re going to have a way and we’re going to live and abide by that way. And, I mean, nobody’s resisted that. Everybody’s bought in. And for us to be able to go out there and change the reputation, you don’t want to be the 32nd-ranked team out of 32 teams in no way possible, so for us to go out here and be an actual contender and be able to compete, that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The Panthers have missed the playoffs for six straight seasons.

“We don’t come to work every single day to go 5-10, 5-12, and go home,” Brown said. “So our goal is to come in here and go to work every single day and be able to contend not only for the NFC South but to be able to make a playoff run, so that’s the goal for us.”

Despite the Panthers’ record, the Carolina defense was among the four in the NFL that yielded fewer than 5,000 yards during the 2023 season. Brown had 103 tackles, the most in one season by an NFL defensive tackle on record as he earned Pro Bowl recognition.

“Whatever happened last year, it don’t even matter no more,” Brown said. “We had a freaking full staff turnover, basically, offensively, head coach-wise, GM. The whole building has been flipped upside down, so everything that happened last year, I mean, is washed, so top defense, whatever, it doesn’t matter anymore. …

“I just want to reset, man. I want to reset and be able to go out here and play my best ball. You know, I feel like a lot of times last year, I didn’t put my best display on the field, so I feel like I want to go out there and be able to have a full season of great football.”

Carolina scored the fewest points in the NFL last season as its quarterbacks got sacked 65 times. That prompted the Panthers to sign guards Robert Hunt from the Miami Dolphins and Damien Lewis from the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, providing two big reasons for Brown’s optimism.

“I’ve spent the first few years of my career playing against both of them,” Brown said. “I played Dame since he was in college at LSU. …

“Robert’s a big fellow, man. That’s who I spend most of my day with, actually, on the field. Robert’s a big dude. And just kind of bringing him in, man, I just feel like it’s truly going to take my game to the next level, so having him to go against in practice instead of just one time a year in Miami, you know I’m excited about that.”

Carolina kicks off its three-game preseason schedule against the New England Patriots at 6 p.m. CDT Thursday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. NFL Network will televise the game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.