SPARTANBURG, S.C. - It was only a year ago that Charles Godfrey was the wizened mentor, a senior at Iowa whom younger players approached about how to best play defensive back in a high-level college football program.

Today, Godfrey is a rookie in the NFL and the role's reversed.

"I have no problem bringing anybody to the side who I think is capable of helping me," said Godfrey, the Carolina Panthers' third-round draft pick and the leading candidate to be the team's starting free safety. "I'll ask questions. If I don't, I won't get answers."

Godfrey is getting help from players such as strong safety Chris Harris and cornerback Ken Lucas, veterans who know it's in their best interest to get this rookie up to speed -- mentally and physically -- as quickly as possible.

"For him to be a first-year guy, he's a good listener," Lucas said of Godfrey on Sunday, a few hours before the team practiced on its second day of training camp at Wofford College. "He didn't come in with an arrogant attitude. He's willing to learn."

Lucas also said Godfrey is benefiting from a new defensive philosophy for the Panthers, one that relies more on players using their instincts, not thinking about what they're supposed to be doing.

"It's simplified our system," Lucas said. "For [Godfrey], it cuts down on mental mistakes safeties have made when they've come in here in the past. There was a lot of thinking in the process. This has allowed us to go out there and play.

"It's really a simple game. It takes a lot of thinking out of the defense. It's you and the guy in front of you. 'May the best man win' is what it boils down to."

Coach John Fox wouldn't go into specifics about the new defensive philosophy. But with a unit that's undergoing significant change -- most notably moving Julius Peppers from left to right end, switching Thomas Davis from strongside to weakside linebacker and introducing Godfrey into the mix -- he said it makes sense to keep things simple.

"We had some guys who'd been with us for some time -- the Dan Morgans, veterans," Fox said. "But now we ... have those youthful guys. You've got to simplify it some so they can operate and play. You can't be out there thinking in this league."

When the first-team defense was off the field Sunday, Godfrey spent a lot of time standing with secondary coach Mike Gillhamer, picking his brain while watching the second- and third-teamers go through drills. He also occasionally conferred on the sideline with Harris.

"We talk," Harris said. "He's always trying to get an edge. He'll pull me over to the side and ask me about plays. He's a guy who wants to be good. He wants to learn the game."

What Godfrey most needs to develop, Lucas said, is a sense of trust with the rest of the secondary. Lucas said that was key to the Panthers' most recent playoff appearance, in 2005, when they advanced to the NFC championship game. The Panthers haven't had a winning season since.

"I want to trust him," Lucas said of Godfrey. "In '05, I'd tell [Mike] Minter and [Marlon] McCree, 'I'm going to jump this. You back me up.' That's why we had as much as success as we had. Hopefully, we'll have that chemistry that you need.

"Last year, it wasn't where we needed it to be for us to be as successful as we wanted to be."

Godfrey made news after April's draft because of a tattoo he wears on his right hand bearing the logo of the Houston Texans, the team he followed while growing up in Baytown, Texas.

Godfrey said he's not getting more tattoos, not that his new teammates would have noticed.

"I didn't pay any attention to his tattoos," Lucas said. "I'm more concerned about him being in the right place."

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