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CHARLOTTE -- Jon Beason is ahead of schedule. Again.

Whether it's reading a play, getting to the ball carrier, racking up records or winning awards, the Carolina Panthers linebacker does things before people expect them to happen.

Now, armed with his first Pro Bowl selection, Beason will play in his first playoff game Saturday when the Panthers (12-4) face Arizona (10-7) in the NFC divisional round. It's another milestone for the speedy, instinctive and quietly confident Beason, who in 32 games has established himself as one of the NFL's better linebackers.

"When you plan for it, it's easy when it does happen," Beason said Tuesday of his whirlwind two years. "You don't have to pinch yourself as much, even though I have quite a bit."

When the Panthers selected the 6-foot, 237-pound Miami product with the 25th pick in the 2007 draft, they envisioned him as Dan Morgan's eventual replacement at middle linebacker.

Beason started training camp as an outside linebacker and started there in the first four games. But when the oft-injured Morgan went down again with an Achilles' tendon injury, Beason took over in the middle.

Suddenly, he was the defensive signal caller. But that was about all he said on the field -- even as he made a team-record 160 tackles.

"Going into Miami and obviously coming into the NFL, it's about earning respect as a young guy," Beason said. "You haven't done anything, so you shouldn't say anything.

"That's really what it was last year. Just come in, doing your job, being a pro, being accountable and playing hard and the veterans are going to respect that. Once you have their respect, you are a leader."

After an offseason that saw defensive tackle Kris Jenkins traded to the Jets and defensive end Mike Rucker retire, it was time for Beason to become vocal in a new-look defense built to be speedy and strong, two of his traits.

"The No. 1 way to earn respect is with your play," safety Chris Harris said. "He shows up every week and gives it his all. Guys respect that, so it's not hard to listen to a guy who puts it on the line every time he steps on the field."

Beason finished one tackle shy of last year's record this season, good enough to be voted to the Pro Bowl. He was also the NFC defensive player of the month for October.

One of his three interceptions came near the goal line and with Carolina clinging to a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter of the regular-season meeting with the Cardinals. The Panthers won 27-23.

"It's evident to me that he studies a lot of tape, because he knows what's going on and he reacts to it well," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We voted for him for the Pro Bowl, and I think he's very deserving of that."

Coaches and teammates harp on those football smarts, which have allowed for his quick ascent in the NFL.

"He understands the situational part of football," coach John Fox said. "He had to game manage the defense against a no-huddle (offense) like against Indy. All that for a rookie is pretty tough."

With run-clogging defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu sidelined with an ankle injury, teams have tried to neutralize Beason with more blockers.

The Panthers weren't required by the NFL to submit an injury report Tuesday, but they're hoping to get Kemoeatu and defensive tackle Damione Lewis (shoulder) back on Saturday night.

"Kemo is a big presence in there and a guy you have to respect," Beason said. "It makes it a lot easier for me to run and get off blocks."

Beason acknowledged the biggest games of his career to date came in the Peach Bowl in college and in high school state championships growing up in Miramar, Fla.

He was happy to play a Monday night home game against Tampa Bay last month to get a sense of the atmosphere, which will be even more frenzied Saturday in Carolina's first home playoff game in five years.

After going 7-9 last season, the Panthers' return to prominence took just one year. Their linebacker whose career resembles a no-huddle offense had plenty to do with that.

"To do the things he's done in only two years is big," Harris said. "It usually takes a lot of guys a few years to get acclimated, but he's a different type of person."