Key Matchups from Ellis Williams Charlotte Observer

[raleigh-panther]

Key matchups that could decide the NFC South: Week 17 preview Panthers vs. Buccaneers

BY ELLIS WILLIAMS

[email protected]

6 hours ago

Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks believes there is not much to talk about ahead of Carolina’s Week 17 matchup with the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.

“There’s not really a lot to say. We just got to go play and execute,” Wilks said. “We had a good week of practice. That preparation hopefully is going to lead to great execution on game day. Again, we know exactly what’s at stake. So we don’t really need to talk about it. Let’s just go play football.”

The always straightforward Wilks is right. The stakes are quite clear.

Win and the Panthers (6-9) gain sole possession of the NFC South. Then beat the Saints in Week 18 and Carolina captures its first division crown 2015. Lose and Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (7-8) win back-to-back division titles while the Panthers would be eliminated from playoff contention.

There isn’t much to talk about, in a macro sense. Not a lot has changed about the Buccaneers since Carolina beat them 21-3 in Week 7. Tampa Bay runs inside zone on early downs. Brady then wants to spread defenses and pick his matchups on critical downs. But football games are won at the micro level, and there are a few key matchups that could swing the game.

Let’s unpack them, starting with what the Panthers are going to do without No. 1 cornerback Jaycee Horn.

Keith Taylor on third down

With Horn out, Wilks said cornerback Keith Taylor will start opposite C.J. Henderson. The last time Taylor played starter reps Pittsburgh targeted him five times. He allowed five catches for 105 yards. Each reception went for a first down. 

Wilks said he has confidence in Taylor. Last week against the Lions, Taylor was targeted twice and did not allow a reception. The team believes the second-year cornerback has all the physical tools to succeed on the outside against Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans. Brady will likely favor that matchup and often target Taylor.

He got in the game last week and really didn’t hear his name called at all. So to me, that was a direct reflection of the type of player he is,” Wilks said. (Keith) bounced back and is moving on to the next thing.” 

Laviska Shenault on early downs

Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault is due for a long touchdown. Against the Lions, he turned a short catch into a 43-yard gain. Reminiscent of his game-swinging 67-yard catch-and-run versus the Saints in Week 3, Shenault is always a threat to flip the field. 

Over the past few weeks, he has become a more steady threat in the Panthers’ offense. His usage doesn’t always translate into yardage, but his presence adds a key wrinkle to the run game. 

By tagging Shenault with bubble routes from the slot, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo forces defenders to expand with Shenault toward the sideline as quarterback Sam Darnold runs read-option with a tailback. On these plays, Darnold can either hand it off, keep it himself (depending on what the outside defender does) or throw wide to Shenault. 

Shenault can turn those short throws into unexpected chunk gains, which is exactly the type of play Carolina will need.

There are other ways to get Shenault the ball. When he lines up in the backfield beside Darnold, he is a threat to either run or receive. He could take an outside run the distance or a swing pass 50 yards to the house, as he did in Week 10 against Atlanta. 

With everything on the line, McAdoo should exhaust his best plays against the Buccaneers defense. Feeding Shenault a season-high touch-and-target total would make sense. 

Tommy Tremble between the hashes 

For the first time in his career, tight end Tommy Tremble has posted two catches in consecutive games. In Week 7 against the Buccaneers, Tremble caught his first touchdown of the season via a 29-yard corner route from then-starter PJ Walker. 

Whether it’s Tremble or receiver Terrace Marshall, the Panthers would benefit from targeting a large pass catcher across the middle of the field against the Buccaneers. Last week Tampa Bay allowed Arizona slot receiver Greg Dortch to catch 10 of his 11 targets for 98 yards.

The middle of the field should be open, especially because linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White will prioritize stopping the Panthers’ rushing attack.

Carolina bulldozed the Lions to a franchise-record 320 rushing yards last week. Those runs were composed of a lot of interior double-team blocks from Carolina. By doubling the defensive tackles, the Panthers could easily access second-level linebackers and create huge rushing lanes. 

Watch for David and White to play the run, which will force the Panthers to win their one-on-one matchups inside with the Buccaneers defensive tackles. But Carolina should be able to counter by executing play-action passes behind Tampa Bay’s linebackers. 

Defending the check-down pass 

The Buccaneers will attack the Panthers horizontally. Carolina must defend sideline to sideline while not allowing Evans to sneak behind them. 

Effectively rushing Brady will help Panthers defenders account for deep throws. Brady is releasing the ball in less than 2.3 seconds, which is the second-fast time to throw in the league. When Brady feels pressure, he quickly targets his running backs.

Carolina must play sticky to both Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White. As receivers last week against the Cardinals, the Buccaneers’ two running backs combined for 107 yards and a touchdown on 13 catches. 

The Tom Brady factor

The Buccaneers are a shell of their Super Bowl winning offense from two years ago. Brady’s offensive line is in shambles due to injuries. 

Yet the Buccaneers keep finding ways to win games late. Last week, Tampa Bay trailed a dysfunctional Arizona Cardinals team 16-6 with 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Buccaneers rallied to beat a quarterback making his first career start and an opponent that had nothing to play for but needed overtime to do it. 

After the game, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said their upcoming game against the Panthers was a game both teams need. 

“It always means something when you’re playing for something at the end of the year,” Bowles said. “You want to be playing December football. You want to play good December football and meaningful games. Next week, they need it and we need it, so it’s going to be a good battle.”

Technically, the Panthers need the win more. But this game could be Brady’s last stand in Tampa Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KatsAzz]

(" Technically, the Panthers need the win more. But this game could be Brady’s last stand in Tampa Bay.")

[raleigh-panther]

3 hours ago, KatsAzz said:

(" Technically, the Panthers need the win more. But this game could be Brady’s last stand in Tampa Bay.")

I would love for the Panthers to end Brady’s time in Tampa

[weyco2000]

So… stack the box and double Olsen?

[WarHeel]

If we lose tomorrow it will likely be because we are out both our starting corners. Pray that our offense can stay on the field to give our defense a chance because it could get ugly fast if they trend 3 and outs.

[SingleMalt]

Put our best cover corner on their #2 wr and roll over the top of their # 1. It’ll be check down Tom all day.