Carolina Panthers: Pass defense must improve for contention
The Carolina Panthers are lagging behind the pack in passing defense and must turn things around to compete in the NFC South.
The Carolina Panthers are heading to the nation’s capital to face off against the Washington Redskins in Week 6. The Redskins are coming off a very bad game against the New Orleans Saints and the Panthers must capitalize on this momentum to pick up a key win. To do so, this team must lean on their defense, particularly their ability to stop Alex Smith.
Coming into this game, the Panthers are allowing 294 passing yards per game. That performance slots them with the 26th ranked passing defense in the league. This is a far cry from the days of recent years when the Panthers forced multiple turnovers, usually occurring when opposing quarterbacks looked to test the pass defense.
In 2018, the Panthers are still securing a strong amount of interceptions, but they are allowing enough yards through the air that it helps teams keep games close until the very end.
This is what makes Sunday’s game against the Redskins so dangerous. While Smith may not be considered an elite quarterback, he is having a solid start to the season. His completion percentage sits at 66 and he’s averaging 260 yards through the air per game. Even though the Redskins wide receiver corps doesn’t include any marquee names, Smith has done a good job getting a decent performance from every man on the roster.
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Still, Carolina has the defensive acumen to keep this game manageable and come out with a win on the road. Donte Jackson and James Bradberry have played well and should stand a good chance against the main receivers for this Redskins group. The question is how well Mike Adams and Eric Reid will cover the rest of the field.
Smith is averaging seven yards per attempt, which means that the Panthers will have to maintain proper coverage when the Skins throw the ball underneath. The deep threat may not be there for the Redskins, but the question is whether Carolina will be able to defend the middle of the field.
It will be interesting to watch whether Carolina’s defensive unit can get pressure on the quarterback without bringing additional rushers out of blitzes. They’ve earned nine sacks so far this season and that matches the total that the Redskins offensive line has allowed.
The Redskins have shown that they are willing to move the ball on the ground which is a defensive area that the Panthers excel. If they can limit the Redskins ability to run the ball, especially early, there’s an opportunity for the team to anticipate the pass — giving their defensive secondary an advantage.
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Carolina has struggled all season to limit their opponents in moving the ball through the air. As that becomes more apparent, the upcoming game against the Redskins is a big test on the road. The NFC South is filled with powerful offenses that can move the ball via passing. If Carolina isn’t going to get left behind, they must use this game as an opportunity to show that they can stop teams that look to rack up a wealth of passing yards.