Bradberry(?) vs Adams
Davante Adams might have one fewer receiving yard than Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the season, but he has also played in four fewer games – while the Packers’ receiving corps isn’t hugely impressive, Davante Adams is a clear outlier. If the Panthers are going to limit the Packers’ passing attack, it probably has to start with stopping Adams, and in order to do that, they’ll hope to have Bradberry healthy after leaving the game against the Titans late due to a groin injury and not practicing Wednesday or Thursday. If fit, Bradberry has shown himself to be a legitimate #1 corner so far this season, and while he still hasn’t had the ball production that he’d ideally like to have, he has consistently been able to limit the #1 receiver of the opposing team. If he is ready to go Sunday, the battle between him and Adams could be a major factor in who wins this game.
However, the Panthers also have to consider what they do if Bradberry isn’t fit enough to play, or is clearly not fully fit come game-time.
Ross Cockrell has played well enough to this point in the season that the idea of putting him on Adams isn’t ridiculous, and while Donte Jackson has continued to flash, the coaching staff seem at least a little frustrated with some of his inconsistencies. At 6-1 and 215 pounds, Adams is neither so big that Jackson would have a real matchup problem, or so fast that Cockrell would be a liability – so if Bradberry can’t play, who gets to cover Adams could be a strong indicator of where the Panthers stand in respect to Cockrell and Jackson.
Big Test For Allen
Kyle Allen isn’t the ideal starter, and he showed against San Francisco that he probably is going to struggle when asked to be the focal point of an offense – but what he can demonstrate, one way or the other, is whether he is really a good backup quarterback or whether he would be able to hold together an otherwise extremely talented team. Jake Delhomme was a prime example of the latter, he was never the kind of player you built your offense around, but when surrounded by an elite defense and a good running gamem he was able to do enough to allow the Panthers to be highly competitive. If Allen can be the latter, then the Panthers might just have an outside shot at the playoffs in 2019.
For Allen, the keys to elevating himself into this latter category will be an improved pocket presence; something which did seem to get better after a rough start against the Titans; and either a better deep ball or an ability to be successful without one. A number of times against the Titans, Allen looked to go deep, only to be fortunate not to get picked off, with two interceptions going through the hands of defenders as well as some other near misses. The Panthers clearly want to push the ball downfield off the run at times, but to this point, Allen has really struggled in this regard. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, and if Allen continues to struggle going deep, he needs to focus on being effective underneath rather than risk interceptions trying to force balls deep.
The Panthers have had a great run with Allen to this point, but with eight games left, including five against current playoff teams, he now has a chance to show the Panthers who he really is.
A win against the Packers at Lambeau Field would go a long way as an opening salvo.
Make Rodgers’ Life Hell
The Packers’ biggest asset is pretty clearly Aaron Rodgers, and while they have got a lot more going on around him this season than in some years past, beating the Packers still ultimately comes down to limiting their quarterback. The Chargers did this well last week, sacking Rodgers three times, with seven QB hits, managing to turn in a shocking upset at home. Fortunately, the Panthers have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, leading the league with 34 sacks despite blitzing at the sixth-lowest rate in the NFL (via PFR) and playing one fewer game than many teams.
Of course, the Panthers have been aided somewhat in this regard by having played some of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, but while the Packers’ offensive line is towards the middle of the pack in terms of pressure rate allowed, the Panthers should hope to get consistent pressure on Rodgers. Of course, going against a player with the mobility of Rodgers, the Panthers also have to make sure that he isn’t able to either scramble or extend plays with his feet. To do this, they will not only need to be disciplined with their rushing lanes, but also make sure the play is dead before they slack off in coverage.
The Panthers would likely have circled this game on their calendar as a key one when the season started – it has been flexed to a later start date for a reason – but if the Panthers are able to come away with a win, that would not only go a long way to turning the page on Cam Newton’s absence – for now, at least – it would also put them in prime position to compete for a playoff spot as the season enters the second half.
