It keeps getting harder to write these defensive previews. The Carolina Panthers defense hasn’t been playing with any fire, so picking out specific keys to the game seems like a fruitless endeavor. They aren’t stopping the run, they aren’t pressuring the quarterback, and they’re not covering receivers. Over the last three games, the Panthers have allowed opponents to average 6.6 yards per play. That’s the most in the league.
A visit to Indianapolis should inspire some confidence. The Colts are limping to the finish line, just like the Panthers. They’ve won just one of their last seven games and are coming off an embarrassing prime time loss to the Saints. But this Panthers team is a train wreck. There’s nothing to be confident about here.
But there is one thing to be excited about—a change in quarterback. The interim coaching staff finally decided to end the Kyle Allen experiment after another turnover-fest against the Seahawks. Grier might not be better, but at least he’s new.
Sometimes a shakeup can give a jolt to a team. It didn’t happen when ownership made a coaching change, but maybe it’ll happen with a quarterback change. The defense will be complementing a different offense, and they should be trying to give their rookie signal caller as easy a job as possible. Here’s how they can do that:
- Don’t make the offense play from behind. Keep the Colts point total low. This is a goal every week, but it’s especially important with a green quarterback manning your offense. The Panthers have been abysmal trying to play from behind this year, mainly due to the offensive line’s inability to hold up. Grier has never been in live NFL action before. The last he needs is a big deficit that lets the defense pin their ears back and go all in rushing the passer.
- Give the offense short fields. This can come with turnovers, or by getting off the field on third downs. The Panthers defense hasn’t been good at either. During their losing streak, the Panthers have let opponents convert just under 40% of their third down tries, just a bit below league average. In that same span, they’ve forced just two turnovers. One of those was an interception thrown by a wide receiver. Both of those numbers need to improve on Sunday.
The Colts can’t be expected to help with that. Even during their struggles, they’ve been able to convert third downs at an above average rate and they take care of the ball. The Panthers defense has to step up.
- Watch out for Marlon Mack. The Colts have turned into one of the most run heavy teams in the league when time and score allows it. Mack is their bell cow. He should easily surpass 1,000 yard rushing for the season despite missing two games with injury (he needs just 81 yards to reach that mark). He averages a decent 4.3 yards per carry and has broken off seven runs of 20-plus yards. The Panthers have been good at letting running backs get into the second level of the defense untouched. Another week of that and we could see Mack go well over 100 yards on the ground.