Carolina Panthers: 4 new battles to watch against the Falcons
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers Matchup No. 1: D.J. Moore vs A.J. Terrell
One of the primary matchups to keep a close eye on when the Carolina Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons lock horns are the impending duel between D.J. Moore and A.J. Terrell. The rookie cornerback is expected to shoulder plenty of responsibility in his first year as a professional. And this is an area of the field where his new team struggled considerably in 2019.
The former Clemson star comes into the league with a big reputation after being drafted by the Falcons No. 16 overall. And he could emerge as the No. 1 cornerback option quickly if Isaiah Oliver does not turn things around after a disappointing sophomore campaign.
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He is sure to get a stern test of his skillset from Moore, who is on the verge of superstardom. The wide receiver is coming off his first 1,000-yard campaign despite some less than stellar quarterback play in 2019. And it would be a huge shock if he did not build on this next time around.
Whether the Falcons will want to give Terrell this sort of responsibility early in his career remains to be seen. Oliver’s play was littered with inconsistencies last season. And unless he shows a marked improvement then he is not going to be able to cope with Moore’s phenomenal route-running ability.
Terrell is athletic enough to go down the field with Moore. But whether he could keep the wideout quiet is highly debatable.