4 Panthers players who need to step up at the Falcons in Week 5
By Dean Jones
Yetur Gross-Matos – Carolina Panthers DE
Yetur Gross-Matos made a telling contribution for the first time in a professional environment last weekend. The rookie was a commanding pass-rushing force on the edge that really caught the eye, but what comes next for the player will be equally as important.
The former Penn State sensation has endured a frustrating start to NFL life, which can be attributed to injury problems and a concussion that kept him off the field for a portion of training campo.
This was undoubtedly a fantastic confidence boost for Gross-Matos. It can also be a springboard for bigger and better things going forward and it wouldn’t be a big shock to see his reps increase thanks to his latest and best performance of the campaign.
The Carolina Panthers got lucky when Gross-Matos fell into their laps at No. 38 overall. He was projected as a mid-to-late pick in the first round and general manager Marty Hurney declared that the organization even contemplated moving back into the top-32 selections in order to get their man.
Gross-Matos has rare explosiveness that gives him a fighting chance of forging a prolific NFL career. He is still a little rough around the edges, but the Falcons protection has been suspect besides Jake Matthews and the Panthers need to take advantage in their pursuit of success.