4 keys to victory for the Panthers at the Falcons in Week 5
By Dean Jones
Get Matt Ryan on the move
It’s easy to forget that Matt Ryan is a former NFL MVP winner. The quarterback is still putting up big numbers despite the obvious problems elsewhere and his threat is something that the Carolina Panthers need to take incredibly seriously.
Ryan does his best work from the pocket. He is a surgeon when given time to go through his progressions and even though Julio Jones might not be able to suit up, there are still plenty of dangerous weapons for the signal-caller to utilize.
The Panthers might be able to limit Ryan’s production if their defensive front continues to make strides after going through some struggles early on. Getting him off his spot and on the move is a proven way to limit his productivity. So the likes of Brian Burns, Stephen Weatherly, and Yetur Gross-Matos need to put the former Boston College standout under considerable pressure in obvious pass-rushing situations.
This is another pivotal element of a game that Carolina has a good chance of winning. Ryan is projected to finish the season with 4,984 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and eight interceptions by ESPN. But he is sure to get all he can handle from a defense that has come on leaps and bounds over the last fortnight.
Ryan has the experience and distribution to do some serious damage to any defense he comes up against. Carolina’s athletic young group needs to show out as they have done recently, and hopefully, that can be enough to limit the player’s production.