4 keys to victory for the Panthers vs. the Bucs in Week 10
By Dean Jones
Keep feeding Curtis Samuel
There are few players in the NFL right now who are hotter than Curtis Samuel. The wide receiver has improved with each passing game and can now be considered a pivotal part of the Carolina Panthers from an offensive standpoint.
Whether that will go beyond this season is up for debate. Samuel is in the final year of his deal and is sure to attract plenty of interest on the free-agent market if things get that far. But, at least for now, the Panthers should continue feeding him the ball while they still can.
Samuel provides the sort of playmaking ability that is rare. He can influence proceedings all over the field and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. If Carolina wants to go toe-to-toe with Tampa Bay’s high-octane offense then they’ll need the former Ohio State standout to continue the high level of production he’s displayed of late.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady has now find the right solutions regarding Samuel, who struggled to make an impression during the early stages of the campaign. The Buccaneers are tough to stop defensively when they build some early momentum, but if last Sunday’s loss at the Saints taught us anything it’s that there are some soft holes that can be exploited.
Samuel is going to play a huge part in this and the Panthers should ride the hot hand especially with Christian McCaffrey unable to take part with a shoulder problem.