Carolina Panthers: 5 matchups to watch vs. the Jets in Week 1
By Noah Bryce
Carolina Panthers WR Robby Anderson Vs. Jets No. 2 corner
Former Jet Robby Anderson is coming off of a career year and things are only looking up after being reunited with his former quarterback this offseason. His performance proving that the connection between them is still strong.
Outside of the Panthers fandom, there is much debate as to who the No.1 receiver truly is but I think we can all agree that it is D.J. Moore who is primed for a breakout year. With that being said, Anderson will be the No.2 and placed against the opposition’s No.2 corner and that should be a scary thought.
Even with his apparent inability to find the endzone in 2020, Anderson still had a monster year. Gaining over a thousand yards for the first time with a remarkable 69.9% catch rate. Proving that he is much more than just a deep threat with his route running and ability to get lose of defenders on crossing routes.
On the flip side, this is a place the Jets would rather not mention.
After finishing 28th in pass defense and giving up more yardage than Teddy Bridgewater gained, the Jets did almost nothing to improve in that area in the short term. After releasing last year’s starter Bless Austin, only one member of their cornerback room has more than a year of experience, and they aren’t expected to be anything more than a special teams contributor.
So the Jets will most likely place 2021 6th round pick Brandin Echols opposite Anderson and that should put a smile on the former Temple standout’s face.
And if you asking, “Who?”, you aren’t the only person. The uncertainty at the position is highlighted by the fact that the Jets official depth chart lists three players as the starting No.2 corner and all of them are rookies, none of which went higher than the 5th round.
While rookies can sometimes have breakout performances, don’t expect that to happen against the likes of this wide receiver group. Veteran receivers make a habit of feasting on inexperienced corners and with a run game that may falter, keep an eye out for big numbers by Anderson as Echols and Co. get a harsh reminder that this isn’t college anymore.