2 dark-horse Panthers defenders that need to perform vs. the Saints
By Tyler Ball
Haason Reddick – Carolina Panthers OLB
Haason Reddick might not be a household name yet, but he will be soon.
Reddick was selected at No. 13 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft and ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash during the evaluation process. The outside linebacker brought a dynamic combination of speed and agility when working around the New York Jets offensive line last Sunday.
According to Pro Football Focus, Reddick finished the game with three solo tackles, two sacks, and had an overall player grade of 66.3.
The New Orleans Saints have solid protection, but Reddick knows how to work the edge.
Jameis Winston is known for running at the first sign of a collapsing pocket, which the Carolina Panthers defensive line getting better at forcing thanks to the explosive players at Phil Snow’s disposal.
Reddick needs to continue to rush the edge and manipulate the pocket, hopefully resulting in forcing Winston his way for the hit or ensuring the quarterback turns back into the mistake-prone player we saw plenty of on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
If Reddick can continue to fly under the Saints’ radar then he will significantly contribute by containing Winston by either tackles or minimum yards. Something that might make a huge difference to the overall outcome.