5 big changes the Panthers should consider at the Cowboys in Week 4
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers taking more early risks on offense
It would be nothing short of a disaster if the Carolina Panthers got behind early in this game. The Dallas Cowboys have a strong one-two punch at running back in the form of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, who would churn up yardage and take time off the clock in this eventuality.
This bears more significance without the security blanket of Christian McCaffrey in the lineup. So one big change the Panthers might want to make in Week 4 is taking more risks early on.
Carolina has the talent in the passing game even without McCaffrey. D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. are big-time playmakers, with Tommy Tremble’s growing confidence something else that cannot be ignored.
The Cowboys know that McCaffrey isn’t playing and have prepared accordingly. Dan Quinn will already be devising ways for his defensive front seven to makes things extremely uncomfortable for quarterback Sam Darnold, so Joe Brady needs to take bigger gambles and get creative to counteract this threat.
Imagine what a huge play or two in the first quarter will do. It’ll completely suck the life out of AT&T Stadium and also has the potential to shift the early momentum of the contest.
Much will depend on Carolina’s suspect protection and whether they can live up to their end of the challenge. But the benefits are there for all to see.