Establishing the run vs. Carolina Panthers run defense
The Carolina Panthers may have given up 140 yards to Dalvin Cook on Sunday, but that’s not the whole story. The team defended the star running back rather well for the most part and it should be a much easier task for them come Week 7.
With Daniel Jones’ recent struggles at quarterback, it only makes sense for the New York Giants coaches to want to take some of the pressure off his shoulders with the run. But Saquon Barkley hasn’t been the same player after his knee injury.
Unfortunately for them, it hasn’t really worked out as Barkley has not gone over 60 yards on the year and has been nursing an ankle injury that kept him out of Week 6.
If Barkley is unable to go again on Sunday, Devontae Booker will get the starting nod and that news shouldn’t instill any confidence in the Giants as he hasn’t exactly been a revelation.
With that said, the Giants running backs have gotten little help from an offensive line that has had multiple starters on the interior lost for the season and that is not a recipe for a good push.
But the Giants press on and desperately needs to get the run game going if they want Jones to get comfortable in the pocket and not rocked by the Panthers’ defensive line at every turn.
On the other side, the defensive tackles of the Panthers have been struggling for most of the year but Derrick Brown had a bit of a breakout game in Week 6. Building on that momentum will be key to shutting down a Giants rushing attack that has no business being passable against a defense that should be great.
Just like Burns, the duo of Brown and DaQuan Jones has a massive opportunity on Sunday for some big numbers with the opposition they are facing. If they cant capitalize on this, what can they take advantage of?
This game will come down to who can win the run game and the Panthers should have every advantage. If they can finally play up to their potential.