4 keys to victory for the Carolina Panthers at Dolphins in Week 12
By Noah Bryce
Carolina Panthers must win 1-on-1 battles
The Miami Dolphins like to blitz, a lot, and they also play a ton of man coverage. This requires a lot of faith in a secondary’s ability that has typically been rewarded, but one wrong move and that can all change.
A scheme like this can be very effective against certain teams, especially ones that rely on big-bodied receivers to win those types of matchups. However, its biggest weakness is a team built around speed and agility with just enough size to win a contested catch.
A team like the Carolina Panthers.
While there may not be a lot of size at receiver for the team, their ability to get open against just about anyone is something that should come into its own on Sunday.
The Dolphins are going to leave their cornerbacks on an island at some point in this contest and when that happens D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson will have to play up to their billing and shake off that coverage with some sort of clever move.
With the speed that they undeniably have, it will be so long once they get behind their defender.
Don’t get me wrong, this Dolphins secondary is solid, and it’s not going to be easy to beat them. However, on paper, this Panthers receiving corps is one of the best in the league and has the abilities needed to shed their coverage.
Winning those 1-on-1 matchups – and winning them quickly – is something that will be necessary if the Panthers want to move the ball against the type of pressure that will be coming their way. If Carolina’s receivers can’t shake their man it will be a very long day for Cam Newton as he desperately looks for an open target.