5 harsh realities facing the Carolina Panthers after Week 4 defeat
By Luke Gray
Carolina Panthers DE Yetur Gross Matos is not good
This was a big season for Yetur Gross-Matos. The 2020 second-round pick was given a huge vote of confidence by the Carolina Panthers coaching staff when they led stud edge rusher, Haason Reddick, to walk in free agency, which signaled a bigger role incoming for the former Penn State man.
This has been signified in his snap counts. During Week 4’s clash against the Arizona Cardinals, Gross-Matos played 70 percent of defensive snaps but was ineffective at best once again.
Unfortunately, the confidence shown in Gross-Matos hasn’t been repaid so far. Despite an increase in playing time, the defensive end has nine total tackles and according to Pro Football Focus he currently grades out at 44.8, which puts him at 98th out of 102 edge defenders.
Not the production expected from a player drafted at No. 38 overall.
It’s hard to argue so far this season Gross Matos is not doing enough to earn these higher snap counts. One could even say he is being outperformed by Henry Anderson, who has only been on the team for less than a month and is 52nd out of 102 edge defenders per Pro Football Focus.
Just a look over to see what Reddick is doing with the Philadelphia Eagles makes grim reading. The Temple product has 3.5 sacks to go with three forced fumbles – numbers the Panthers could desperately use opposite Brian Burns.