Panthers vs Saints - Pressure is the Key

Carolina Panthers - New Orleans Saints

f there is one absolute key to a Carolina Panthers victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, it is this: Drew Brees must feel pressured.

Brees currently leads the NFL in passing yards with 1993. He currently has a 105 passer rating overall. Now consider on Sunday he gets two real weapons in Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey back in to the starting lineup. For anyone that watched the Panthers defense get dismantled by a mediocre passing attack in Tampa Bay last Sunday, this is an extremely concerning situation to be in.

If Panthers defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac thinks rushing his front four (who have been anemic all season) and dropping back into a soft zone is a solid game plan, Carolina fans are in for a long disappointing Sunday.

The only chance the Panthers have in stopping the New Orleans Saints attack? Blitz, blitz, and blitz again. And just when you think you have blitzed too many times…. Blitz.
Thomas Davis used to spy Michael Vick with success. Let him do the same here with Reggie Bush. Carolina will see plenty of screen passed to Bush, as he is more receiver than running back. Thomas Davis spying him step for step will minimize the damage done by Bush.

The New Orleans receivers are nothing special. Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble both have the size and speed to cover man up, only if Brees has no more than three seconds to throw the ball. Force the Panthers defensive backfield to cover for more than three seconds , and Brees has the ability to find the open receiver the majority of the time.

Lets hope the defensive game plan this week is different than last.

Saints receivers are nothing special? Holly hell! Who wrote this? He obviously has NOT been doing his Saints homework. The Saints have more more offensive weapons than a North Korean nuclear facility. I hope his optimism about this game carries over to their football team. If it does, they will wish they were playing the Bucs again.

Let's hope the panthers take the same attitude.

Drew passes the ball to himself. Inside info.

Wow, the recievers are "nothing special" as long as Brees has "no longer than 3 seconds to throw"...? Ok, well Gamble and Lucas are going to have their hands full this week and I don't think they stand a chance against this offense.