The New Orleans Saints have been sort of a defensive conundrum this season, ranging from surrendering huge point and yardage totals in weeks 1 and 3, to being stout and impressive in weeks 2 and 4. What will fans get this week when New Orleans faces Cam Newton and the surprisingly dangerous Carolina Panthers? Although his team is 1-3, Newton has set a high bar for rookie quarterbacks after throwing for just under 1400 yards and 5 touchdowns. What will the Saints have to do defensively in order to leave Charlotte with a victory?
Pass Defense
Cam Newton has been a pleasant surprise for Panthers fans this season, posting impressive numbers and transitioning into the pro game faster than anyone anticipated. The Panthers’ passing game has been great thus far this season; the 334.8 passing yards that the unit averages weekly is 3rd best in the NFL. The Saints have been not especially great in defending the pass, giving up around 254 yards per game.
Panthers WR Steve Smith has reinvented himself this season with the addition of Newton at quarterback. The two have trust in one another, and form a deadly dup for opposing defenses. Smith has absolutely owned the Saints secondary in the past, and his containment will be key to stopping the passing attack. Big plays are what Smith is best at, and the Saints have had trouble stopping huge passing gains in recent weeks. The Panthers will look to throw deep to Smith early. If the Saints can contain Smith and limit his ability to stretch the field, the passing game will be much easier to defend.
The Saints can also help themselves by producing a pass rush. After facing a rookie quarterback last week, Saints DC Gregg Williams will look to use many of the same strategies against Newton. Exotic blitz schemes, hidden coverages, and different base defense looks will be used to try to throw of Newton. None of that will matter, however, if the Saints cannot get a rush. DE Will Smith will need to be a impact performer if the Saints want to have any success pressuring Newton.
Run Defense
The Saints have done pretty well in defending the run, only allowing 94 yards a game, good enough for 9th best in the league. The defensive line additions of Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers seem to be meshing into the defensive scheme, slowly but surely. The Panthers’ running game, considered to be a strength heading into the season, is pretty average, only getting 105.2 yards per game.
Although the Panthers running attack has been pedestrian to begin the season, the talent in the Carolina backfield is incredibly deep. DeAngelo Williams is capable of scoring every time he touches the ball, Jonathan Stewart can wear down any defense with his physical, brusing running style, and even Mike Goodson has shown glipses of being a decent professional back.
The key to success for the Saints? Maintaining the line of scrimmage. Panthers C Ryan Kalil is one of the best in the game, and G Travelle Wharton is often overlooked as a dominant blocker in the middle. Franklin, Rogers, and Sedrick Ellis will need to be able to control the line of scrimmage and allow the linebacking corps to swarm the ballcarrier. Gregg Williams likes to rotate his defensive linemen frequently, and this strategy has been successful so far this year. Keeping the line of scrimmage controlled by the defensive line will allow for the Saints to keep Williams and Stewart non-factors.
Matchup to Watch
Panthers WR Steve Smith vs. Saints Secondary. Steve Smith had to have been looking at tape from the Saints-Texans game and salivating after seeing Texans WR Andre Johnson absolutely tearing through an ill-prepared New Orleans secondary. Smith will look to stretch the field against the Saints, opening up opportunities for big plays down the field. Containing Smith either by double coverages or having S Malcolm Jenkins deep on obvious passing situations will help keep Smith at bay. Big plays always seem to kill the Saints, and Smith is a master at getting downfield. If Smith can be erased as a threat, the Saints can walk away with the win.
