Carolina Panthers: Lessons from Colts-Saints
The Carolina Panthers are 6-0 and their next matchup is with the Indianapolis Colts.
Final. 27. 15. 21. 46
The Colts were busy today taking on the Panthers’ division rival New Orleans Saints. It was a game that was as mystifying as any the Colts have played this season. The Colts got down early and tried to come back late and failed.
Andrew Luck and his crew were projected by many to be in the Super Bowl. Now they are looking for answers on how to win a weak AFC South with a 3-4 record and a losing record at home.
Here are some lessons that the Panthers could learn from the Saints’ game against the Colts.
1. Break the Colts with the run game
Any Saints box score would demand that you look at Drew Brees’ stat line. This time that would not tell you very much. Brees had an efficient game but not a great one. No the real revelation would be running back Mark Ingram. Ingram took fourteen carries for 143 yards. That running performance is what kept the Colts off the field early and kept them from completing the comeback late.
Anyone who watched the Panthers-Eagles game knows that the Panthers delivered a big rushing performance to beat the Eagles. Swapping Jonathan Stewart for Ingram is a fair comparison. Both backs rely on power. Stewart should be able to replicate Ingram’s performance. If not, the team running effort from the Panthers should.
2. Cover T.Y. Hilton
The Saints had control of this game until the third quarter when Luck hit top receiver Hilton with two big passing plays. One went for 87 and one went for 46, and both ended up as touchdowns to give the Colts some life.
If the Panthers shut down the Colts like the Saints did, then they will need to put Josh Norman on Hilton or demand that their safeties do not get beat deep.
3. Make Andrew Luck do it all
Luck has had trouble this season due to this pressure that he has to do everything for the Colts to win. The Panthers need to feed that pressure. Take away Frank Gore. Take away Hilton. Apply some pressure on Luck himself. Get Luck to get flustered and he will be less effective.
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4. Don’t Feed the Beast
Dysfunction reigns in Indianapolis right now. The coach Chuck Pagano was thought to be at odds with the owner. Pagano was thought to be at odds with general manager Ryan Grigson. Now Grigson may be feuding with the owner Jim Irsay. In this environment, trash talk is not necessary. Don’t help focus the Colts.
The Carolina Panthers play the Colts on Monday Night, November 2nd in Bank of America Stadium.