The Patriots host the Carolina Panthers in a winnable game today at Gillette Stadium. Carolina poses some schematical issues but they are a good match up for the Patriots.
Here is how New England can attack them on offense and defense.
Offense
Emphasis on off-tackle running game: The Patriots need to attack the Panthers front seven on the edges. Run outside zone, power, pin and pull and toss plays. This is a defense that tends to play soft on the perimeter and does not set an edge well. The Patriots must capitalize.
Attack their quarters and Cover 3 looks: Carolina plays a lot of quarters coverage and Cover 3. Expect the Patriots to attack this coverage with curl-flat concepts, outs, corner routes, comebacks and hitches in the quick game. The Patriots must take advantage of the loose leverage of Carolina’s corners.
Play action: Once the Patriots establish the running game, expect a heavy dose of play action as a way to make some big plays in the passing game. Last week, we saw a lot of boot leg action. This week the focus should be on front side play action and attacking the soft leverage of their corners and attacking them vertically as well. It might help the offensive line in pass protection as well. They could fire out aggressively and attack rather than just pass set in drop back protection.
Disgram 1 and 2: Frontside play-action concepts
Screen game: Again, the focus in this week’s plan is to attack their aggressive front and take advantage of loose coverage on the outside. Screens can be a big part of the plan this week, both to the running backs and the wide receivers. It would be a great way to slow down Carolina’s aggressive pass rush and force their secondary to have to come up and tackle.
Diagrams 3 and 4: H screen and play-action NOW screen.
Go Empty: I want to see Josh McDaniels do more with empty formations. We have seen some empty but not enough. Spread them out today, give Maye an easy pre-snap read, have him pick a side and get the ball out quick. I would use it in the three and five step game with an emphasis on getting the ball out quick.
Defense
T-E stunts: The Panthers offensive line is average at best. The Patriots could really take advantage of them up front today and the best way to do it is with T-E stunts and mug techniques. Force their offensive line to have to make more line calls and make them adjust to movement. They do not move well laterally and they will struggle with the Patriots athleticism up front.
Confuse Young with sim pressure: As I mentioned, I would use mug techniques and line stunts to confuse the Panthers offensive line but to also force quarterback Bryce Young from the pocket. The other thing to do is to utilize sim pressure. Show pressure, bluff and drop. Make him think he has windows underneath and take them away post snap. The Patriots defense does a lot with their fronts and creating confusion. That should be the case today.
Dagger pressure off the edge: I would bring a lot of one and two man daggers off the edge today. The decision to bring edge pressure would depend on down and distance. I would also bluff and drop dagger pressure as well. Again, the goal is to confuse and bait Young into making a mistake. The Patriots can do that today with edge movement.
Disguise coverage: Keeping Young in the pocket is key today and one of the ways to do that is to make him hold the ball in his progression. Best way to do it is to disguise coverage. Move around in the secondary and cloud his reads.
Play a lot of man: With Christian Gonzalez back, I expect the Patriots to play more man coverage today. Gonzalez will probably move around but his primary match up will be rookie wide receiver Tet McMillan. It should be a good match up as McMillan is a big receiver with good speed for his size.