NFC Championship Game 2016: 5 reasons the Carolina Panthers could beat the Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals sometimes struggle to cover tight ends
Carolina’s offensive game plan entering this matchup should focus on two things:
- Misdirect the Cardinals’ front seven in the running game.
- Get the damn ball to Greg Olsen.
On the year, the Cardinals have allowed tight ends 87 catches, 878 yards and six touchdowns. For a defense that is near the top of the league in limiting other positions, this is both puzzling and troubling.
This also a juicy situation for Olsen, who stands to be Cam Newton’s primary target come Sunday. After unleashing the many-headed beast that is the running game on the Cardinals, Olsen should be able to take advantage of an aggressive defense and slip in for some receptions off of play action.
Olsen should also be able to find some openings within zone coverage. He can take advantage of soft spots on wheel routes down the sideline, or on seam routes just inside the numbers.
The Miami Hurricanes product is the most important counterbalance to the Panthers’ running attack. The Cardinals’ offense scores both quickly and often. It’s not unreasonable to think that they will start out the game by grabbing a quick lead. The Panthers’ offense is designed around holding and building on leads rather than coming back from deficits.
As an ideally athletic tight end – one who can prevent the Cards from loading up the box on running downs and can free up his fellow receivers by forcing coverage to the seam – he is the primary figure to creating balance and inducing a comeback.
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