5 bold predictions for Eagles against Panthers
4. Eagles receivers beat cornerbacks, even after Stephon Gilmore trade
With Jaycee Horn out for a extended period, the Panthers traded for former Jaguars first-round pick C.J. Henderson.
The trade was decent enough, but the blockbuster trade for Stephon Gilmore has the Panthers winning the cornerback jackpot.
Gilmore is an unparalleled shutdown corner who reads routes and shadows receivers like no other, which makes this Panthers defense — which has allowed the third-least points in the NFL — even more terrifying.
On the #Panthers trade for CB Stephon Gilmore…
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) October 6, 2021
The coverage/scheme fit works here.
CAR is much more multiple (front & coverage) this season under DC Phil Snow.
Playing more single-high man (31.7% — 13th in NFL) + 2-high zone schemes.
And the blitz rate has jumped, too.
The #Panthers now have:
— Dean Jones (@DeanJones_) October 6, 2021
- A.J. Bouye
- Jaycee Horn (providing he comes back this season)
- Stephon Gilmore
- C.J. Henderson
- Donte Jackson
Lord have mercy.
But the relatively good news is that Gilmore got traded on Wednesday, making the likelihood of him truly meshing with this Panthers defense a distant possibility. Richard Sherman did start in the Week 4 game against the New England Patriots, but it will take more than a couple of days for Sherman and Gilmore to flow with their new teammates, coaches and playbooks.
During his first week on the job, the Eagles have a chance to exploit the newness as Gilmore plays opposite Donte Jackson.
Ideally, it will be Ertz making Gilmore cry rather than the other way around, but the Eagles also have DeVonta Smith and Jalen Reagor to cover. Dallas Goedert has been a solid receiver as well, and if Hurts relies on his two tight ends, it could create a mismatch against the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year and his new teammate in Jackson.