Carolina Panthers Vs. Seattle Seahawks: 2015 NFL Divisional Round: Prediction/ Breakdown
Keys to victory for the Seattle Seahawks
In order for the Seattle Seahawks to beat the Carolina Panthers, they should have two different game plans at their disposal just in case Marshawn Lynch decides not to play. If Marshawn Lynch decides to play, the Seattle Seahawks should call a good amount of intermediate to long passing plays because the Carolina Panthers are going to put seven to eight players in the box to try to prevent Marshawn Lynch from impacting the game. As a result of this, one would assume that Russell Wilson would see a substantial amount of man-to-man coverage with only one safety over the top. If the Seahawks do see man-to-man coverage with only one safety over the top they can take advantage of it by getting him out of the pocket and designing pass plays that include fade, streak and slant routes. This is because the Carolina Panthers love to put one or two of their outside cornerbacks in press coverage with a safety over the top in case the wide receiver gets past the cornerback. As a result of this, opposing wide receivers can get a step or two in front or away from the cornerback as he is turning his body around. However against the Seahawks, the Panthers cornerbacks will not have safety help over the top on some plays because they might be in the box trying to stop Marshawn Lynch. If this indeed happens, it will give Russell Wilson more open space on the field to throw his receivers to the ball so they can make easier catches thus reducing his incompletions, interceptions as well as the amount of time the offensive line has to hold their blocks.
On the other hand, if Marshawn Lynch decides not to play they should focus on the short and quick passing game because when Russell Wilson drops back to pass he is under constant pressure from opposing defensives since the offensive line isn’t strong and/or quick enough to hold their blocks. As a result of this, Wilson does not have enough time to sit in the pocket and go thru his reads to make a good throw instead he has to get out of the pocket to throw a football out of bounds or try to gain positive yards with his legs. The Seahawks should design plays that have short out, drag and curls routes as well as play action boot legs so that there is a reduced amount of pressure on Wilson from the opposing defensive line and he can deliver an accurate ball to his wide receivers.
Keys to victory for the Carolina Panthers
In order for the Carolina Panthers to beat the Seattle Seahawks, they have to call a good amount of short to intermediate pass plays because the Seattle Seahawks are going to put seven to eight players in the box to try to nullify the read option between Cam Newton and Panther running backs. As a result of this, one would assume that Cam Newton would see a substantial amount of man-to-man coverage with only one safety over the top. If the Panthers do see man-to-man coverage with only one safety over the top they can take advantage of it by designing pass plays with routes that go from one side of the field to the other. This is because their cornerbacks play a good amount of zone coverage, which means that they only play one side of the field. As a result, if the Panthers were to design plays with routes that go from one side of the field to the other like drag routes, this would mean that the cornerbacks of the Seattle Seahawks will have to follow the Panthers wide receivers all over the field. The Panthers wide receivers will be to take advantage of the fact that the Seahawks cornerbacks are not use to running side to side all over the field.
Ultimately i have gone back and forth on who is going to win this game but i think the Carolina Panthers will try to use the vertical passing game to score points instead of throwing the ball across the field. This will hurt the Panthers offense on occasion because the Seahawks secondary is used to running vertically and they have enough speed and size to break up some long passing plays. Meanwhile the Panthers secondary doesn't have enough speed and size to break up some long passing plays.
Winner Seattle Seahawks
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