So, How Can The Panthers Stop Shanahan's Offense?

[Saca312]

The Carolina Panthers face off against the San Francisco 49ers for their first regular season game of the 2017 season. One key match-up playing out happens to be the battle between Panthers DC Steve Wilks and 49ers Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

During the 2016 season, Kyle Shanahan had a field day against the Panthers. The Falcons scored a total of 81 points on each of their match-ups, embarrassing the Panthers. Through each game, Shanahan found weaknesses in McDermott’s defense and exploited them.

While key injuries were a factor, that shouldn’t downplay anything from Shanahan. Unlike previous years, the Panthers defense proved incapable of finding an answer. The result is the current three loss streak against Shanahan’s old team since 2015.

This time, the Panthers get their chance to face Shanahan’s offense once again against the 49ers this Sunday. While many want to write off that game as a Panthers win, it won’t be as easy as most believe. If the 49ers preseason week 3 performance was any indication, the Panthers will most certainly have their hands full.

So, what should the Panthers focus on defensively to prevent an upset?

How can they learn from what the Chiefs did to Tom Brady on Thursday night?

That and much more below. 

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/2017/09/09/carolina-panthers-san-francisco-keys/

[therealmjl]

Brian Hoyer

[CRA]

players matter more than offensive scheme and he ain't got em

[DaveThePanther2008]

Most definitely.  STOP THE RUN!!!

Our front seven should be a beast against their running game.  

Ig we get the 3rd and 7 or more than and take away the short throws it will be many 3 and out for SF. 

As Saca indicated then Hoyer will go deep and that takes time and should give us sack opportunities.

I believe our run defense will be top of the line and we'll keep them at bay in the running department.

Whatever we do we can't let Hoyer get comfortable.   If he does we could be in a real dogfight.

Go Panthers

[Hoenheim]

Pressure the QB consistently, and we can't allow gigantic chunk plays down the field. 

I'm sure its become more fasionable to be worried about our offense , but this game is probably alot more about the defense in the keys to win. The secondary cant give up huge chunk plays and defense should focus on shutting down the run game and getting to Hoyer soon and often. 

[jfra78]

How do the Panther's D dominate San Fran's O?  Just show up at the stadium

[DaveThePanther2008]

4 minutes ago, Hoenheim said:

Pressure the QB consistently, and we can't allow gigantic chunk plays down the field. 

I'm sure its become more fasionable to be worried about our offense , but this game is probably alot more about the defense in the keys to win. The secondary cant give up huge chunk plays and defense should focus on shutting down the run game and getting to Hoyer soon and often. 

I agree, We don't want to give up the chunk plays however if we get Hoyer in the position where he needs to try to throw long that is where our sacks are going to come in.   As the OP indicated.  Hoyer is not a great deep ball thrower and to throw it deep he will need time and our front 4 needs to get to him. 

Coleman should be ready to have a big day.

[MHS831]

Some of you are underestimating the SF offense--fortunately, our D is pretty solid, but expect them to pick on Worley.

[rayzor]

i think that a lot of people are expecting shanahan to be wanting to use week 1 as a statement game being that it's his first as a HC and the fact that he thinks he knows our defense so well might give him a leg up.

the problem for him is that this is steve wilks first game as DC and i'm sure, as the secondary coach, he was pretty pissed at getting burned like he was last year by shanny's passing attack. i'm sure wilks is looking to make a statement himself and he's probably got some things that shanny hasn't seen from us before.

of course i'm probably putting way too much drama into this, but whatever....

[DaveThePanther2008]

1 minute ago, rayzor said:

i think that a lot of people are expecting shanahan to be wanting to use week 1 as a statement game being that it's his first as a HC and the fact that he thinks he knows our defense so well might give him a leg up.

the problem for him is that this is steve wilks first game as DC and i'm sure, as the secondary coach, he was pretty pissed at getting burned like he was last year by shanny's passing attack. i'm sure wilks is looking to make a statement himself and he's probably got some things that shanny hasn't seen from us before.

of course i'm probably putting way too much drama into this, but whatever....

I wouldn't say that....

I know if I were Wilks I would be scheming to a level Shanahan hasn't seen before.  No telling how much during those games Wilks was thinking what he would have done differently.  Sunday he'll have his chances.   Plus I think his defense is much better than the defense we had last year.

[Jangler]

flowers in our hair

[Snake]

1 hour ago, CRA said:

players matter more than offensive scheme and he ain't got em

Stop making sense. It has no place here and SF will drop 500 passing yards on us. 

[UpstatePanther]

2 hours ago, mjligon said:

Brian Hoyer

i mean.................. yeah. lol no argument with that one. Then again... the last time we played against Brian Hoyer: 24-17 Panthers in BoA in a game that was a whole lot closer than it oughta have been.

i still think we'll win by 2 scores. but to discount them just cus Brian Hoyer? ehhhhhhhh. :/

[CarolinaBlue65]

Questions going into tomorrow....

How will this years Wilks defense be different than last year McDermotts?

Will Shanahan be able to exploit the same holes in our defense?

I hope the defense spent time looking at last tape and have a suitable plan.  I foresee a lot of play action/quick slants?  The linebackers will have a busy day. 

I think a combination of Captain in the slot and Shaq roaming the flat will be the difference maker?  No YAC!  Shutdown the pass and concentrate on the run.