Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis vs. Cardinals

Play 6: 1st & 10. -20. 4:04 3rd.

Defensive Formation: Big Nickel

Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel

On this play the Cardinals double both the DT and the NT, creating options for the RB to pick his hole. When he gets the ball he sees Kuechly (#59) in the A-gap and bounces it outside. On this particular blitz, the Panthers run a stunt with their DE and Davis (#58). The DE crashes down and the RT down blocks with him, this crash creates the play. Davis comes off the DE’s butt right as the RB bounces the ball outside and blows the play up. A fantastically run stunt by the front 7 of the Panthers stops the play before it even starts.

Play 7: 2nd & 11. -19. 3:20 3rd.

Defensive Formation: Big Nickel

Coverage: 2-Man

Offensive Personnel: 10 Personnel

With their offense and pass game stifled, the Cardinals look to run a screen to get the ball moving. They fake the smoke screen in order to try and get the flow from the LB’s so the RB screen is open. The Cardinals only pull one Offensive Lineman (the Center) so they’re hoping the boundary is clear. The play has no chance. Thomas Davis sniffs it out as soon as the RB slips out of the backfield and has too much speed for the Center to get there and block him out. Davis blows up the play once again, this time for a loss of 2.

Play 8: 1st & 10. -20. 12:38 4th.

Defensive Formation: Big Nickel

Coverage: Cover 2

Offensive Personnel: 20 Personnel

The Cardinals run a double backside drag concept, sending the slot WR across the field and the outside WR on a skinny post. On the single WR side, the WR runs a deep corner route. The Panthers are in a Cover 2, not an ideal coverage for this route concept with only two safeties guarding deep routes. The QB sees the slot WR dragging across the field and that is his target. Davis makes a fantastic play by recognizing the crossing route and knowing that there is no one in that zone and running with the route in order to help out the flat CB. Davis closes the throwing window, not allowing the QB to squeeze the ball into his WR for a big gain. A huge play that doesn’t show up in the stat book.

Play 9: 1st & 8. 8. 11:53 4th.

Defensive Formation: 4-3 Under

Coverage: Cover 2/Man

Offensive Personnel: 22 Personnel

The Cardinals get the ball in the red zone after a turnover. The Cardinals start off with a double TE set, but motion over the outside TE. On the strong side of the formation (the trips side), the Cardinals run a Waggle concept, with a corner route and a flat route. The backside CB who motioned over with the TE, takes the flat route man-to-man. The rest of the secondary on this side runs a Cover 2. The Will LB (#57) looks to make a mistake in his coverage, covering the same zone as the CB and leaving the curl uncovered. Kuechly makes a fantastic play on this one, reading the QB’s eyes and understanding the routes and jumping in front of the WR to intercept the pass. A huge play to get the ball back for his offense.

Play 10: 2nd & 5. 21. 2:03 4th.

Defensive Formation: Big Nickel

Coverage: Cover 2 -> Cover 4

Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel

The Cardinals run a four verticals concept, but since they are in a 3×1 formation, the TE is dragging across the field to the opposite hash instead of going up the seam. The Panthers are in Cover 2, but I imagine that their coverage rules indicate that if they get a four vertical concept to switch to a Cover 4. The FS (the deeper safety) actually gets too much depth, appearing maybe to still be in Cover 2 and doesn’t squeeze the seam route. Luckily for him, Kuechly makes an incredible play and takes a great angle on the seam route, recognizing the play rather than continue to get depth straight back. Kuechly undercuts the route and tips the ball up in the air where it lands in the arms of the FS (who ultimately gets the credit after almost giving up a TD). Altough Kuechly didn’t make his second INT of the day, he still caused the play and finished the game off for the Panthers.

Kuechly and Davis were the key to the Panthers defensive lockdown versus the Cardinals last week. Using their speed, instincts and ability to make plays all over the field in the running game as well as passing game. This week the Panthers will face the Seahawks, a team they have played tough over the past two seasons. In order for the Panthers to win, the defense led by these two stud LB’s must be up to the task against the Seahawks run game and intermediate passing game. Containing Russell Wilson and tackling Marshawn Lynch the first time will be key for the Panthers to win and Kuechly and Davis have a great chance to do that Saturday night.