Another week down, another win for the Saints as they beat Jacksonville in week four. This week they travel to take on their first NFC South opponent in the Carolina Panthers. The thing I always think about playing any NFC South opponent is how hard they play the Saints every year and the Panthers are no exception. It should be a good game and here are five things I will be watching for in today’s game.
1. Who is this new quarterback for the Panthers I keep hearing about?
Ok unless you have been living under a rock for the past six months you have heard of Cam Newton. I remember watching him shred LSU last year in college and wishing that he would turn pro after the season. Be careful what you wish for now the Saints get to play him twice a year. Cam has come in the first four weeks and shattered the perception of how a rookie quarterback should play. The main thing I have taken away from watching Cam is how much his play has made all the playmakers around him better. It will also be interesting to see how Coach Williams gameplans today against the Panthers , as they face their second rookie quarterback in a row.
2. Will this game be a shootout?
Both of these teams can put up a ton of yards and points. It all depends on which team defense will show up and make a couple of stops. I like the fact that the Saints have the experience of playing in a couple of shootouts already this season. Usually when you think the game is going to be a shootout, it usually turns out to be a defensive battle but I going to go ahead and say the game will be closer than the experts think.
3. What is up with Drew Brees and the interceptions?
I know it is a minor issue , maybe not even an issue but still he has thrown two interceptions in each of the last two games. Looking back on those four interceptions it is a little bit of Drew’s fault and the receivers ran the wrong routes on some of those interceptions. The only good thing to take from those interceptions is they are early in the season and they can be corrected.
4. Who will cover Greg Olsen?
Steve Smith has been tearing it up with Cam Newton as quarterback but I think the Saints have the cornerbacks to match up well with Smith. The matchup that scares me a little is the Greg Olsen and whoever covers him. I would think that Roman Harper would get the call to cover Olsen and if the Green Bay game was any indication then that matchup would be a problem for the Saints. Hopefully Coach Williams learned from that game and will have a better answer for covering Olsen.
5. Can the Saints get Marques Colston going?
I know the Saints were without Colston for the Bears and Texans game but he came back last week and provided the Saints with one catch. If the Saints can get Colston going ,it helps the whole receiving group as most teams will double the coverage over to Colston leaving the other guys open. I also think it will help the red zone offense giving Drew another option besides Jimmy Graham and they need all the help they can get as they finished 2 of 5 last week in red zone opportunities.
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