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2019

When Carolina has the ball: Can the Giants slow down the Panthers� running game?

The New York Giants are once again watching their season slip away almost before it begins. The team might have one last chance to save their season when they travel to take on the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. If that is to happen Youth Evan Engram Jersey , the defense might need to carry the day.The Giants� defense has played well enough for them to win each of the games they have played, giving up just 20 points to both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys, and they played far better than the 33 points they gave up to the Saints would suggest. However, their Achilles heel this year has been running quarterbacks, and they face one of the best in the league in Cam Newton. Will the Giants� defense be able to do enough to slow down the Panthers� rushing attack and hope the offense can find an identity?Stats at a glance Panthers� offenseRushing yards: 166.0 per gamePassing yards: 203.7 per gameTotal yards: 369.7 per gamePoints: 23.7 per gameGiants� defenseRushing yards: 126.0 per gamePassing yards: 228.8 per gameTotal yards: 354.8 per gamePoints: 23.8 per gameCan the Giants finally defend the Zone-Read offense? The Carolina Panthers don�t have much of a passing attack. Their 203.7 yards per game is only good for 25th best in the league. However, they don�t need to throw the ball to move it, because they boast the league�s best running game, averaging 166 yards per game. And while Christian McCaffrey is a good runner of the ball � he averaged 6.6 yards per carry against the Cincinnati Bengals when he had 28 attempts � the reason for the Panthers� success on the ground is Cam Newton. Or rather, the zone read. The Panthers are one of the few teams in the NFL to feature the zone read as a fundamental part of their offense. But then, they are the only team in the league to have Cam Newton at quarterback. The zone read exploded on to the NFL�s scene about eight years ago with the drafting of players like Newton and Colin Kaepernick � big, athletic quarterbacks who were runners as well as passers. The offense enjoyed a season or two of wide-spread success before retreating to be more of a trick play than an offensive staple. Defenses in the NFL are too smart, too big, too fast, and quarterbacks far too valuable for any scheme which consistently exposes them to hits to last long. But Newton is unique in his size, athleticism, and natural ability as a runner. The Panthers would be crazy to not feature the zone read with Newton running their offense. Combined with McCaffrey, the zone read is especially effective. The two players represent a stark contrast in styles, with McCaffrey�s shifty agility and Newton�s size and power. As well Youth Will Hernandez Jersey , even when McCaffrey is split out wide as a receiver, Newton�s presence always keeps the threat of a run on the table. Defending the zone read is relatively simple in theory: Maintain discipline on defense, play assignment-sound football, do not over-pursue, and tackle securely. However, it is more difficult than that in practice. The defense must be able to force the quarterback to make the read they want him to make, and the players must have the discipline to trust their teammates to play their assignments even though the offense is trying to create a numbers advantage.So far the defense has looked lost defending the zone read against the Jaguars, Cowboys, and Saints. The Giants will continue to see the zone read until they prove that they are able to stop it, and if they want to have a chance at winning this week, they will need to do just that.Run CMCChristian McCaffrey occupies a unique place in the NFL. He is not only his team�s top running back, but also effectively their top receiver.McCaffrey has three times as many carries (46) as the number two running back (C.J. Anderson, 12). He also has nearly twice as many receptions (22) as the next receiving option (Devin Funchess, 14). It isn�t accurate to say that he is the engine that makes the Panthers� offense go � that would be Cam Newton � but McCaffrey is clearly their biggest threat. His receiving ability will likely get the most attention; he does run routes and catch the ball like a wide receiver. But McCaffrey�s running ability shouldn�t be ignored either. He is only listed at 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, but his lower body is remarkably powerful for a small back. Combined with his vision and rare short-area quickness, that power makes McCaffrey very hard to bring down around the line of scrimmage. All too often he manages to fight his way through arm tackles and pick up far more yards than one might expect just by looking at him. Now, back to that receiving ability for a moment. Like Alvin Kamara Youth B.J. Hill Jersey , McCaffrey lines up all across the offensive front, from the backfield, to slot receiver, to wide receiver. He is a natural catcher of the ball who runs good routes and adjusts well to the ball in flight. With his lower body power and movement skills, McCaffrey is a tough cover for most defenders � he doesn�t have the speed to run away from most defensive backs, but quick feet and remarkably fluid movement let him change directions very easily. If stopping the read option is the Giants� first order of business, then containing McCaffrey must be the second.Who will be on the field?Despite giving up 33 points to the New Orleans Saints, the Giants� defense has played well enough for the team to win in each of their games in 2018. But now, reinforcements might be on the way for their road trip to CarolinaDefensive tackle Josh Mauro�s suspension is over, and he is eligible to rejoin the team � though they will need to make a roster move to add him to the 53-man roster. The former Arizona Cardinals lineman was added to both help fill a role in the new defensive scheme and aid the transition to that scheme. Mauro played well with the second team in preseason, and was often around the ball, though that was against backup linemen. Top edge rusher Olivier Vernon could be on his way back as well. Vernon is still working his way back from a high ankle sprain suffered in practice during the preseason. However, he practiced twice in a row last week before being ruled out for the Giants� game against the Saints.If Vernon has not suffered any setbacks, he could make his 2018 debut for a Giants team in desperate need of a true every-down threat off the edge. They have been getting along without him, with players like Kareem Martin, Connor Barwin, Lorenzo Carter, Dalvin Tomlinson Youth Saquon Barkley Jersey , and B.J. Hill providing their meager pass rush. Adding Vernon to the mix could be the spark the front seven needs.Finally, we come to Eli Apple. the third year corner got off to a fantastic start in the first two games, but was lost in week two to a groin injury. B.W. Webb has played about as well as could be hoped in Apple�s absence, but there is a clear step down between the two. Apple had limited participation in practice before Week 4, and says that he is feeling �much better.� Getting all three players back � particularly Vernon and Apple � could be a tremendous boost for the Giants� defense. Having two cornerbacks capable of matching up one-on-one with the Panthers� receivers and their best EDGE player back could be huge against the Panthers� run-based offense. Trading cornerback Eli Apple and 2016 All-Pro defensive tackle Damon Harrison in the last week wasn't the reason the New York Giants lost to the Washington Redskins.The new-look defense, which was also missing injured linebacker Alex Ogletree, actually was the reason the Giants had a chance to win in the 20-13 loss Sunday that sent New York (1-7) to its fifth straight defeat.It limited Alex Smith and the Washington offense to 13 points, and didn't break down until Adrian Peterson scooted around the right side on a 64-yard touchdown run with 3:06 to play to open a 20-6 lead."I think the guys stepped up," Giants linebacker Olivier Vernon said. "I think the guys that had to step up stepped up and made the plays that they needed to make. We just came up short."With Eli Manning and the offense struggling most of the game, the defense almost came up with a game-changing play late in the third quarter. Safety Landon Collins forced Peterson to fumble on a first-down run from the Giants 17.The ball hit the ground and Vernon scooped it up and ran 43 yards to the Redskins 39 with Washington clinging to a 10-3 lead.Following an incompletion, a pass to Odell Beckham Jr., for a 2-yard loss and a 9-yard pass to Bennie Fowler. The Giants had a fourth-and-3 at the Washington 32.Washington played a zone, as Giants coach Pat Shurmur expected, and tight end Evan Engram ran a 4-yard curl pattern. Manning put the pass in his hands and he let the ball slip through his fingers."I thought we had what we were looking for, we've just got to execute it," Shurmur said.On the sideline, Collins' frustration was evident."Every turnover you think is going to be different and I thought it was going to be big, but stuff happens http://www.authenticsnewyorkgiants.com/cheap-rhett-ellison-jersey ," Collins said. "They got a good defense over there, they're doing a great job over there with their defensive coordinator and their guys that they have over there, and they got the stops."Manning, who was sacked seven times, said no one likes losing. He said the players are working hard and competing, but they are just not making enough plays, especially on offense."We just have to keep fighting," said Manning, who threw for 316 yards but was intercepted twice by safety D.J. Swearinger. "The defense gave us a chance today and played outstanding. Offensively, we have to do our part. We are not scoring enough points. We are playing in close games and we are just not finding ways to win them, unfortunately."Beckham was at a loss to explain what's happened to the team this season. After posting a 3-13 record last season, much more was expected in Shurmur's first season."It's definitely not where I want it to be, it's definitely not what I envisioned this team being," Beckham said of the record going into a bye week. "It's definitely not why I worked the hardest I could have worked all offseason to come back and give my very best. I just don't feel like on Sundays I get do that. If there is any frustration, that's where the frustration comes in. All I want to do is come in and do whatever I can to help this team win."