Panthers rookie’s return in new defensive scheme comes at a critical time with tough matchup waiting against the Saints
Carolina Panthers rookie cornerback Will Lee III is ramping back up after missing last week’s game due to injury and his presence will be key in this new scheme going up against the New Orleans Saints.
Much has already been made about how big of a game this is on Sunday for the Carolina Panthers going on the road to take on the New Orleans Saints. Carolina’s playoff hopes could hang in the balance here in an environment the team has previously struggled in.
The good news for the Panthers is that the team is getting healthier at the right time. Multiple reinforcements from the IR were back at practice, and could be back on Sunday, and star outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips is ramping back up for a return as well.
However, the most critical return going into this game for the Panthers could be rookie cornerback Will Lee III, who missed last week’s game with a hamstring injury.
Will Lee III might be Carolina’s X-factor going into Sunday’s game under this new scheme
Since we didn’t see Lee in action last week, that means we haven’t seen yet what he will look like in this new system under interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash. A big part of making that change was to put the players into better positions to maximize their strengths and it’s easy to see how this new scheme will be perfect for Lee.
Back in college, Lee was at his best as a press-man corner and that physicality on the outside is a big reason why the Panthers were attracted to him in the draft. Yet, during his first seven games, Lee had 141 coverage snaps in zone compared to 41 coverage snaps in man. Last week against the Denver Broncos, the team’s two outside cornerbacks played 46 coverage snaps in man and 26 coverage snaps in zone.
That change is going to be very beneficial for Lee once he’s back in action, and something he’s already appreciated getting back to in practice.
“It felt good just to be back in my comfort zone,” Lee said, via Joe Person. “Just being back to what I was doing in college for all those years. It’s real fun to have it, I’m excited to get back out there.”
Will Lee III is in for a tough matchup in Week 10
Going into Sunday’s game, this defense is going to need Lee back on the field. It’s going to be a tough matchup for the rookie too going up against Chris Olave and rookie Jordyn Tyson.
In his two games against Carolina last season, Olave posted 11 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, he has a new weapon to help complement him in Tyson, the eighth overall pick, who had four receptions for 30 yards last week in his season debut.
Looking more specifically at Olave, he currently ranks fourth in the NFL with 195 yards against man coverage this season with a league-high 17 receptions. Four of Tyson’s five targets from last week also came against man coverage.
So, this is going to be a matchup quarterback Tyler Shough is going to be looking at if the Panthers show man. And it’ll be on Lee, along with whoever starts opposite him, to lock down these two wide receivers on Sunday. We’ll see if “The Blanket” is up for that one-on-one challenge and if this scheme can help get the best out of his game.
