Sir Purr
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- Mar 16, 2019
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Here comes Spider-Man
With veteran Bruce Irvin (hamstring) ruled out, first-round pick Brian Burns will get a significant workload against the Rams in his regular season debut. If the Panthers open in their base defense, Burns will get the start.
Defensive coordinator Eric Washington was asked what the rookie from Florida State is ready for right off the bat. His response?
“Everything.”
Burns turned heads with four sacks during the preseason and we’ll see if he can get one in the first game that counts.
But it’s not all on Burns with Irvin out. Second-year edge rusher Marquis Haynes is ready to contribute, and it sounds like fourth-round pick Christian Miller can factor in as well.
“Lately, he has really stepped up,” Washington said of the rookie Miller. “I really like just the look in his eye. He looks more confident and his play is more decisive. He’s a guy that I’m really excited to watch compete on Sunday.”
The Aaron Donald problem
Donald, the two-time defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is capable of wrecking a game. He had 20.5 sacks last year and must be accounted for every snap.
“Well, he’s a unique guy and he’s gonna disrupt and he’s gonna make his plays,” offensive coordinator Norv Turner said. “The thing you have to do is make sure you don’t leave him in a position where he is going to make a play that turns out to be a disaster. That’s something we’ve worked real hard at. Part of it is the way we put the game plan together and part of it is the way we call the game.”
For what it’s worth, Donald has gotten off to slow starts in the past. He went three weeks before recording his first sack last year and had just one sack in his first four games in 2017. The Panthers hope that trend continues.