Cam's new weapons

[iamhubby1]

Source:

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2011/

 

Also, regarding the points per drive:

 

2011 - 2.21, 4th in the NFL

2012 - 1.91, 11th 

2013 - 1.99, 10th

 

So you could say we made more of our possessions in 2013 than in 2012, but less than in 2011.

I can say this about that. When you have fewer possessions, as we did last year. Then have some drives that either don't produce points, or end a half/game. That makes a huge difference in points per drive.

Conversely, when you have more possessions, not scoring on some drives makes less of a difference.

Stats don't always tell an accurate story. Just don't tell KK that.

[BigSyke]

know what you say but cant say anything until the season starts and these guys have proven to be better.

[LolzatPanthers]

You still have no Wrs worth a poo. Soooo

[updownsigma]

I can say this about that. When you have fewer possessions, as we did last year. Then have some drives that either don't produce points, or end a half/game. That makes a huge difference in points per drive.

Conversely, when you have more possessions, not scoring on some drives makes less of a difference.

Stats don't always tell an accurate story. Just don't tell KK that.

 

That makes sense, I guess you'd have to go back and watch each game to see how many times something like that happened though.

 

Either way, I was posting that to counter the "we were more efficient per drive" argument people use to argue why Shulaball is better.

[NanuqoftheNorth]

The difference between the '11 and '12 Panthers and the '13 Panthers is about as good example possible in how an efficient offense helps a defense. It blows my mind that Panthers fans that have witnessed it first hand don't understand this.

This^^^ The Panthers offense complemented the defense last year. First year under Rivera that the defense didn't fade in the home stretch. Thank you offense for providing the defense time to rest.

Yeah, Shula, he did that.

[iamhubby1]

That makes sense, I guess you'd have to go back and watch each game to see how many times something like that happened though.

 

Either way, I was posting that to counter the "we were more efficient per drive" argument people use to argue why Shulaball is better.

All in all I get what you were driving at. It just gets old when folks throw out stats with no context. Most of the time it is to make a bad point seem less so.

Shula still needs some work. But all we can do is hope that everyone involved in the process learned something from last year. We started slowly, got hot, then went back to slow. If we play Offense like we did during our winning streak, we could be very good. Play like we did down the stretch, and we struggle.

[Hurney]

Why do you dumb fugs always get into this this high time of possession means a low ranked offense argument? That's not how it works you fuging morons, and you MUST stop perpetuating this dumb fuging line. Look at the teams with the highest time of possession from last year. Now notice several teams with high powered offenses on them, such as the Saints. Guess what dipshits? You can have a good defense, and offense, and high TOP.

 

TOP isn't created by the plays for the most part. It's created from time before the snap. We are retarded in this regard snapping the ball with 1 second left on every single down. The Saints on the other hand love to substitute different offensive players. Plays don't matter much as long as your actually moving down the field, and are not running out of bounds on every catch.

[Diehardpanther02]

I I believe that it's too early to presume what our receiving corps. will look like come September, and I kind of discussed that here, http://www.carolinahuddle.com/boards/index.php?app=forums&module=post&section=post&do=reply_post&f=7&t=100793&qpid=2785921, though Knox Bardeen's message was that our WR corps is still a big concern.

I appreciate the optimism, but I also recognize the fact that there are still huge concerns regarding our group of WRs as currently constituted and taking their body of work into account (not to mention Shula's body of work also). At the end of the day, I am not going to go ape in either direction. But, as I have consistently said, I believe that we need another legitimate threat who can "take it to the house" every time he touches the ball.

Cotchery, Avant and Underwood are not spring chickens anymore, especially Cotchery who is getting a little long in the tooth. Regardless of their age, it is my contention that what they have done over their careers in the NFL is largely going to tell you what to expect here. And I am not just talking from a production standpoint, because of course it stands to reason that IF they (along with Benjamin) are our main guys they should see a modest uptick in stats, but this is not going to change the fact that they are possession type receivers. Moreover, all the optimism in the world doesn't change the cold, hard fact that these veterans are WR3s/4s on possibly all the teams in the NFL except this one (and maybe Cleveland).

I think that it's paramount to pick up another real weapon, regardless if he's imperfect or not, some time before the start of the season---that, or for one of the other young, unproven WRs to step up in a big way (And, yes, I said "WR"). I have been saying all along that perhaps our best hope right now is that either McNutt or King steps up to fill that WR2 void. This is assuming that Benjamin can make a bigger impact than is usually manifested by a rookie WR. One of these guys is going to have to be a pleasant surprise (and I'll even skeptically throw Philly Brown into the mix), and be able to pull away some pressure from KB or make defenses pay dearly when they are doubling KB in order for our offense to run at optimum levels. Relying on Greg Olsen to play the role of the WR1/2 is not going to cut it, and the same goes for Brandon Williams.

Looking in my crystal ball, I can already see defenses stacking the box, taking away our running game, and daring Cam and our receiving corps to beat us. And you know that with that stacked box comes lots of pressure. At this point, it's anyone's guess what the outcome is going to be. But if we look at what Shula has done in the past, and take Rivera's words about replacing the 10 catches seriously, I wouldn't necessarily look for a drastic change in our offensive philosophy. We're going to rely on defense (yet again). Will we be able to get by most teams with this rely-on-defense-at-all-costs philosophy? Maybe. Will we be able to the playoffs? Possibly. Will we be able to get by the top teams with a similar philosophy (i.e., rely-on-defense) but break out some greater offensive firepower when it's time to move towards the apex of the hill? I can't say that I believe that we're ready yet.

TLDR; Cam's new weapons (and new-old weapons) and our play calling are still suspect, and we had better hope for a surprise from FA or the younger ranks of our roster to get over the hump if we want to contend for championships.

I think the wide receiver group is more than adequate enough when you factor in Olsen and the screen game to go along with it. And I am also a firm believer that with a great defense the sky is the limit...jus look at it this way if

Somehow with what we have we can produce on average 28 points per game we will be an extremely tough team to beat...now our defense has only allowed 2 tds per game and this post is assuming we DONT replicate that... Even with the d giving up 3 if we can muster up anything

Above 25 PTs per game we can make it

To the post season and finish... And I really don't feel like that is out of the question with the additions of cotchery and Benjamin to go along with our power run game, and Olsen I see our redzone efficiency getting better...I think for this reason we become a better team in a way that was similar to how we progressed on d with a strong front 7 last season ,it masked our DBS weaknesses...I believe the same will happen on o, Abunch of possession guys to help move the chains and 3 guys (cotchery, Olsen, and Benjamin) all having a knack of finding and open area in the endzone...to help cover up our weakness on the edge....but hopefully we can get one solid stop gap cuz that could be the turning point, but as for receiver I'm not to worried I jus don't see our wrs being worse than what we had last year...those guys made big catches in big moments throughout the season but when it

Came down to it in the playoffs the only

One that showed was Steve and that was for one qtr....we will get better on the outside

[Thal]

I concur. But we're still paying Smith this year. He could've have been more useful on our field and than some else's.

[panthers123]

Check the defensive stats and the way Rivera coached in years one and two compared to three.

 

If we had this same defense in Ron's first and second year then we would probably have 10-12 wins and be in the playoffs. We lost most our games by 6 pts or less. 

 

 

To be far it is hard to make poo look good. There should be a ton of blame toward Shula if he had a super talented roster but was under performing. Shula did a good job considering all we had was Cam and Olsen. 

[run1stdownrun2nddown]

I I believe that it's too early to presume what our receiving corps. will look like come September, and I kind of discussed that here, http://www.carolinahuddle.com/boards/index.php?app=forums&module=post&section=post&do=reply_post&f=7&t=100793&qpid=2785921, though Knox Bardeen's message was that our WR corps is still a big concern.

 

I appreciate the optimism, but I also recognize the fact that there are still huge concerns regarding our group of WRs as currently constituted and taking their body of work into account (not to mention Shula's body of work also).  At the end of the day, I am not going to go ape in either direction. But, as I have consistently said, I believe that we need another legitimate threat who can "take it to the house" every time he touches the ball. 

 

Cotchery, Avant and Underwood are not spring chickens anymore, especially Cotchery who is getting a little long in the tooth.  Regardless of their age, it is my contention that what they have done over their careers in the NFL is largely going to tell you what to expect here. And I am not just talking from a production standpoint, because of course it stands to reason that IF they (along with Benjamin) are our main guys they should see a modest uptick in stats, but this is not going to change the fact that they are possession type receivers. Moreover, all the optimism in the world doesn't change the cold, hard fact that these veterans are WR3s/4s on possibly all the teams in the NFL except this one (and maybe Cleveland). 

 

I think that it's paramount to pick up another real weapon, regardless if he's imperfect or not, some time before the start of the season---that, or for one of the other young, unproven WRs to step up in a big way (And, yes, I said "WR").  I have been saying all along that perhaps our best hope right now is that either McNutt or King steps up to fill that WR2 void.  This is assuming that Benjamin can make a bigger impact than is usually manifested by a rookie WR.  One of these guys is going to have to be a pleasant surprise (and I'll even skeptically throw Philly Brown into the mix), and be able to pull away some pressure from KB or make defenses pay dearly when they are doubling KB in order for our offense to run at optimum levels. Relying on Greg Olsen to play the role of the WR1/2 is not going to cut it, and the same goes for Brandon Williams.  

 

Looking in my crystal ball, I can already see defenses stacking the box, taking away our running game, and daring Cam and our receiving corps to beat us.  And you know that with that stacked box comes lots of pressure. At this point, it's anyone's guess what the outcome is going to be. But if we look at what Shula has done in the past, and take Rivera's words about replacing the 10 catches seriously, I wouldn't necessarily look for a drastic change in our offensive philosophy.  We're going to rely on defense (yet again).  Will we be able to get by most teams with this rely-on-defense-at-all-costs philosophy? Maybe.  Will we be able to the playoffs? Possibly.  Will we be able to get by the top teams with a similar philosophy (i.e., rely-on-defense) but break out some greater offensive firepower when it's time to move towards the apex of the hill? I can't say that I believe that we're ready yet.  

 

TLDR; Cam's new weapons (and new-old weapons) and our play calling are still suspect, and we had better hope for a surprise from FA or the younger ranks of our roster to get over the hump if we want to contend for championships.

 

A few points.. WR3/4's don't generally get 10 TD's per season (Cotchery).

 

And Ron/Gettleman directly stated in the press conference a week ago that having KB is going to limit defense's ability to stack the box.

[edromeo]

I think the needle has moved in a positive direction.

A lot of the moves were lateral but IF Kelvin can step up then everything has improved.

I also think Ed Dickson is a darkhorse for biggest impact on offense; provided Shula knows how to use dual receiving TE most teams don't.

[FootballMaestro]

A few points.. WR3/4's don't generally get 10 TD's per season (Cotchery).

 

And Ron/Gettleman directly stated in the press conference a week ago that having KB is going to limit defense's ability to stack the box.

 

Yeah, cause Cam can just float the ball over the top to him, and he'll most likely catch it (if he won't be double teamed to begin with). 

[Soul Rebel]

I would rather look at the sum of the parts brought in VS. last year.  

 

KB13+Cotchery+Avant+Underwood+Olsen+Dickson+Williams  >  Smitty+LaFell+Ginn+Hixon+Olsen+Hartsock+Williams

 

2014 OL < 2013 OL

 

For me, the OL is going to have an affect on Cam, but I think this group of receivers better fits him and with a much better energy.  Time for Cam to lead.