The Answer is on the Roster

[Ship]

I remember McClain looking good on ATL when he was playing there a year or two ago, I think he's gonna be solid here for our run.

[CPantherKing]

5 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

Anybody shocked?

The Panthers are not a hard nosed running team that utilizes play action.

The run option is based on the delay mechanic from the draw play which is the opposite of play action. The Panthers rarely use play action, and when they do it is in short yardage and goal line situations.

The Panthers play calling is close to 58% pass heavy. Even if you count all the garbage run plays in the stat sheet like QB kneel downs and Nortman dancing in the end zone to take a safety while tossing in the debatable run plays of Cam scrambling on a pass play and the QB sneaks for 1 yard, the Panthers are still less than 50% run to pass.

The Panthers run between the tackles less than 23% of the time.

A more accurate statement of the Panthers offense is that they are a deceptive run/pass option offense that utilizes draw plays.

12 hours ago, fieryprophet said:

What's strange is that we never really were that strong of a running team this year. Take Cam away and the run game would have been middle of the pack. This year's offense was explosive and aggressive without having to hurl it 50 times a game. It really can't be stressed at how efficiently the offense scored while retaining that ball control flavor.

I believe you nailed it. Cam, Stewart, and Tolbert are physical runners taking advantage of option plays that spread out the defense with the threat of a pass play.

For example, a run like this: Cam Newton Plows Through Multiple Falcons on this POWERFUL run

This comes on 3rd and long out of a pass play in the shotgun with max pro. Much like a QB draw. Pass plays that turn into runs are a majority of Cams attempts. I would group these with the dump off passes other QBs would rely on rather than grouping it with a traditional power run.

Cam's legs will scare a defense, but he beats you with his arm. Cam accounted for 45 TDs. Stewart was the only other RB on the team with more than a single rushing TD. He had 6 for the season.  Also, RBs accounted for 21.8% of the teams first downs. Stewart ranked 22nd in first downs and Doug Martin, Adrian Peterson, and Devonta Freeman were all close to double Stewart's production in 1st downs. Finally, the Panthers only had a RB go over 100 yards twice this season (Stewart). This illustrates how the Panthers do not rely on a power running game to move the ball and score points, but they use it as a counter punch to balance the offense out and keep defenses honest. Deception and distribution > power running in the Panthers offense.

Edited January 5, 2016 by CPantherKing

[Mr. Scot]

Keep trying, dude.