Our running game

[lightsout]

OK, so some of us are still sort of down on the lack of consistency in the running game. I'm going to spit ball some things that I've noticed as well as some things that I think we should do differently.


First, as always, it comes down to Shula and the gameplan. As we all knew, NO came out with 8 in the box from the get-go. We're running tight formations that allow them to keep 8 and simply outnumber us. Hard to find running lanes when you can only block 6/8 defenders and it's close quarters. The second we started running out of our 3 WR sets, we started getting good gains. But we didn't have to, because Cam was on fire and was taking advantage of them stacking the box early. We got them out of it for most of the game after Cam's first TD, which was nice. However, going forward, if teams want to stack the box, we HAVE to mix it up. Run out the gun when we have 4 guys split wide. Force them to come out and meet those guys or if they don't adjust, hit the pass and take the yards they're giving up.

Stew...I'm torn. He had some strong runs. The types of runs we have come to expect from Stew. Part of it, again, not having huge running lanes because we're staying in tight, pro I and singleback formations with two TEs. However, there were times where he got no gain or a loss where he could have gotten a few had he just lowered his shoulder and got north. He could have finished with closer to 70 yards had he just done that on about 5 of his carries. Our run game requires patience, but not dancing. Get north, get what you can.

Artis-Payne needs more touches. I love Fozzy as a scat back. Great out of the backfield and on the edges. Even getting some carries is fine. Tolbert is a great change of pace. He's large and surprisingly quick with great balance. But CAP needs to be on that field whenever Stew comes off. I get breaking the rookies in slowly and not having them in a position to fail due to not understanding all the plays thoroughly. Fact is, CAP came in late when the Saints were selling out on the run and got us 5 yards because he got north real quick. Plus, I think he's more usable on runs out of the gun. Stew came from a similar system in college, but he's long removed from college. Let CAP, with younger legs and a bit more initial burst (it seems to me anyway) handle the shotgun runs. I know Stew is the feature back now, but CAP can do things for us now and to not use him is crazy to me. Especially if we start spreading out defenses and running like we SHOULD be doing.

Left side of the line is struggling in run blocking. Not much, but the right side is still our strongest side. Big runs on the left are often due to right side linemen pulling.

Shula's runs are a BIT predictable for the most part. If I can tell 90% of the time, presnap, where the run is going, so can the defense. Need to vary up our run calls and catch defenses more off guard. Read option can be predictable because it relies on the defense making a choice and the linemen getting to their blocks and letting the ball carrier work from there. Traditional runs can't constantly be ran to the strength of the defense. You will fail there without having an outstanding run blocking line. We have a good run blocking line, but not great by any stretch.

 

The run game will pick up. It has improved each week and I'm OK with that. At some point though, it'd be nice to see a 100 yard rusher on a consistent basis. Or at least get 150 yards rushing combined. Something to make defenses have to guess at what is coming rather than sitting and waiting. Today we saw the start of that, but it IS the Saints defense.

[teeray]

We have outrushed all 3 opponents so far and had over 100 yards rushing in all 3 games including 170+ yards last week

I can live with that

[lightsout]

We have outrushed all 3 opponents so far and had over 100 yards rushing in all 3 games including 170+ yards last week

I can live with that

I'm not that down on our run game. I just see more potential in it than we're producing currently (which is a good thing considering our success running as a team). This post is more for the downers who are upset with the run game and just honest thoughts I had during the game.

[MurkN]

Luckily we have Cam Newton as our QB, and even if our running game goes to poo during games, he can add that extra dimension that most other teams can't offer.

[Peppers90 NC]

Shula has called two great games in a row. There is always a slick run every game. Panthers always start slow in the run game, it will pick up.

[PantherPhann89]

I know that our rushing total looks good in the stat books but I'd like to see better run blocking from our o-line so that our RB's will have lanes to run through rather than relying on our QB to pad our rushing stats...

[lightsout]

I know that our rushing total looks good in the stat books but I'd like to see better run blocking from our o-line so that our RB's will have lanes to run through rather than relying on our QB to pad our rushing stats...

Again, if you look at the blocking, it really isn't as big a problem as we're making it out to be. They're stacking the box and selling out on the run. Whenever they backed off, we were getting at least 4 yards at will more times than not. Only way to gain yards on anything more than 6 or 7 in the box is to go straight up the gut and hope the pile drives forward or hit the edge. B and C gaps are going to be closed up by linemen and backers.

[Lemory]

Teams are stacking the box because they want Cam to beat them with his arm and our less than stellar WR's. 

[lightsout]

Teams are stacking the box because they want Cam to beat them with his arm and our less than stellar WR's. 

Good. Because he just showed he can. After we throttle TB, we're going to have teams not sure on how to defend us.

[GRWatcher]

Something has changed with Stewart's running. True, he didn't always have good holes to run through but something was missing. I didn't see that beautiful first step he had at the end of last season that let him find the hole no one else could see & kick it up a gear. I did see more dancing in the backfield than I like and that concerns me.

[PantherPhann89]

Again, if you look at the blocking, it really isn't as big a problem as we're making it out to be. They're stacking the box and selling out on the run. Whenever they backed off, we were getting at least 4 yards at will more times than not. Only way to gain yards on anything more than 6 or 7 in the box is to go straight up the gut and hope the pile drives forward or hit the edge. B and C gaps are going to be closed up by linemen and backers.

in some cases, I agree. In others, I see that our RB has no where to go beyond the LOS because our o-line is not moving their d-line. In addition, it could also be that we have a tell all when it comes to our offense setting up for a run play.

[lightsout]

in some cases, I agree. In others, I see that our RB has no where to go beyond the LOS because our o-line is not moving their d-line. In addition, it could also be that we have a tell all when it comes to our offense setting up for a run play.

Just once, I want to see us run a counter away from that 2 TE set where ed and greg are on the same side. Just once. We never run backside of formations. Teams don't respect it. When we do, we do that delayed handoff crap  where the RB has to belly rather than taking a false step and pivoting, as in a true counter look.

[Khyber53]

Stewart is running to not get injured now. We've got a long season ahead of us, and we're going to be counting on him. He's also going to be healthy to get picked up again by us next year, if not somewhere else.

He's got to get over that and run in his style, though, or he's going to either a) work himself out of the starting job or b) get himself hurt by not being the guy who lays out the hits rather than take them.

It's not going to be popular to say it, but it might be that he needed DeAngelo out there to share the load. If he doesn't start running with authority we're going to be wishing we still had Williams later on this year.

[lightsout]

Stewart is running to not get injured now. We've got a long season ahead of us, and we're going to be counting on him. He's also going to be healthy to get picked up again by us next year, if not somewhere else.

He's got to get over that and run in his style, though, or he's going to either a) work himself out of the starting job or b) get himself hurt by not being the guy who lays out the hits rather than take them.

It's not going to be popular to say it, but it might be that he needed DeAngelo out there to share the load. If he doesn't start running with authority we're going to be wishing we still had Williams later on this year.

 

I think the reason those two were so successful when healthy was because they allowed each other to run hard. Both had 15-20 carries a game, so they made each run count. Once Stew started getting hurt regularly, Williams ran more tentative because he realized he was getting more carries (which is smart, to a point). Problem is, after 2008, one of them stayed banged up it seemed like all the time. They could never recreate that magic. That and they got older and heavier, something that plagues RBs as they hit the 7-10 year mark anyway. I still credit Williams' success in Pittsburgh to him losing the weight and getting back to being quick and decisive in his running. Well, that and a tremendous run blocking OL.


Stew just needs CAP or Fozzy to go out there and gash the defense a bit. Get him excited. Make him say "I want my turn now". He looks semi-complacent right now, and I think it may just be frustration at not having a big hole to run through to get that confidence run. Either that or he really is running to not get hurt, which WILL get him hurt.