What is hindering the running game?

[Eazy-E]

The Panthers always seem to start the first half of the year slow running the ball and most have always attributed it to DeAngelo. Now that he is gone it still seems to be a glaring issue. I thought last season our running game took off because of the revamped Oline, but this is the same/upgraded version of that line from the second half of last season. Stewart was a beast to finish out the season. Now he seems to run into a brick wall every running play. Teams stacked the box all last year and continue to do so, yet something worked last season that we haven't see so far this season. There was/is no true fullback, it is the same offense, same personnel, Stewart is supposed to be healthy, yet we cannot establish a running game outside of Cam Newton. 

Is there a serious issue, or will the running game improve as the season rolls on in classic Panthers fashion?

[PandaPancake]

We didn't sign Hardy

[Eazy-E]

I guess what I am asking is what's the difference between the second half of last season and now considering the majority of factors are the same?

[Nick_81]

8 in the box.  That's about all there is to it.  If there's some chance we can get teams to start pulling the 8th guy out, you'll see the running game open up.  It's a lot more that, than our run blocking.

[KB_fan]

I guess what I am asking is what's the difference between the second half of last season and now considering the majority of factors are the same?

I'm assuming KB being missing plays a part in terms of how teams are playing against us? 

Also, does Stew need to play his way into the season?  His average yards per carry has gone up every game this season...

JAX  3.1, 

HOU  3.6, 

NO   3.7,

Tampa  5.0

It would be interesting to see how Stewart's yards per carry figures evolved last season.  I know he was a beast at season's end...

[Ncpantherfan71]

I'm not a football expert so my uneducated guess is teams were rolling coverage over to kb because he was producing at a high level and due to his size, very hard to cover one on one.

We don't have the type of receiver who can pull coverage to him as of yet.  I don't think Brown and Ginn scares defenses yet.

[General_Purr]

I think we find success in running when we pull our line men out to the side. Most of our plays are O line goes straight forward and stewart runs faster than them.. so naturally it runs into a stand still of a hard 2 yard gain. I know a lot of Pitts is Bell being patient but them &  the chiefs seam to get bodies out from the line of scrimmage and create impact blocks allowing space to jump around. Plus when we do have a fullback its not useful to follow him... 

 

Lee Ward..?

[KillerKat]

Stupid run play design

 

[L-TownCat]

I was really hoping I'd be the first to say it.

 

the other teams defense.

[London Loves Luke]

I'm starting to think that the strong end to the seasons aren't a coincidence? Could we be saving the full playbook until the end of the season to avoid teams getting film on us?

[Daddy_Uncle]

Lee Ward would have changed all this. And wtf is Brockel doing? not jack shitt

[rainwater]

I'm assuming KB being missing plays a part in terms of how teams are playing against us? 

Also, does Stew need to play his way into the season?  His average yards per carry has gone up every game this season...

JAX  3.1, 

HOU  3.6, 

NO   3.7,

Tampa  5.0

It would be interesting to see how Stewart's yards per carry figures evolved last season.  I know he was a beast at season's end...

His number of carries has dropped every game as well.  

[LinvilleGorge]

I think we find success in running when we pull our line men out to the side. Most of our plays are O line goes straight forward and stewart runs faster than them.. so naturally it runs into a stand still of a hard 2 yard gain. I know a lot of Pitts is Bell being patient but them &  the chiefs seam to get bodies out from the line of scrimmage and create impact blocks allowing space to jump around. Plus when we do have a fullback its not useful to follow him... 

 

Lee Ward..?

DeAngelo was running very well in Pittsburgh prior to Bell's return.  Kinda makes me wonder if Bell is a product of that system and OL like Murray was in Dallas.

[ThinkAboutIt]

Lack of commitment.