We are built like the '72 fins....with a better QB

[Jmac]

Rosenthal is correct for once, they are built like that team.  Very stout defense, punishing running game, and a QB that didn't have to throw for three hundred yards every game to win. Of course Cam adds to the carnage on the ground (Csonka  and Kick where bulldozers), and his Lazer beam arm is far stronger then Griese's. We win the way they did back in the day and teams these days aren't build to stop it.

Having Shula's son is just ironic and seeing him being successful this year (for the most part), is encouraging. I wonder if it does come down to it, Don would come and talk to the team if R.R requested it. 

Seahawks have used the same basic formula with success. The NFL has become a passing league and the defenses aren't build to deal with that kind of team.

[LUUUUUKE]

I only want to be compared to them when we're hoisting that Lombardi.

Nothing else matters 

"Our greatest games and victories are ahead of us, not behind us"

- HC Ron Rivera

Amen Ron, Amen

[FootballMaestro]

The run game's a bit overrated IMO. And not just for their pedestrian yards per rush.

This comes from national reporters who don't watch the team.

Most of the Panthers rush attempts come when they already have the lead, and are basically just running the clock out. That's why they may have more rushing than passing attempts (not sure what the number is now). .

The Panther passing game has a much bigger effect than people realize. We see this all the time. Cam, has 150-200 passing yds by the half, but ends the game with only 50-60 more yards. That's because the Panthers usually have a sizeable lead by/after the half, then they're running more.

It's a balanced attack. But it's never usually the running game that mostly marches up the field and scores TD's early in games. It's the passing attack or at worst a balance that jumps out to the early lead or scoring.

As Cookie Lyon would say, "they say this (it's a running team/non passing team) to slight Cam".

[Davidson Deac II]

The Dolphins had the no name defense.  Well, we do have kind of a no name offense. Except of course for Cam. 

[Jackofalltrades]

2 minutes ago, FootballMaestro said:

The run game's a bit overrated IMO.

This comes from national reporters who don't watch the team.

Most of the Panthers rush attempts come when they already have the lead, and are basically just running the clock out. That's why they may have more rushing than passing attempts.

The run game is the basis of our offense, however teams stack the box and Cam is forced to throw to open thing up. Your assertion that we run once were ahead just to run the clock out couldn't be more wrong. I promise you Rivera and Shula would be content running every down if it was possible. 

We are built to run the ball because it's an organizational philosophy. 

[FootballMaestro]

3 minutes ago, Jackofalltrades said:

The run game is the basis of our offense, however teams stack the box and Cam is forced to throw to open thing up. Your assertion that we run once were ahead just to run the clock out couldn't be more wrong. I promise you Rivera and Shula would be content running every down if it was possible. 

We are built to run the ball because it's an organizational philosophy. 

This doesn't change the fact:

1) The Panther running game hasn't really been much with out Cam (though we hope that's changing).

2) The Panther running game has been inconsistent this year (with out Cam), and Stewart in general.

3) That the passing game, and/or a balanced attack usually moves the ball up the field early in games.

4) Regardless of the philosophy, the passing games been working.

You take away "The Cam Effect", and/or his rushing yards, and how good really is this running game?

So in other words, you may have a philosophy, but if it's not working So what! Who cares?

I hope I don't come off as harsh. But the Panther run game has not been world beaters outside of "The Newton Effect" most of his Carolina career.

God bless them, they're running now. But it's not for a high per rush avg. Like I said earlier; it's to add balance or run out the clock. But the Panthers don't have a featured back, such as Adrian Peterson to rely on. That person on offense, is Cam Newton.

[Jackofalltrades]

28 minutes ago, FootballMaestro said:

This doesn't change the fact:

1) The Panther running game hasn't really been much with out Cam (though we hope that's changing).

2) The Panther running game has been inconsistent this year (with out Cam), and Stewart in general.

3) That the passing game, and/or a balanced attack usually moves the ball up the field early in games.

4) Regardless of the philosophy, the passing games been working.

You take away "The Cam Effect", and/or his rushing yards, and how good really is this running game?

So in other words, you may have a philosophy, but if it's not working So what! Who cares?

I hope I don't come off as harsh. But the Panther run game has not been world beaters outside of "The Newton Effect" most of his Carolina career.

God bless them, they're running now. But it's not for a high per rush avg. Like I said earlier; it's to add balance or run out the clock. But the Panthers don't have a featured back, such as Adrian Peterson to rely on. That person on offense, is Cam Newton.

This is a completely different point than you made above. Yes, Cam is the catalyst for our run game, never disputed that, nor would I.

[Captain Morgan]

I've really been enjoying reading the Cowboys and Saints forums this week.  They compare us to the recent Ravens and Seahawks Super Bowl teams.

[FootballMaestro]

42 minutes ago, Jackofalltrades said:

This is a completely different point than you made above. Yes, Cam is the catalyst for our run game, never disputed that, nor would I.

Every thing I said here, I said earlier, such as:

Quote

 

3) That the passing game, and/or a balanced attack usually moves the ball up the field early in games.

4) Regardless of the philosophy, the passing games been working.

*  So in other words, you may have a philosophy, but if it's not working So what! Who cares?

 

The key takeaway on the earlier post (which you seemed to miss), was "National media who don't watch the team look at stats and think it's a featured run game like an Adrian Peterson. But it's not".

The Panther passing game actually moves the ball up the field early in games for scores (regardless of what the runs games doing many times). However, once the Panthers have a lead, they mix in a lot more run which skews the overall numbers towards higher carry total. That's all they see and look at. However, the passing game's much more integral than many lazy national media types realize. That's they key take away/was my main point. Nothing else.

In other words, this is not a Russell Wilson situation, where the passing game has to work off the run in order to move up field. Many times, the Panther drop back consecutive times in games on key scoring drives to pass the ball (unlike those Seattle or 49er teams with Craepernick or Wilson), but will throw in the run for balance like most well run offenses.

As I said: It's a balanced attack. However, you can argue, the run games, needs the pass game more than vice versa, as the run game had a hard time establishing itself earlier this year (which had many believing the Panther OL were poor run blockers) when the Panther pass game was doing fine. This is not to put either unit above the other, as they're both doing well now. But you get the gist?

[panthers55]

Griese was hurt most of the season. Earl Morell started 9 of the 14 regular season games. Just saying.....

[jayflip]

Welp, someone sapped all the fun outta this thread. :(

[parker]

Our run game isn't a grind it out game and I hate when I hear announcers call us a "run first" team.  We haven't been that team in a long time.  Most of Stewart's runs are 1-2 yard runs.  But Stewart, and Tolbert to an extent, aren't guys that go down easy on the first hit.  I think it takes a focus on the defensive side to keep those 1-2 to become 5-8 yard runs and that is how our running game influences the passing game.  That's what makes the play action work.

[panthers55]

The running game for the Panthers is quite good and diverse. Teams game plan each week to stop it and we still get 100 yards every week. Cam is an important part of the running game but not as a primary runner outside of the redzone and in third and short lately. He still calls his number a few times a game and is good in the read option but more as a decoy. Most of his first downs longer runs are on broken plays these days whereas he ran as a primary weapon earlier in the year.

But what the running game and Cam being a running threat does is make play action passing effective and requires teams to often use a safety or linebacker as a spy which opens up the middle of the field and helps Olsen in the seam and drag routes over the middle.

The problem with comparing teams from the 70s with a team 40 years later is that the game is very different as are the rules.

[KB_fan]

1 hour ago, parker said:

Our run game isn't a grind it out game and I hate when I hear announcers call us a "run first" team. 

I think the reason we continue to get called that is that we're the only team in the league that runs a higher % of plays than passing plays.

Rushing plays %

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/rushing-play-pct

We're first at 51.7%.  Seattle next at 48.2%