Putting Panthers Offensive Problems In Proper Perspective

[KatsAzz]

The entire Panther team philosophy is archaic. There's reasons why teams aren't a run-first offense now. The main reason being the NFL has changed. You have to be balanced to win in today's league. The instant he decided on being a run first team was the instant our offense became limited. Now I do agree that you do need to run the ball to win. That's not the problem. The problem is Fox takes that to a whole other level to where we have to run the ball to win.

Another problem is our offense gets even more limited by hiring an offensive coordinator who by his own admission does not know the passing game that well. Can he learn it? Sure. But it's important to remember that our offense was successful last year because of our running game. When you can run like we did, that will open up the passing game. When the run game gets shut down, we get more games like Sunday, like the Cardinals playoff game, like the Raiders & Bucs games last year. Let's face it, Fox has not surrounded himself with good coaches.

Then we get the whole "let's sneak under the radar" bullcrap. That is a losing mentality. That is something Fox brought in. Wonder why we don't have back-to-back winning seasons? It's that crap right there. Case in point, last year we ran the ball great right? This year, we can't sneak up on anybody because they all know we can run well. So they stress stopping our run game at all costs and force us to pass which plays right into their hands and limits our offense even more. Same thing after the 2003 and 2005 seasons. Winning teams want to be noticed. Championship contenders welcome the challenge, they want to be in the spotlight, they want the primetime games.

I could type this stuff all day but I hope everyone sees where I'm coming from here. I don't blame Fox entirely for the loss on Sunday, I don't blame him entirely for everything that's gone wrong with this team. I do blame him for not looking at the future and preparing this team to be a balanced team and not fixing the same issues that come up every year."

[unicar15]

It worked pretty well for us last year with a 1400 yard receiver, a 1500 yard rusher, and a 900 yard secondary back. The system is not the problem, the guy running the system is the problem.

After week 1 our backs are against the wall and we need to go into ATL and win with a QB that has ZERO confidence in himself.

[OneBadassCat]

I disagree about run first being a bad thing. We have the players to run it the problem is just the creativity/adaptability and predictability of the play calling. Coupled with JD's sub par field vision and the fact that the TE's aren't thrown to enough.

[megadeth078]

I disagree. You can win by running the football. This may be tough for you, but remember aaaaaaalllllll the way back to last season. Yes, I know it's a lot to ask, but we were doing exactly that last year. It's not that we can't win by running, it's that we need an actual good quarterback to support the run. People noticed we had no passing threat (delhomme), and we became one-dimensional. Running team =/= one dimensional.

[CRA]

If you are a running team you have to stay committed. You can't abandon it b/c a few played get stuffed. Running teams are suppose to wear you down. You are going to have series in a game where you get nothing. .....Panthers just abandon the run and prefer just to turn it over and give other teams easy scores.

[PantherFanForLife]

I disagree. You can win by running the football. This may be tough for you, but remember aaaaaaalllllll the way back to last season. Yes, I know it's a lot to ask, but we were doing exactly that last year. It's not that we can't win by running, it's that we need an actual good quarterback to support the run. People noticed we had no passing threat (delhomme), and we became one-dimensional. Running team =/= one dimensional.

Yes you can win. But can you overcome 14 point deficits in the playoffs the Championship game or the Superbowl and win in the end?

If winning is all you care about I am sure we will win some games this year. To me it doesn't matter if we finish 8-8, if we clinch our division or get to seed in the NFC. I don't care how we do it as long as we have the right balance to win a Superbowl. We are nowhere near close to that.

Balanced teams win Superbowls. Great defenses, good runs, good special teams and good passing. We have one of the 4 down. One does not exist and the other 2 are questionable.

last year John Fox believed it was more important to get a guy that could kick the ball in the other team's endzone than look for guys that could improve our passing game. And he patted himself on the back for it. Brilliant. And after what happened last season...he did nothing to improve our passing game this past offseason either. Nothing good anyway.

And another thing is that if you are going to be primarily a run team then you are going to need a defense that is going to keep your opponents under 3 touchdowns every game of the season. I don't believe we have that anymore.

[bleys]

Yes you can win. But can you overcome 14 point deficits in the playoffs the Championship game or the Superbowl and win in the end?

If winning is all you care about I am sure we will win some games this year. To me it doesn't matter if we finish 8-8, if we clinch our division or get to seed in the NFC. I don't care how we do it as long as we have the right balance to win a Superbowl. We are nowhere near close to that.

Balanced teams win Superbowls. Great defenses, good runs, good special teams and good passing. We have one of the 4 down. One does not exist and the other 2 are questionable.

last year John Fox believed it was more important to get a guy that could kick the ball in the other team's endzone than look for guys that could improve our passing game. And he patted himself on the back for it. Brilliant. And after what happened last season...he did nothing to improve our passing game this past offseason either. Nothing good anyway.

And another thing is that if you are going to be primarily a run team then you are going to need a defense that is going to keep your opponents under 3 touchdowns every game of the season. I don't believe we have that anymore.

So instead of reading anything past all that bolded stuff, I think you can refer back to megadeth in saying... you need a good QB as well.

So you can win with a running game, and need a good QB as well...

Glad we got that straight... lol

[nationsford]

I disagree. You can win by running the football. This may be tough for you, but remember aaaaaaalllllll the way back to last season. Yes, I know it's a lot to ask, but we were doing exactly that last year. It's not that we can't win by running, it's that we need an actual good quarterback to support the run. People noticed we had no passing threat (delhomme), and we became one-dimensional. Running team =/= one dimensional.

the poster is agreeing with you bra, lol... anyways i agree with both of yall, the run game is there but if thats all thats there teams will surely stop it at times, then what?

[KatsAzz]

the poster is agreeing with you bra, lol... anyways i agree with both of yall, the run game is there but if thats all thats there teams will surely stop it at times, then what?

LOL I think the post went over (or through) his head!

[Al Morgan]

The system is not the problem, the guy running the system is the problem.

Amen!

[Jangler]

Another problem is no WR has stepped up to take the #3 spot. So Fox, Davidson or Jake don't feel comfortable throwing or even looking their way. Until that happens, and how many years and WRs have we gone through looking for a new WR? Of course, another viable WR might just make Jake's head explode... But hey at least Crabtree will be available next year...