Looking At the 2017 Offense (11 & 21 Personnel Hybrid)*

[SetfreexX]

As we sit here in our down time waiting for the next set of OTA's to begin, or whatever they're called this time of year. I began thinking about what the offense will look like by Week 6-10ish from a personnel stand point. I reference that time frame because somewhere in that window the rookies (McCaffrey/Samuel/Moton) will have had some ample time to show case their ability to contribute on a pro-level. 

I personally believe by then our most featured personnel grouping will look like this....

Receivers - Benjamin (Funchess) & Samuel (Funchess)                             

O-Line - Kalil/Norwell/Kalil/Turner/Moton, with Olsen tight                              

Runningbacks - Stewart/Cam/McCaffrey

(EDIT-spacing jacked up ^) - but the base formation is (Gun - Splitbacks, with the TE on the end of the line)

I think by this point Funchess will be rotating with Samuel as the no. 2, and spelling Benjamin to keep a big body available on the outside to work the 12-15 yard Digs & Posts. But from this grouping we have a lot of formation, and motion flexibility. We could formation shift to Singleback/Pistol/Gun all with a variety of alignments. 

Like several have touched on at this point how does the defense choose to match the personnel...if they go base and look to run the now infamous ''Green Dog'' blitz utilized by the Broncos in SB50 (if the backs stay in blitz, if they release play man) that stifled our offense.We now have a threat out of the backfield in McCaffrey that should be able to take advantage of that 1v1 vs that linebacker. 

If the defense decides to match with a nickel or variation (3 S's/2LB's) we should have the advantage in the box and the success on a run should lean more in our favor, something we really weren't able to create enough of last season. 

All of the above goes without saying that Samuel will likely have earned some respect vs the deep ball by then keeping the strong safety out of the box which means Olsen, & Benjamin should see less bracket coverage. Also McCaffrey's presence will limit the zone depths LB's can drop to as he works underneath the defense opening up those throwing lanes for those 12-15 yard Digs & Posts that our offense features. 

I think early on this will be a very prominent 3rd down package for us, but as the season progresses and everyone continues to grow into it, and becomes more comfortable with the offense I think this will eventually become our bread and butter to some degree. 

If I had to call it I don't see Young & Armah bothmaking the team, and I don't think we'll feature a ton of traditional ''I'' formations so to me Armah gets the nod as the short yardage lead back/H-Back. I think Young was a Tolbert replacement (think receptions out of the backfield), but Armah can do that likely just as well with better yac potential given his experience as a TE, and McCaffrey will likely assume the vast majority of that role. 

Even with all of this at our disposal, we also still have the most versatile, and dangerous Quarterback in the league in Cam Newton, so guys when you look at our potential on offense this season to match or exceed 2015 you can't help but bridle with some confidence, and excitement looking ahead.