The Riot Report: Christian McCaffrey And The Evolution Of The Panthers Offense

[Saca312]

I just wanted to share this article with you guys from the Riot Report. It's extremely well done and exemplifies the issue the Panthers have had, and how Christian McCaffrey fixes it. It goes really deep. Even I learned a bit it.

I'll post a few segments below. It's a two-parter, so make sure you click both links:

https://theriotreport.com/carolina-panthers-offense-problems-part-1/

https://theriotreport.com/christian-mccaffrey-can-be-the-key-to-panthers-offensive-rejuvenation-part-2/

I'll highlight just a few crumbs I really liked from it, but I can assure you there's plenty more where this comes from:

These plays are all simple dagger or crossing routes. 

The running back releases out of the backfield and then runs across the face of the defender. Against zone coverage this is a simple timing route, with the ball being delivered between the two central defenders; against man it is designed to get the running back between the ball and the defender for an easy completion.

What McCaffrey does here that is so special is that he freezes at the break point of the route. This flat-foots the defender and allows McCaffrey to gain maximum separation which aids him after the catch. Nuances such as this are what separate elite route runners from the rest; to see them in a rookie, and a running back at that, is extremely rare.

Where the Patriots are especially ahead of the curve is in their use of running backs as receivers out of empty sets. By motioning running backs out of the backfield and splitting them out wide, they are able to force defenses into using safeties and even linebackers to cover running backs in man-to-man coverage.

https://gifs.com/gif/patriots-vs-falcons-super-bowl-li-game-highlights-k5G0DJ

https://gifs.com/gif/patriots-vs-falcons-super-bowl-li-game-highlights-lOJ9Xj

As McCaffrey has already demonstrated throughout training camp and in the preseason, running backs such as himself have a significant advantage in such situations, often leading to easy completions. The only other option defenses have in such situations is to use zone coverages to take pressure of individual defenders. However, by splitting five men out wide, the Patriots are able to limit the number of potential blitzers and so simplify the potential reads for the quarterback.

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Like I said, good stuff. @RoaringRiot can't wait to see more from him and you guy's site. Lots of good stuff.

[rayzor]

Focus needs to be move the ball quickly. Don't need big plays, just effective ones. Quit swinging for the fences and just keep getting on base.

It's a philosophical change that has to have taken place in Shula, Cam, and Rivera. I know it's the plan, but the real test is going to be what happens when real games are on the line. Do they stay committed to the plan or do they revert to bad habits? Rivera typically has a reversion take place. Hopefully his seat is hot enough that he won't let that happen.

[top dawg]

8 minutes ago, rayzor said:

Focus needs to be move the ball quickly. Don't need big plays, just effective ones. Quit swinging for the fences and just keep getting on base.

It's a philosophical change that has to have taken place in Shula, Cam, and Rivera. I know it's the plan, but the real test is going to be what happens when real games are on the line. Do they stay committed to the plan or do they revert to bad habits? Rivera typically has a reversion take place. Hopefully his seat is hot enough that he won't let that happen.

Why focus on Rivera? I think that Cam and particularly the OC should worry you more. Perhaps Rivera should takes his hands out his pocket and step on some toes as necessary, which doesn't seem to be his style, but Cam is going to have to be committed to taking what the defense gives him, and Shula is going to have to learn to roll with the punches and adjust his game plan on the fly. The latter two are especially important if the tweak in philosophy is going to be successful.

[Jeremy Igo]

Maybe CMC will have suggestions on halftime adjustments or ideas on how get play calls in on time before a timeout is wasted.

[Adb6368]

Is the riot report a new site? Obviously heard of the infamous roaring riot but have just recently heard of this riot report. Regardless. Great stuff 

[rayzor]

13 minutes ago, top dawg said:

Why focus on Rivera? I think that Cam and particularly the OC should worry you more. Perhaps Rivera should takes his hands out his pocket and step on some toes as necessary, which doesn't seem to be his style, but Cam is going to have to be committed to taking what the defense gives him, and Shula is going to have to learn to roll with the punches and adjust his game plan on the fly. The latter two are especially important if the tweak in philosophy is going to be successful.

I included both Cam and Shula if you didn't notice. I pointed out Rivera though, for two reasons...one of which I stressed which is we've seen riverboat Ron revert back to paddle boat Ron several times going back to what he thinks is a safe and comfortable place to make decisions, but it usually ends up us getting held back. Point there is we've seen this happen before with his team, which brings me to my second reason. It's his team. It's up to him to manage and monitor what the people on his team does. If they aren't keeping to the plan, it's on his head. It's up to him to make sure it happens. However he does that is up to him, but it is up to Rivera to make sure Shula and Cam stick to it. 

[top dawg]

5 minutes ago, rayzor said:

I included both Cam and Shula if you didn't notice. I pointed out Rivera though, for two reasons...one of which I stressed which is we've seen riverboat Ron revert back to paddle boat Ron several times going back to what he thinks is a safe and comfortable place to make decisions, but it usually ends up us getting held back. Point there is we've seen this happen before with his team, which brings me to my second reason. It's his team. It's up to him to manage and monitor what the people on his team does. If they aren't keeping to the plan, it's on his head. It's up to him to make sure it happens. However he does that is up to him, but it is up to Rivera to make sure Shula and Cam stick to it. 

I realize that you mentioned Can and Shula, but you honed in on Rivera. I actually agree to a point; hence why I suggested that he needs to be more involved when things are obviously going south, but Shula is the OC. He's the expert who has had many years on the offensive side of the ball. And it's not like Rivera can make split second decisions that need to be made as the play is developing in front of you on the field like a QB must do. Short of firing your OC midstream during the season and benching your starting QB for a time, and/or continuing to harp in their ear, you have to roll with the punches and evaluate everything at season's end. There will probably be a period of transition for all three, so rash decisions can be ultimately counterproductive.

[Hoenheim]

3 hours ago, Jeremy Igo said:

Maybe CMC will have suggestions on halftime adjustments or ideas on how get play calls in on time before a timeout is wasted.

thats been happening for so long that its never going to be fixed as long as Shula and Ron are here

[Marguide]

I think it is maybe more RR than Shula.

Case in point; the last preseason game, CMC goes off. In his post game comments, the play RR wanted to highlight was a 3-4 yard run by Stew. 

I think Ron is more comfortable with 3 yards and a cloud of dust than a more wide open offense.

I hope I'm wrong.

[CarolinaSamurai]

7 hours ago, Jeremy Igo said:

Maybe CMC will have suggestions on halftime adjustments or ideas on how get play calls in on time before a timeout is wasted.

Am I wrong in feeling Shula and Ron have zero rope left from JR. It's now or never so I think we don't come out guns blazing a change will come.

[ecu88]

1 hour ago, Igor1 said:

Shula is a great oc it's not his fault our online has sucked with the exception of 2015 and we had the worst weapons now we have some weapons so give Shula a chance , he got us to the #1 offense in 2015  so I got my faith in him . He is very creative although sometimes he gets too cute 

Shula is a detail oriented individual so seeing macro trends he struggles to adapt. Look at the league's defenses. Fast edge rushers, our offense has not changed much to counter.