Glass Half-Something: The case for or against the starters - Offense

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

So since our offseason has officially started, I thought I'd go ahead and make my observations on the season that our starters had. No real bias here, just some thoughts, taken for whatever they will be. I'll throw a defensive one on here next week.

So let's start:

1. Quarter-Back: Keep your comments to yourself about the playoff game. My birthday present to Jake Delhomme is that I'm going to forgive five interceptions because, quite frankly, I don't blame him. I blame whoever it was that decided to turn a star running team into a big-play passing team overnight. Everyone talks about intangibles in this league. Well here's one for you: 7-9 without him (same as the franchise's first season), 12-4 with him. There is something there and no one can explain it. Yeah, there is Good Jake, and then there's Bad Jake. But either one is definately better than No Jake. However, I'm not giving him the complete free pass. The Panthers need to go ahead and pick up a young QB with something to proove or they need to focus on developing the back up QB's they have, because if the '07 season proved anything, it's that there is no reliable depth there.

Unfortunately - There is Bad Jake, and no matter how good your team is, if the head is bad, the snake is still retarted. Without at least a consistant passer, the Panthers can never hope to have a serious deep threat to take pressure off the run game that doesn't completely depend on Lady Luck and Steve Smith being five feet nine inches of pure mutant goodness.

2. Wide Recivers - Between the mighty midget that is Steve Smith and the war torn vet that is Mushin Muhammed it's nice to know that the Panthers have a decent security blanket of two star wide outs. Between them, over 2000 recieving yards and 11 TD's all told, they have proven that the Cats have definate bite past the line of scrimage. Anyone who would discount the Panthers as a one dimensional offense would sorely pay the penalty.

Unfortunately - Outside of the two stars, the other three members of the Wide Reciever corps have a combined 25 receptions for 323 yds and 0 touchdowns (if your curious, not even a third of EITHER of the two star recivers). It's too easy for defensive coordinators to figure out where the pressure needs to go, and for any manner of deep threat to work then the threat will have to be spread a little further out than just to two players, especially with this amount of potential talent available.

3. Running Back - What is there to be said about this tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart that hasn't already been said? Judging from the national media, everything not involving either the word "Smash" or the word "Dash". 28 TD's and well over 2000 yd's on the season proves these guys know what they're doing. But, if numbers mean anything to you, look back at the history of the Carolina Panthers and you suddenly realise that this is what works. The amount of work handed to one half-back on this team is too much. Too often the Panthers have hoped to ride one set of legs to the wins. Fortunately, the team now has two sets of legs perfectly capable of handling the load all on their own.

Unfortunately - Well, for starters, you can't expect both of these guys to be content with sharing the load forever, and rightfully so. This is a pair of star runners that for whatever reason have decided that we should be able to cheer for both of them this year. Also, being in the posistion of star running backs on failed playoff teams could either be a hindrance or an inspiration: every defense in the league are suddenly using you as the measuring stick for how well they stop the run and you now have an amazing amount to prove.

4. Tight End - In my eyes, the single most important posistion on any offense, this guy is expected to do it all. Catch, block, run, allow others to perform, a jack of all trades from hell. And in Jeff King and Dante Rosario the panthers have two guys perfectly capable of handleing all three duties. Granted, there aren't a whole lot of measurable stats for an offensive line, but looking at them from a reception and all-purpose point of view, these guys almost make better options than any WR not named Smith or Muhammed. Not great in any way, but in no way awful. And in all honesty, that's what makes a perfect TE.

Unfortunately - King and Rosario can be as inconsistant as Delhomme, dropping as many big-play passes as they pulled off. Other than that, you can't hold it against them, because the definition of their posistion requires them to be good at everything and perfect at nothing.

5. Offensive Line - Fifteen sacks. That's all that the line allowed in the sixteen games of the regular season. Add in the amount of running yards and the amount of time that Delhomme usually has in the pocket and you can clearly see that the centerpiece of this offense is, in fact, the frontline. Too bad there aren't records kept for the big uglies, because it would be interesting to see some full stats for these guys. Any way you slice it though, this was definately the section of the team in need of an overhaul last year, and overhaul did it ever get.

Unfortunately - Um....actually I got nothing against these guys. All around, probably one of the best lines in the league. Bring em all back, give em all bonuses and hookers, and don't bitch.

6. Offensive Coordinator - I was all behind Jeff Davidson this year. An interesting mix of running plays and play action plays plus an undying loyalty to his star players, this guy was and is almost definately what the Panthers need. No team that is this dedicated to the run should have anyone other than a guy with an O-line pedigree at this posistion. Deffinate heir apparent to the Head Coach throne should Fox ever choose or be chosen to step down.

Unfortunately - Conservative as a Catholic Republican woodsamn. And then when he takes chances, he takes way to damn many. I mean......come on Jeff, after seven points you decide to run out the clock on iffy pass plays when your run game has shoved it down the throat of every team they've faced? Not your finest hour, by any means. If anyone is to blame for the panthers loss on Saturday, its this guy, not Jake Delhomme (who, as everyone knows, is NOT a passing quarterback).

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Between them, almost 2000 recieving yards and 11 TD's all told

Though most don't realize Muhammad had such a good year, he finished with 923 yards receiving this year. Add that to Smith's 1421 and the two actually combined for over 2,000 yards: 2,344, in fact.

Williams and Stewart combined for just seven yards more at 2,351.

Of course, these are just receiving and rushing numbers, respectively.

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Though most don't realize Muhammad had such a good year, he finished with 923 yards receiving this year. Add that to Smith's 1421 and the two actually combined for over 2,000 yards: 2,344, in fact.

Williams and Stewart combined for just seven yards more at 2,351.

Of course, these are just receiving and rushing numbers, respectively.

Im sorry, my math is poo. checking the stats, your right. I'll fix the post. thanks for pointing it out.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Im sorry, my math is sh*t. checking the stats, your right. I'll fix the post. thanks for pointing it out.

No biggie.

I just knew because I had been following it along all season. It was really neck-and-neck between Smith/Muhammad and Williams/Stewart throughout the year.

Nice writeup, though. I agree with many of your points and observations.

Though I don't think I'm ready to proclaim Davidson heir apparent should Fox leave just yet. I respect what he did this season, especially in regard to the line and the running, but I'd like to see just a modicum of creativity in the passing game (including getting other receivers involved a bit more, as you alluded to a bit further up).

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

I agree with the point of Davidson needing to be a little more creative which is why I'm not ready to throw my towel in his corner as Foxy's replacement just yet. But, honestly, when had this team ever been a passing team? If the game on saturday showed anything, its that Davidson isn't afraid to rely on the passing game even if it isnt there to rely on.

In all honesty, I think it would be awesome to see a coaching staff for this team be more offensively minded than defensively minded because I do believe that this team has the talent to be dominant. And can you find anyone else that would be as trusted as Davidson in Fox's absence?

[Urrymonster]

I believe Delhomme was sacked 20 times this season. Still impressive as it worked out a sack every 21.7 passing attempts when we passed on average 27.13 times a game. Especially considering 5 came against the Minnesota Vikings when our line was in flux due to injuries!

[Cyberjag]

I think Jarrett is going to emerge as a star in this league at some point. He wasn't serious last year, and this year he was stuck behind Moose. But being stuck behind a mentor like Moose can have some serious benefits. If he learns to block like Moose does then we're golden there for another decade.

We've shown Jarrett a lot of trust in big plays and he's come through. He's not like a Colbert who disappears once you get him on the field--when he's on the field he gets open and makes the grab if it's thrown his way.

Our offense is set. I'm anxious to see how well the coaching staff turns around the defense this offseason.

[Samuel L. Jackson]

If Smith heard you called him a "mighty midget" he would probably punch you in the face...

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Which is why I'm smart enough not to say a word around him if I ever get the chance to be in earshot.

As to the number of sacks, checked my numbers and you are absolutely right. In fact, Delhomme was sacked 23 times this year, a full eight more than what I said. Whoops. Still, I'm happy with that number, because again, the line is designed to open up run plays not stretch out pass plays.

[Peppers90 NC]

The only problem that I had for the O-Line were pre-snap penalties. I know for a while we were leading the league in false starts, and going to an offseason with nothing to improve on is a bad idea, so at least improve some discipline.

[The Link]

Our offense was fine for the most part, something has to be done to over-haul this defense though.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Our offense was fine for the most part, something has to be done to over-haul this defense though.

I've adopted the very same view in my post here, in which I liken the 2008 season not to the Super Bowl season, but to the season before it.

/gratuitous self-promotion.