My offensive gameplan is unchanged: Fix first down.

[Jpjr]

I’m going to keep hammering this home until somebody shows it won’t work.

(It’s a trick, the offense can’t get any worse!)

My argument: If the Panthers fixed first down all of their other problems would become manageable.

According to the announcers yesterday, they averaged 0.5 yards on first down. It has to be similar to past weeks and 99% of the plays on first down are runs up the middle.

So something needs to change and it starts with first down. The current thought by the coaches is that the offense simply needs to execute the gameplan better. I strongly disagree. They are poorly executing but also getting outschemed EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

I've said it before, but why not run the rookie offensive gameplan that St. Louis has installed for this season?

(And just to diffuse the Clausen/Moore debate, it doesn’t matter who is playing QB. I would still recommend the Rams approach.)

Defenses load the box against Bradford. So his passes are designed to be very high percentage either to the flats or on a rollout or screen. Pat Shurmur consistently moves Bradford with a tight end or running back to provide him more time and almost always veers the play to one side to cut the field in half. Bradford ends up throwing 35 short passes a game and 5 longer ones.

Low and behold throwing lots of high % passes has boosted Bradford's confidence and opened up the running game. The Rams have become very effective at turning a 1st and 10 into a 2nd and 5 or 6. Either by running now or throwing. From there they end up with manageable third downs and sustained drives. That’s what you end up reading about.

What you don’t read about are all the rookie mistakes that Bradford makes or all the fumbles and picks. I bet you guys thought that Clausen was the only rookie to have a defensive lineman bat down and pick a pass yesterday? Nope... Suh did the same thing to Bradford. It just doesn't seem as important because they move the ball much more consistently.

I'm not saying we should be like the Rams - many will point out they got demolished by the 0-4 Lions yesterday and lost way worse than the Panthers. I'm just saying by all accounts they are doing more with their talent on offense. And that comes down to coaching (surprise surprise).

[CRA]

the 1st down issue has come up before under Fox. Can't remember which year but I know it was glaring and he eventually just quit running on first down for a while one season. It helped.

[panthers55]

What a genius plan, get 3 or 4 yards on first down by running or passing (depending on what the defense is giving you) and you don't end up in third and long.

Where have I heard this before??????

Oh yeah it was in pop warner ball or maybe even a year or two earlier in midget ball.

Brilliant!!!!!!!!

[CBDellinger]

Oh no, logic. Yikes.

[Munkey]

After our first drive of run, run, run to their endzone and then getting a field goal because we refused to throw it. I knew it would be another one of those games. Seriously, I wonder if that 3 points turned out the way John wanted.. Guy is an idiot.

[mav1234]

NOBODY saw that last run coming on that drive!

[Jangler]

Make first downs .5 yards

[tarheelpride]

Make first downs .5 yards

We'd still punt it on 4th and 6

[Jpjr]

So you guys agree.

I am a genius.

Richardson should PM me if he needs a play caller vs 49rs.

[grateflday]

Fixing 1st down can only help. The Panther's ran the ball every first down for the entire first half and into the second half. It wasnt until about 1/2 way through the 3rd Quarter where they actually passed on 1st down. Then after that not way until the 4th Qtr. The constant running on 1st down was pissing me off. It was pathetic and kills this team. It was 2nd and long ever time. Then from there it was either another run or a short pass for 4 yards. I have an idea---- how about the short pass for 4 yards on 1st down. Then maybe a run to get it to 3rd and short. I dont care that we have a rookie QB and WR's. This running on every first down is making it worse and harder on them.

I cant wait till the next coaching regime is in here. Fox keeps doing the same sh*t over and over and over again despite that fact IT IS NOT WORKING!!! This is the same approach he had with all our past teams so I dont know why I keep hoping for something different.

[Jpjr]

Fixing 1st down can only help. The Panther's ran the ball every first down for the entire first half and into the second half. It wasnt until about 1/2 way through the 3rd Quarter where they actually passed on 1st down. Then after that not way until the 4th Qtr. The constant running on 1st down was pissing me off. It was pathetic and kills this team. It was 2nd and long ever time. Then from there it was either another run or a short pass for 4 yards. I have an idea---- how about the short pass for 4 yards on 1st down. Then maybe a run to get it to 3rd and short. I dont care that we have a rookie QB and WR's. This running on every first down is making it worse and harder on them.

I cant wait till the next coaching regime is in here. Fox keeps doing the same sh*t over and over and over again despite that fact IT IS NOT WORKING!!! This is the same approach he had with all our past teams so I dont know why I keep hoping for something different.

Yep. Who doesn't expect this team to run on first down? I'm telling you guys, if we fixed first down this terrible offense would all of the sudden look like it belongs.

Forget about everything else. Fix first down.

[Ruff]

So you guys agree.

I am a genius.

Richardson should PM me if he needs a play caller vs 49rs.

Richardson talking to the public?

Good luck with that.

[ladypanther]

I cant disagree on the idea of tailoring the playbook to the tools we have and do away with the stuff that suited what we thought we had back in August.

You mean an adjustment?????

Clausen did really well on the roll-out throw to the back.

Wonder why we have not seen it lately?

[Jpjr]

You mean an adjustment?????

Clausen did really well on the roll-out throw to the back.

Wonder why we have not seen it lately?

He also did well on the one screen pass I remember being called since he's started. Except that it got called back on penalty....sigh.