Football Outsiders: Panthers are the most efficient running team in the league

[ItsPantone278]

three... headed... monster....

Pick your poison.

On a related note I think we are finally starting to see some of the things that I had hoped out of this offense and Cam Newton before the season started. Our third and shorts and red zone offense has been really hard to defend as of late. We are seeing a steady dose of read option, pistol, and QB draws in those situations and it is starting to payoff.

I think we spent so much time installing the actually offense and making sure we have the right guys to run it that we haven't been pounding it with those plays IMO.

We Got D Will, J Stew, and CAM that line up in the back field together OFTEN. Thats just fuggin awesome. Hope we re-sign Shock cuz he and Greg are huge.

Wouldn't mind adding Blackmon or Kalil to the mix ;) (I'm greedy by nature)

[teeray]

I think we spent so much time installing the actually offense and making sure we have the right guys to run it that we haven't been pounding it with those plays IMO.

We Got D Will, J Stew, and CAM that line up in the back field together OFTEN. Thats just fuggin awesome. Hope we re-sign Shock cuz he and Greg are huge.

Wouldn't mind adding Blackmon or Kalil to the mix ;) (I'm greedy by nature)

I wouldn't mind seeing Kalil or Blackmon there either. Unfortunately we probably should use every available draft pick on the other side of the ball. :(

[ItsPantone278]

I wouldn't mind seeing Kalil or Blackmon there either. Unfortunately we probably should use every available draft pick on the other side of the ball. :(

God I wish we weren't so awful on defense. This offense could lead the league in every category with just a little push.

[CarolinaPanthers2K11]

I wouldn't mind seeing Kalil or Blackmon there either. Unfortunately we probably should use every available draft pick on the other side of the ball. :(

I dunno, Hurney's pretty good about the best available player / biggest need ratio in the 1st round. Whoever he picks will be a winner, I'm sure.

Don't think anyone would tell you that last week as a team we didn't run enough.

There are some people who think we ran D-Will too much or whatever but I don't care about which of our two RBs are running as long as it suits their styles (mmm more D-Will up the middle! BRILLIANT!)

We tried a lot of D-Will up the middle at the beginning of the season, and a lot of his 1 - 2 yard scampers were a direct result of him being unwilling to bounce to the flats where there was TONS of open space. I wish he'd stop trying to prove something and just take the edge when he has it. He gets way more yards that way. :P

[panthers55]

We tried a lot of D-Will up the middle at the beginning of the season, and a lot of his 1 - 2 yard scampers were a direct result of him being unwilling to bounce to the flats where there was TONS of open space. I wish he'd stop trying to prove something and just take the edge when he has it. He gets way more yards that way. :P

He was being sarcastic:rolleyes:

[tondi]

I can't complain about our running game this year. It does seem like we have abandoned it a little early in a few games this season but you can't really blame Chud for throwing more when our defense is struggling to stop the other team. It seems like the better our defense is playing the better we run the ball and I don't think those two things are unrelated.

[panthers55]

I can't complain about our running game this year. It does seem like we have abandoned it a little early in a few games this season but you can't really blame Chud for throwing more when our defense is struggling to stop the other team. It seems like the better our defense is playing the better we run the ball and I don't think those two things are unrelated.

Each game is it's own separate entity based on individual matchups between the two teams. Our offense has to take advantage of what the defense is giving us. As teams have stopping blitzing Cam as much and played more cover 3 zones, it has loosened up the defense for the run game.

In addition Chud didn't really know what he had since they had no offseason so adapting the running game took time. Notice how we are using the pistol formation more and lining up stewart and Williams in the backfield at the same time.

I think the offense you have seen the past few weeks is likely more the offense we will be running down the road.

[tondi]

Each game is it's own separate entity based on individual matchups between the two teams. Our offense has to take advantage of what the defense is giving us. As teams have stopping blitzing Cam as much and played more cover 3 zones, it has loosened up the defense for the run game.

In addition Chud didn't really know what he had since they had no offseason so adapting the running game took time. Notice how we are using the pistol formation more and lining up stewart and Williams in the backfield at the same time.

I think the offense you have seen the past few weeks is likely more the offense we will be running down the road.

I agree. Also, early in the season other teams were daring Cam to throw on them and we all saw how that worked for them. Now they are forced to respect our passing which has helped open up the run. Cam has done a good job of adjusting to taking what he is given instead of forcing something that isn't there and he should continue to improve at this over time.

With an entirely new offensive philosophy, new coaches and a rookie QB I couldn't have hoped for our offense to have come this far in the first 11 games prior to the season.

[rayzor]

Each game is it's own separate entity based on individual matchups between the two teams. Our offense has to take advantage of what the defense is giving us. As teams have stopping blitzing Cam as much and played more cover 3 zones, it has loosened up the defense for the run game.

In addition Chud didn't really know what he had since they had no offseason so adapting the running game took time. Notice how we are using the pistol formation more and lining up stewart and Williams in the backfield at the same time.

I think the offense you have seen the past few weeks is likely more the offense we will be running down the road.

exactly. teams early on in the season had no reason to respect the passing game because we didn't really have one the past couple years. the formula for stopping the panthers was to focus on shutting down the run game. they had no reason to believe that the addition of cam was going to do anything to make the passing game respectable so the same formula could be used. you clog all the running lanes and blitz just about every down and you not only close up the run game, but you fluster the rookie QB and get in his head.

only problem was that newton proved to be far better than everyone thought as a deep passer and harder to rattle. we were able to take advantage of poor one dimensional game planning against our offense. they did succeed in shutting down the run game, but it only opened up newton and smith.

now they are forced to have a more balanced game plan against us and that opens things up more on the running game and makes the passing game less productive than it was in the early part of the season.

i feel like things will be a lot smoother next year for the run game and passing game as in people will be more comfortable in their roles and will be on the same page. once that happens the offense will pick up the pace and hopefully take on the game speed that cam had at auburn.

i would love to see us go with a hurry up offense all game like they did. that really falls in line with dictating what we want to do rather than being forced to adapt to what the defense is giving us (which is fine for right now and not a bad trait to have).

[Miaoww]

three... headed... monster....

Pick your poison.

On a related note I think we are finally starting to see some of the things that I had hoped out of this offense and Cam Newton before the season started. Our third and shorts and red zone offense has been really hard to defend as of late. We are seeing a steady dose of read option, pistol, and QB draws in those situations and it is starting to payoff.

If I'm a DC I pick Newton every single time. Once he's a runner you're allowed to hit him. No matter how big and tough he is, eventually being tackled by NFL players is going to wear him down.

[CRA]

If I'm a DC I pick Newton every single time. Once he's a runner you're allowed to hit him. No matter how big and tough he is, eventually being tackled by NFL players is going to wear him down.

I don't know....I think Newton realistically was probably more tired at the end of the Auburn season than he is now. He is running SIGNIFICANTLY much less now vs. a year ago. Yeah, hits are harder now but the pouding he he took in the SEC isn't childsplay.

Also, when Newton is a runner he is at an advantage Double Trouble will never get to see. I think Newton is the most dangerous runner we have.....simply from the fact most of the defense is playing the pass when he takes off vs. all 11 defenders playing Double Trouble

[Vagrant]

My ONLY beef with the running game as it currently stands is that I would really hate to see Cam get Culpepper'd as a result of his refusal to slide and penchant for cutting the ball back up field for an extra yard or two and taking unnecessary shots. I love his fire and his boldness, but guys up here will hit you to hurt you. The only reason I would advocate more designed HB runs is because I want Cam back there healthy. I can't think of a single QB in history that takes as many carries as Cam that was able to stay mostly healthy during his career. I mean, just take a look at Steve McNair and all the injuries he had to play through. I personally think that stunted his development as a passer.

[teeray]

If I'm a DC I pick Newton every single time. Once he's a runner you're allowed to hit him. No matter how big and tough he is, eventually being tackled by NFL players is going to wear him down.

He'll manage. He doesn't take very many hits really.

[Vagrant]

He'll manage. He doesn't take very many hits really.

It only takes one cut gone wrong to rip a knee up. Part of the reason that the RB position has been devalued to a degree is that there are very few that can handle the amount of carries they make and stay healthy. The occupational hazard of running the ball is higher than any other position. Cam is too valuable as a passer to be taking red zone carries. I think part of that is that Chud doesn't trust his arm inside the 20's yet.