Panthers surprise Cuts and Restructures?

[Kurb]

Rumor has it Dwills deal is heavily FrontLoaded. Just a rumor.

[I am Hubby]

First, having two first round RBs is just a freak of nature. Only Foxy could have pulled that off. Just because we have two first rounders now, does not mean we will spend a first on DWills replacement.

Second, wanting Cameron to be a running QB his whole career is just not feasable. He will always be a scrambler with the occasional run. But I would think his carries will diminish through the years. So having two quality backs is always going to be a need.

Third, if you really feel you can just grab a RB and plug him in you are seriously off target. If good RBs were that prevalent, everyone would have a roster full.

Lastly, I would rather have offense and have to work on the D. Than have a defense and have to find an O.

Yes we have money tied up in the RB positon. (Didn't we say the same thing about the LB corp last year?) And will for probably three more years. Which translates well to building through the draft. Because it will take that long to build this team into a proper football team.

Build a solid team through the draft until 2014. When the cap goes up we should then be in the position to go after specific FAs to make that last step to greatness.

Sheew, that was a good one. And GOOOOO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

The good news is that we are treated to Double Trouble every game. Bad news is that once it ends we will never see anything like it again. And that makes my giddy sad.

[CRA]

I think Cam will run until his mid 20s.

Also, lots of teams have 2 quality RBs and they don't invest as heavily as Fox wanted. Fitting the scheme is probably more important in today's NFL that just being a great RB.

I think it is safe to say Williams had plenty of gas in his tank last year but would have been better in a different scheme. What we did with Cam/Chud did play against him to a degree much more so than Stewart.

[Kurb]

Fiz pointed out it was the first time in DWill's career he didnt have a FB in front of him.

Notice he got much more comfortable with that as the year progressed.

[CRA]

Fiz pointed out it was the first time in DWill's career he didnt have a FB in front of him.

Notice he got much more comfortable with that as the year progressed.

Also seems to be an emphasis on pass protection to be the RB...and that is probably why Stweart saw the most action. That and being better up the gut and coming from a college system where he could handle the read option stuff.

Maybe with an offseason Williams can get more comfortable with some of it.....offense seemed more predictable with him last year vs Stewart on the field

[Kurb]

Also seems to be an emphasis on pass protection to be the RB...and that is probably why Stweart saw the most action. That and being better up the gut and coming from a college system where he could handle the read option stuff.

All those things as well.

Oregon doesnt really use a FB to my memory.

I expect a better year out of DWill this coming year.

He should be much more comfortable in the offense.

Its not like he lacks ability.

[I am Hubby]

IIRC we did use a FB at the beginning of the year. The first on got hurt (Brokel I think) and the second one stunk the place up (Felton I think). Which kinda coincides with when Chud started hitting his stride. Maybe losing our FBs was a blessing in disguise.

And CRA

Lots of teams do not have two good running backs. I cannot think of a handful at this time. Please stop with those veiled facts.

Also, Barry Sanders had an inordinate amount of no-gain or minimum-gain runs. And YES I do see a lot of similarities. Please stop with the "Every run must be productive" drivel.

And just what type of system do you suggest for DWill? You go on about DWill not fitting our system. Then mention he would be a better fit in another system. Is there actually a system that fits DWill? Color me confused.

GOOOOO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kurb]

Our system is fine, DWill just needed to adjust. His play improved towards the end of the season (imo).

Felton got cut.

Richie Brockel was on the squad all season and was the swift runner in the "Annexation of Puerto Rico"

[ed bell]

Chud will continue to tweak the playbook and better utilize the weapons he has. Whatever they ask D'Will to do, he will do...at an elite level.

[CRA]

IIRC we did use a FB at the beginning of the year. The first on got hurt (Brokel I think) and the second one stunk the place up (Felton I think). Which kinda coincides with when Chud started hitting his stride. Maybe losing our FBs was a blessing in disguise.

And CRA

Lots of teams do not have two good running backs. I cannot think of a handful at this time. Please stop with those veiled facts.

Also, Barry Sanders had an inordinate amount of no-gain or minimum-gain runs. And YES I do see a lot of similarities. Please stop with the "Every run must be productive" drivel.

And just what type of system do you suggest for DWill? You go on about DWill not fitting our system. Then mention he would be a better fit in another system. Is there actually a system that fits DWill? Color me confused.

GOOOOO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since the rule change after 03, I think 1 Superbowl winner has had a 1st round RB on the roster. That guy had 58 yards on the year.

The pass sets up the run now to a large degree....and that is why teams don't invest in RBs like they did years ago. No point sledding uphill when you don't have to.

Williams didn't fit the scheme as well as Stewart. Maybe that can change in a full offseason or maybe it won't. I dont know. Chris Johnson didn't just suck this year bc he was out of shape...he was asked to run different with a new OC. he was asked to run between the tackles much more than past years. Systems matter for lots of players... from QB, to RB, to CB. Panthers arent immune to that.

If Stewart didn't fit the scheme better why did he play more snaps?

[CRA]

Chud will continue to tweak the playbook and better utilize the weapons he has. Whatever they ask D'Will to do, he will do...at an elite level.

True and that is good. But the core of his system won't change and that means his pass protection and between the tackles running needs to improve next season.

Wlliams seemed to be at his best when Stewart and Cam were both in the backfield with him giving him the pitch outside.

At what age do you think our RBs won't be elite?

[ed bell]

At what age do you think our RBs won't be elite?

It's a great question and I get the fact that RB's age out before their bodies fail to hold up to NFL conditioning levels. See Tiki Barber...

As a general rule I have no problem with the fact that RB's can burn out, but I can't discount the cumulative effect of the shared workload.

When will DeAngelo no longer be elite? After the 2011 results I'd say he gets a pass for 2012. If healthy through 2012 and replicating the stats from this year? Too far out to call.

[panthers55]

True and that is good. But the core of his system won't change and that means his pass protection and between the tackles running needs to improve next season.

Wlliams seemed to be at his best when Stewart and Cam were both in the backfield with him giving him the pitch outside.

At what age do you think our RBs won't be elite?

The system we used was still being installed in November and likely was never fully installed due to time constraints. So to say the core of the system won't change may be very erroneous at this point. The system will evolve like it did this year.

Running between the tackles may not have been the design all the time. Teams crashed their DEs upfield and to the outside to try and get pressure on Cam and force him to throw instead of to scramble. So when we called a running play many times they were forced to the inside. Part of that was not having a good right side who hadn't played together and the give and take as we went along. The fact that Williams flourished the second half of the season was a function of figuring out how to use him and the offensive line gelling. There is more liklihood that the system they used in the second half of the season where Williams did well will be the system going forward compared to the first half.

Running backs are like cars. Which is more important, the year the car was made or how many miles it has been driven and how well has it been maintained. Williams has a 1000 carries in his career and is 28. Peterson is 2 years younger but has rushed for 400 more carries. Who has more wear and tear at this point???

[Delhommey]

Since the rule change after 03, I think 1 Superbowl winner has had a 1st round RB on the roster.

Off the top of my head I can name 3 (Steelers both times and the Colts).

Then you consider the 04 Pats did quite a bit of running with a rejuvenated Pro Bowl level Corey Dillon and the 07 Giants used their three pronged running attack to help keep one of the greatest air based offenses of all time off the field, I really don't think your point holds much water.