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Good read on what to expect from our offense in 2012

jarhead

By jarhead,
in Carolina Panthers

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SetfreexX Experienced

SetfreexX

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For those with limited browsers at work, or on your cell...

This weekend I had the great pleasure of diving into "The Essential Smart Football", the new book from SmartFootball.com writer Chris B. Brown. Firstly, I really have to give a strong recommendation if you're the kind of person who really thrives on the X's and O's. This is a fantastic look at a variety of football topics, and I think it's a must-own. Each chapter is a self-contained essay on a specific part of the game, which makes it easy to read.

It was Brown's look at Gus Malzahn's offense at Auburn that really caught my eye; especially in light of how it related to Cam Newton, and the roster moves the Panthers have made this off-season on offense.

"Newton was an incredible talent, but he was also a transfer from Blinn College who suddenly had to chair a no-huddle, on-the-fly offense in the thick of the SEC- the kind of thing that can go horrendously wrong unless your coaches put you in a position to succeed. The framework of Gus's offense is built on the idea that it will all be called from the no-huddle, so there is no room for extraneous verbiage (as there is with long, never-ending NFL play calls), and the premium is on players' playing the game: "if you're thinking you're not playing," is a common refrain of Malzahn's."

We all remember too well how Newton was skewered last year for not being able to handle calling a typical, NFL-style play call for Jon Gruden during his QB camp. What we have here is a more eloquent explanation of how Cam was asked to run the offense than what Newton gave on ESPN. There's a lot to be said for this 'play, don't (over) think' approach to the game, and what it allows is for the game to become instinctual, rather than analytical. Time and time again we saw Cam's insticts shine through in his rookie season.

Part of the reason some fans feared the selection of Cam was due to this offensive approach. We've become conditioned to the idea of study trumping everything. So when we see a quarterback who plays fast and loose, in a spread offense, and one where he ran so much, it's only natural that trepidation sets in. What we didn't know was how adaptable Cam was.

"Cam Newton, of course, deserves much of the credit for the Tigers' potent offense in 2010. Although his immense physical talents were apparent immediately, his ability to read defenses and understand the concepts Gus presented was an extremely pleasant surprise. And most surprising of all was Newton's impressive leadership of his team in the heat of battle"

These are the qualities the Panthers discovered during the pre-draft process that ultimately made them comfortable with taking Newton #1 overall, despite so many talking heads cautioning against the decision. If you have a player with Cam's unnatural size and athleticism, and pair that with a quick study- you have the player we got to witness play in 2011.

In delving deeper into the piece I saw more similarities between Malzahn's attack at Auburn, and what the Panthers are doing today. This covers the running platform we saw the Panthers use a lot last year out of a single back set, but it was the way Auburn used the option play that leaped off the page. Brown talks about the 'inverted veer', an option play where Cam Newton became the primary inside running threat, and this was executed out of a power blocking scheme.

Essentially this is an option play ran out of a single back formation. In this, the QB is in the shotgun, the RB lined up next to him with four receivers on the field. Immediately the defense is cued in to stop the pass, but post-snap we see the confusion take place. The RB runs laterally in a sweep (this would be DeAngelo Williams' role, as a speedy RB), Cam would watch the defensive end- if the DE fails to move laterally to cover the RB, then it's a simple hand off for a big gain (provided the WRs block correctly). If the defensive end follows the RB then Cam keeps the ball, and runs inside between the RT and RG.

"Obviously, the play works best when the quarterback is not only a good runner, but a dynamic inside runner."

So what makes this so special? Simply put- the left guard. In order to make this kind of option play work when run out of a power set it requires a strong, fleet footed left guard who can pull, move laterally quickly and become the lead blocker who runs in front of the QB between the RT and RG. Here the guard hits the second level, and is asked to single block (read: destroy) a linebacker, paving the way for the QB.

Who did we draft in the second round again?

Amini Silatolu is the perfect player to fill this role as the pulling-guard needed to run Power with regularity. It also explains why the Panthers liked him more than more highly touted, but flat footed OG's like Cordy Glenn. Silatolu routinely pulled from his LT position at Midwestern State to come inside and lead block, and did so with great effectiveness. It isn't always the most highly touted player, but the one who fits the system best who is the draft selection.

In reading more about how Gus Malzahn used an option attack with Cam Newton I have little doubt this is part and parcel of the 'wrinkles' we'll see added to the Panthers offense this fall. Thus far we've seen Carolina do an outstanding job creating a system that allowed Cam to succeed early by pulling in concepts he used in college. I believe the 'Inverted Veer' could be a devestating addition to the offense, and one that would be near impossible to stop. Given that Newton won the Heisman in part to this play, I think it would be great to see him run it at the next level.

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SetfreexX Experienced

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Sooo possibly adding one QB running play? That's why we drafted a OG...?

I took it as an example, I'm sure Amini's impact will be felt overall in the running game leading for Williams, Tolbert, and Stewart. It's the fact that we passed on other guards who are less athletic because we wanted someone more versatile/dynamic. Aside from that the tilte is "Wrinkles in the Panther Offense" (not a specific quote). So this was just some additional insight into how he could factor in as well as Chud tailoring some of the plays to Cam's skill-set/college success, which IMO I wish more coaches did instead of running THEIR system. I'm a fan of what can my players do...ok then that's what we'll do.

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La Pantera Experienced

La Pantera

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This is the opinion of a person who's not on the team...a guess at best. The article suggests wrinkles, but only gives ONE possibility, of a play that could or could not be added. Its not very informative, just a guys opinion of why he thinks we drafted a certain player.

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jarhead Newbie

jarhead

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I took it as an example, I'm sure Amini's impact will be felt overall in the running game leading for Williams, Tolbert, and Stewart. It's the fact that we passed on other guards who are less athletic because we wanted someone more versatile/dynamic. Aside from that the tilte is "Wrinkles in the Panther Offense" (not a specific quote). So this was just some additional insight into how he could factor in as well as Chud tailoring some of the plays to Cam's skill-set/college success, which IMO I wish more coaches did instead of running THEIR system. I'm a fan of what can my players do...ok then that's what we'll do.

I agree.I think it will also be interesting to see how our passing game will change as the game slows down for Cam.I think Chuds is doing a great job designing plays to the strength of the players.Even Smitty commented on how he was being used differently this year.Its just so different than our offensive schemes of the past.I cant wait to see what they do with Tolbert as well
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SetfreexX Experienced

SetfreexX

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This is the opinion of a person who's not on the team...a guess at best. The article suggests wrinkles, but only gives ONE possibility, of a play that could or could not be added. Its not very informative, just a guys opinion of why he thinks we drafted a certain player.

Nothing wrong with that, isn't that what bloggers do, offer opinions...? It was a good read if your goal is not to scrutinize it. The an inferior site guys post some more detailed info but like any blog or forum they offer 'what if' scenarios and generally good opinions as to what Carolina may do.

I for one am excited about the possibility of building on our read option, as well as improving our running game overall pending Amini is as projected. We saw what The Golden Calf of Bristol was able to do with it given his lack of passing ability, factor in Cam CAN make every throw and one would be inclined to believe we're in an even better situation.

Teams will have to respect not only the pass in our spread sets, but the QB run, and uh not to mention the backs.

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La Pantera Experienced

La Pantera

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Sooo smartass if you can read between the lines do you think they drafted who they did to add only one qb running play?

LOL! Wasn't being a smartass, the title was misleading. They made it seem as though they had some sort of insight on several new plays, when all they did was make a guess at one play and why we drafted a certain player. Don't take it personal and jump to calling someone a smartass, buddy!

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panthers55 Grand Master

panthers55

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The point made was that we will use the option and that we pull our guards which is one reason we drafted Silatolu and he is absolutely correct. We ran much better to the outside last year and it is the best way to use WIlliam's and Stewart's speed and quickness. We will run the option and it requires guards to pull and pancake linebackers and defensive ends on the edges.

Will it be all we do? Of course not but there is a reason that the playbook is hundred of pages long and most articles are less than 1. You can't expect him to do more than discuss one play or concept or talk in general terms. Give the guy a break or try and do better.

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