The Panther Offense: A Double-Edge Sword

[Snake]

I think this is where we fool ourselves. The only player that should have a big impact on our offense when he's not there, is the QB. The strength of this offense is really determined on Stewart? I'm confident that even if Stewart was in the game tonight, we still would have gotten shut down. The fact that the one game the option worked is when Stewart was playing means nothing. We were playing against the terrible Saints defense, who gave up 40 points to a rookie QB. Last year we dominated a Bucs team that went 4-12 for the year and had a coach who is now out of the league, correct me if I'm wrong. I fear as long as we run this offense, there is no way we will accomplish anything.

I'm going to correct you because you are wrong. Stewart is one of the most elusive backs in the NFL and does not ever go down after first contact. He is also a back Chud likes more and we know that from last year. Dwill is a slasher style back that works very well in a power o offence but is totally wrong for ours.

Let me put it this way. Jstew is to LT as Dwill is to Sproles.

Both good backs but both very different.

[LinvilleGorge]

It isn't a gimmick. Wildcat is a gimmick. Better athletes play QB now....which is why the read option is all over college football now. It is a core concept in college and now is transitioning to the next level. Wildcat never was.....always was a gimmick on every level

Yeah, and those read option offenses usually get exposed at the college level when the opposing team has time to prepare for it. You don't see those teams winning many bowl games these days.

It's a gimmick.

I'm not saying we should completely abandon it, but it should cease to be a core part of our offense.

[capfolly]

I think this tidbit from NFL.com explains it best:

"Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski seemed to be auditioning for future head-coaching jobs with all the bells and whistles he broke out in the first half. None of it worked. The Panthers never established their base offense before using the fancy stuff. They were too smart for their own good."

[Matthias]

Someone needs to go back and review our games last year, because I'm interested now. I'm almost 100% positive, that the option play didn't become a main staple in our offense until late in the year. (Specifically in that last buccaneer game) I don't remember seeing many option plays in the Cardinals, Packers, Bears, or any of the early games last year. It wasn't until right around that first buccaneer game, did we have the options and trick plays.

Cam was developing so beautifully last year. Now because of this college offense, the coaching staff may have assured Cam will have a sophmore slump.

I'm going to correct you because you are wrong. Stewart is one of the most elusive backs in the NFL and does not ever go down after first contact. He is also a back Chud likes more and we know that from last year. Dwill is a slasher style back that works very well in a power o offence but is totally wrong for ours.

Let me put it this way. Jstew is to LT as Dwill is to Sproles.

Both good backs but both very different.

I definitely agree with you on Stew's skills. Yet even he can't break 5 tackles in one sitting. D-Will actually had a decent game tonight, but at times there were 4-5 guys waiting for him with how the option sets up. It wouldn't have been that much different with Stew.

[CBDellinger]

I think this tidbit from NFL.com explains it best:

"Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski seemed to be auditioning for future head-coaching jobs with all the bells and whistles he broke out in the first half. None of it worked. The Panthers never established their base offense before using the fancy stuff. They were too smart for their own good."

Chud, your game plan sucked tonight. You have out thunk yourself twice in three games. Get it together man.

[CBDellinger]

We didnt use the read option as much last year early, except for in goal line situations. We used it more in later in the year.

[fieryprophet]

I don't know how many times we will have to get slammed, before this coaching staff realize this college offense doesn't work against defenses worth half their salt.  The truth of the matter is, it works sometimes, but more often than not, it doesn't.  I mean, this coaching staff almost make me wish Derek Anderson was the starter, because then I know for sure I will not see another option play.  This offense got me loathing that play at this point.  I'm ready to see both Rivera and Chud go because of this play.  I ain't going to lie, after watching tonight, they got me crying thinking on the John Fox era.

Bottom line, this offense is holding Cam's development back.  Cam is still trusting in his own ability to move the ball, just like he did at Auburn.  Cam will never grow into a Manning/Brees/Brady type QB, able to masterfully call the offense.  The sad part is, Chud won't change a thing.  He will still have Cam run 30 options a game.

First off, this right here is why I know you don't know jackshit about what you are talking about. The option isn't holding Cam's development as a passer back: Cam being forced to pass in obvious passing downs is. He's progressed very well as a passer, but he's not yet at a point where he can go no huddle and run the offense completely. Whether that is because he hasn't grapsed it yet or Chud doesn't feel like handing over those responsibilities to him yet remains to be seen. But he's not limited as a passer, and made a lot of good throws in this game to go along with the bad ones. But neophyte fans who don't know squat about what actually goes on on a football field wouldn't know that.

[CRA]

Stewart, or the lack there of, is not the issue.

It's a slow developing offensive attack that will always suffer against defensive ends of average NFL stature.

Tonight is just more proof.

With the college ball not rolling....Stewart is the issue. Since we have have turned it a college ball system it only implodes with him out.

Works fine. Need the RB. Can't run it at this level with just a RB.....you need THE RB. Read option flat out is run different without Stewart....timing, speed, and where it is run.....it matters

[CRA]

First off, this right here is why I know you don't know jackshit about what you are talking about. The option isn't holding Cam's development as a passer back: Cam being forced to pass in obvious passing downs is. He's progressed very well as a passer, but he's not yet at a point where he can go no huddle and run the offense completely. Whether that is because he hasn't grapsed it yet or Chud doesn't feel like handing over those responsibilities to him yet remains to be seen. But he's not limited as a passer, and made a lot of good throws in this game to go along with the bad ones. But neophyte fans who don't know squat about what actually goes on on a football field wouldn't know that.

Truth

[fieryprophet]

Now, should Chud tone down all the exotic plays? Yes, absolutely. You lose the ability to excel in the unconventional when you don't establish the conventional first. Cam isn't failing to succeed in conventional plays, but we're asking him to attempt those plays when he is the least likely to succeed at them, almost as if we're begging him to again save us when the defense has let us fall behind by 20.

[YoMoney]

Damn, I wish Chud would have taken that Jags job.

[Matthias]

First off, this right here is why I know you don't know jackshit about what you are talking about. The option isn't holding Cam's development as a passer back: Cam being forced to pass in obvious passing downs is. He's progressed very well as a passer, but he's not yet at a point where he can go no huddle and run the offense completely. Whether that is because he hasn't grapsed it yet or Chud doesn't feel like handing over those responsibilities to him yet remains to be seen. But he's not limited as a passer, and made a lot of good throws in this game to go along with the bad ones. But neophyte fans who don't know squat about what actually goes on on a football field wouldn't know that.

I think the college option and the goaline package is holding him back just a little. Yes, the guy can run, but this is the big leagues here. This is why his int count will be high again this year, and maybe even higher. Instead of totally focusing on reading defenses and throwing the ball to an open receiver, he is spending half his time deciding whether to hand the ball off, or run it himself. At the goaline, he thinks run entirely. All these things hold him back. Is he improving as a passer, yes! Yet if you ask me, with this offense we are running here, he will definitely take a huge step backward from his rookie year.

[fieryprophet]

I think the college option and the goaline package is holding him back just a little.  Yes, the guy can run, but this is the big leagues here.  This is why his int count will be high again this year, and maybe even higher.  Instead of totally focusing on reading defenses and throwing the ball to an open receiver, he is spending half his time deciding whether to hand the ball off, or run it himself.  At the goaline, he thinks run entirely.  All these things hold him back.  Is he improving as a passer, yes!  Yet if you ask me, with this offense we are running here, he will definitely take a huge step backward from his rookie year.

A read option is a run play. What makes you think he is reading for a pass on a run play? The receivers aren't running routes, they are blocking. When he fakes an option run and pulls it back for a pass, then the play was a pass all the way. He's not trying to read between two different responsibilities on the same play.

[CBDellinger]

With the college ball not rolling....Stewart is the issue. Since we have have turned it a college ball system it only implodes with him out.

Works fine. Need the RB. Can't run it at this level with just a RB.....you need THE RB. Read option flat out is run different without Stewart....timing, speed, and where it is run.....it matters

Ok, let's pretend that your theory is correct. That with JStew this is THE offense but without him, it aint. Why the hell would you build an offense so reliant on one player? And a player that plays in an oft injured position?

Just doesnt make sense.

I'm not against using the the read option... I'm just against using it so much.

Surely there has to be other things we can do well.