Against the Falcons... run, run, run some more....

[CRA]

Who did you plan to use as the blitzer?

We don't have a great one on our entire roster.

We weren't just using our front 4 when we managed to slow Brees down and get some pressure.

We do lack a true great blitzer....but the D gameplan Thur was to sit back and let NY punch us in the mouth. That isn't a game plan. Carolina needs to attack....sure they will get beat doing it but they get beat not attacking....at least attacking increase the odds for generating a turnover

[thefuzz]

I was told that he was even though he didn't blitz in college because he wasn't asked to

Hahahahaha. I was hoping that was the answer.

Good stuff.

Davis is good but not great, and other than him it's slim pickins' on the blitz front.

[thefuzz]

We weren't just using our front 4 when we managed to slow Brees down and get some pressure.

We do lack a true great blitzer....but the D gameplan Thur was to sit back and let NY punch us in the mouth. That isn't a game plan. Carolina needs to attack....sure they will get beat doing it but they get beat not attacking....at least attacking increase the odds for generating a turnover

Oh god, don't get me wrong. I want to blitz, however I think that our secondary can't handle the pressure when you have White, Jones, and Gonzo and a QB that is smart enough to recognize blitzes.

I have always thought that Ryan was a bit overrated but he has progressed every year, and now is one of the better QB's in the league. They also got him some help.

[Smithers]

We weren't just using our front 4 when we managed to slow Brees down and get some pressure.

We do lack a true great blitzer....but the D gameplan Thur was to sit back and let NY punch us in the mouth. That isn't a game plan. Carolina needs to attack....sure they will get beat doing it but they get beat not attacking....at least attacking increase the odds for generating a turnover

Agree. We did blitz quite a bit against the Saints, especially in the second half. Blitzing is risky, but it allows the defense to be more opportunistic. We forced some nice turnovers and bad plays by the Saints as a result of the blitzes we ran. We can drop all 11 into coverage and still get burnt...so why not blitz like crazy and see what happens. It cannot be any worse than what is already happening when we play soft.

[Darth Biscuit]

He is our "best" blitzer, but certainly not excellent, IMO.

11 career sacks since 2005, and yes I know that he has not been healthy.

I just don't think that we have a good blitzer on our Defense.

[thefuzz]

Not gonna argue with you, but the best sack total of his career is 3.5 in a season that he played 16 games.

He is good, but is nothing like Von Miller who blitzes out of the 43 that we ran here at Carolina.

[theDIRTYcode]

This game gives me the creeps. Nolan's schemes are unreal against the pass, you might see 9 guys at the line of scrimmage, 7 of which are standing up, and that can turn into a blitz/man, or a 3 man rush/zone...and the ish works. It's no secret we've been gashed in the run game, and I consider Carolina to be the best run team in the league(if you guys would quit that Urban Myer ish).

My confidence level goes way up if we jump quick, go full blown aerial assault, and force you guys to throw to keep up...it goes way down if it turns into a grind it out, brute force type of game.

[Darth Biscuit]

Not gonna argue with you, but the best sack total of his career is 3.5 in a season that he played 16 games.

He is good, but is nothing like Von Miller who blitzes out of the 43 that we ran here at Carolina.

Why not... let's argue.

;)

In all seriousness... I don't think Davis is a blitzer on par with Miller or Ed Reed or Clay Matthews, but he's not bad either... Our D has never really been a big blitzing D anyway.

[4Corners]

As far as I can tell, our only hope for a win in Atlanta this week will be delivered on the ground. Atlanta is currently ranked 8th in pass defense, but 24th in run defense.

In week 1 against Kansas City, Jamaal Charles had 16 carries for 87 yards or 5.4 yards per carry. Shaun Draughn had 6 carries for 29 yards, 4.8 a carry.

Week 2 against Denver, Willis McGahee ran 22 times for 113 yards or 5.1 a carry.

Against the Chargers, Ryan Matthews ran for 4.4 yards per carry. Jackie Battle carried only 3 times but racked up 55 yards or 18.3 yards per carry.

The Falcons have not been able to keep a running back under 4.4 yards per carry so far this season.

How the Panthers win this game...

1. Get healthy. The Panthers will need Jonathan Stewart back in the lineup. Toe injuries are no joke and could keep him out on Sunday. Lets hope not.

2. Do not abandon the run. The Falcons can score. Teams have gotten in trouble against them by turning the ball over, falling behind early, and abandoning the run. The Falcons are 8th against the pass defensively and have an effective blitzing defense. Abandoning the run early, as the Panthers are known to do, will result in a loss, guaranteed.

3. Back to basics. Teams have been successful running the ball against the Falcons in pro sets. Their defense is built for speed and pass rush. Getting cute on draw plays and gimmicks trying to get to the edge only plays into their hands. They have the sideline to sideline speed needed to stop the draw. Punching them up the gut with J-Stew is the better option.

4. Run Cam Run. Instead of waiting in the pocket for a 15+ yard pass to open up and risking a sack. spend some time picking up a few running yards and sliding. The Falcons love bringing the pressure and blitzing their linebackers. This leaves the middle of the field fairly open for a few steps by our QB and a quick slide. A few of those, and the Falcons will be more hesitant to keep blitzing.

In short, if the Panthers will commit to what the bulk of their offensive salary cap is geared towards, running, they have a shot. If in the first quarter we see draws and slow developing 15+ passing plays, the game is already lost.

No offense Zoddy - but with the amount of money invested in the RB corp and the design/speed of the OL, the Panthers should run,run,run some more in every single game.

[thefuzz]

Thomas Davis, assuming he's healthy, is an excellent blitzer.

Bolded is the part I was talking about.

We don't have an "excellent" pass rusher on the team honestly.

It's something that Hurney must not see the value in.

Peppers and Johnson (kinda) are the only players that we have had in the last 5 years that can apply pressure, and Charles isn't doing that any more.

[ShutDwn]

Run the ball and don't turn it over. I think if they do that they'll be able to stick around and then who knows how it ends.

Blitzing is thrown around like it's something we can do every down but it isn't. We'll blitz in key areas of the field under certain down and distance circumstance. Blitzing Ryan with receivers like Julio, White, Gonzalez and Douglass isn't going to end well.

Perhaps rushing from the 3-4 would work a bit better. Unless the line can get pressure consistently on it's own I don't see blitzing as being that much of a problem for the Falcons.

[Darth Biscuit]

Bolded is the part I was talking about.

We don't have an "excellent" pass rusher on the team honestly.

It's something that Hurney must not see the value in.

Peppers and Johnson (kinda) are the only players that we have had in the last 5 years that can apply pressure, and Charles isn't doing that any more.

I get what you're saying... I guess what I was really thinking was that he's an excellent blitzer ON OUR TEAM... wasn't really thinking of comparing him to others as we mentioned...

But again, I think that may be partly our system too, because we just don't blitz that much.

[thefuzz]

I get what you're saying... I guess what I was really thinking was that he's an excellent blitzer ON OUR TEAM... wasn't really thinking of comparing him to others as we mentioned...

But again, I think that may be partly our system too, because we just don't blitz that much.

No doubt he is great compared to the others.

I just wonder if it's a scheme thing or a talent thing.

Old Foxy sure doesn't mind sending Miller in there now.

[4Corners]

Bolded is the part I was talking about.

We don't have an "excellent" pass rusher on the team honestly.

It's something that Hurney must not see the value in.

Peppers and Johnson (kinda) are the only players that we have had in the last 5 years that can apply pressure, and Charles isn't doing that any more.

Davis is a very effective blitzer - but you're right about us not having a very good pass rusher though. We need the ends to step up and they haven't so far.