Our 27th ranked pass offense comes down to not enough playmakers

[SauceBoss]

other factors:

 

we are a run first team, overall offense including running is more important than just passing

 

our games have been close, no need to spam the passing attack

 

some teams throw a bunch more because they are down all the time

 

we have an oline that always takes 6 or 7 weeks before they find continuity and consistency

 

our defense has given us short fields quite a few times

 

can we finally stop whining about lack of weapons?  its been done thousands of times already and doesnt hold all that much weight.

Please go back and watch the games and tell me we're a run first team. Our OLine sucks and our WR don't get open fast enough. With the evolution (this is just bad) of a checkdown option in our offense, we should see it go up in ranking.

[pantherclaw]

I get so tired of these "why can't we have receivers out the wazzu like the packers".

Most teams don't.

We have talent. We have good receuvers.

No we don't have steve Smith's replacement on the team. Can we save that conversation for the off season?

[panthers55]

IMO, the offense is built to attack. We throw multiple looks, multiple options, multiple weapons at a Defense every week. I love the Offense this year. Fewest 3 & outs in the league kinda good. Fewer possessions equal fewer yards. Skews our standing in those type ratings.

We are also down in those splash plays as well this year. That has some weight in the matter. I blame this one on the O-line not giving Cam the trust he needs to wait on those longer patterns. Cam is taking the dump off and shorter routes, because he has too. Smart, just frustrating.

Although we are killing it in TOP, our YPG is rather low? You would think the more time you have the ball, the more yards you would have? We run the ball, that does have a normal impact. It is all those shorter passes holding Cam back. Someone pointed out his YPP is almost 2 yards less this year. That is the main reason we have fewer yards.

We can move the ball between the 20s as well as anyone. It is what happens once we get into the scoring zone that is keeping us from being discussed as a team to look out for.

The only thing stopping us from be a playoff team. Is our own Offense. We get back to owning the Red Zone, and we are as good as anyone. Truly. We were top 10 in TD in the Red Zone the last 2 years. This year????? I don't know. I do know it has been sad 3 of our games, and we lost. We were good in 2 games, and we won. Coinky Dinky? I think not. Thankfully we are trending up.

I am looking at it like Shula is dialing it in nicely. We seem to be getting better, That, I can live with.

My fervent hope is that winning cures the WTF? blues. We limit those plays our O is as good as ALMOST anyones. And that does factor in our O-line.

As you can tell. I am giddy over this Offense. And that hasn't even factored in Barner, or Stewy for that matter. Not counting on much from Barner, so if he can contribute it is a pleasant surprise. Stewy is the question? If he returns and plays well...? That can help us as a team. And open the door for a poo ton of speculation. Or if Stewy falterz? That would kinda suck for everyone involved.

Ok, tl/dr version. Hubby happy with the Offense. We limit, or cut out entirely, those WTF? moments and we are a very good Offense. Paired with our Defense. We have a chance to be really good. I can live with that.

PS...Our weapons are pretty good. Not great, but certainly not bad. Especially with the emergence of Freddy. And it pains me greatly to say that.

The other thing that pulls downs yards per game is when you run the ball a majority of the time.  Most times you are doing great when you average 4 yards a carry whereas even poor throwing teams average between 5 and 6 yards a pass attempt.  So the more you pass the better the overall yards per game and yards per play.  

[iamhubby1]

The other thing that pulls downs yards per game is when you run the ball a majority of the time.  Most times you are doing great when you average 4 yards a carry whereas even poor throwing teams average between 5 and 6 yards a pass attempt.  So the more you pass the better the overall yards per game and yards per play.

DWill actually outrushed AP last week, 64 - 62. But yeah, our running game takes time off the clock with minimal yardage gained. Cam's completion % is getting better, that stops the clock less as well. We are methodical. Which ironically, is what our Defense wants the opponent to be. We take our time marching down the field.

IMO, our O has improved every week. We are headed in the right direction. Don't care where we rank. As long as we play well, and limit those WTF? moments, we can be good. Teamed with our D, that could mean good things this year. That, I can get behind. Lol, get behind.

[WOW!!]

I agree with Top Dog.

 

With the weapons we have on offense we need a top 5 OLine or another TE that is a pass catching threat.

 

We don't have a guy that will and usual wins a 1 on 1 battle 80% of the time at the WR position. So you need a great Oline that can protect longer giving our guys more time to get open. Or another TE (like Shockey) that is a good blocker can get open quickly and will use his size to move the Chains and be a threat in the Red zone.

 

You need 2 to 3 guys as receiving threats when your Oline isn't good to have a top 10 to 15 passing games.

 

Steve isn't the player he was 2 years ago. He needs to be in the Slot becoming a mismatch against Safeties and LB. If we can some how get a true Number 1 (either in the draft or FA) . We Can have him and Lafell on the Outside Steve in the slot and Olsen at TE. Or another TE that can stretch the field down the middle.

 

 

Hell I would love to get both in the Offseason and really have a dangerous offense.

[WOW!!]

DWill actually outrushed AP last week, 64 - 62. But yeah, our running game takes time off the clock with minimal yardage gained. Cam's completion % is getting better, that stops the clock less as well. We are methodical. Which ironically, is what our Defense wants the opponent to be. We take our time marching down the field.

IMO, our O has improved every week. We are headed in the right direction. Don't care where we rank. As long as we play well, and limit those WTF? moments, we can be good. Teamed with our D, that could mean good things this year. That, I can get behind. Lol, get behind.

 

With another Big pass catching TE we could still be a methodical offense that can pound the ball in a 2 TE set. But also be a very good passing offense and red zone offense.

 

[iamhubby1]

With another Big pass catching TE we could still be a methodical offense that can pound the ball in a 2 TE set. But also be a very good passing offense and red zone offense.

This is an idea that has been noted, for years, and has not been addressed. As much as I believe Cam is growing more and more comfortable with who we have. Another big presence like Olsen, could do wonders for this O.

Either a good TE, or a true #1 WR. I don't care. Hellz, I'll take both, why not? But yeah, another receiving threat at TE is a definite upgrade to this O. But a true #1 WR allows Smitty to go to the slot for more plays. He could be dangerous out of there.

We have the weapons. They may not set the world on fire. But we can compete with what we have. That is enough for me. But adding more weapons is an option that must be explored.

[FootballMaestro]

To OP. No major worries (yet).

 

[Despite the tough Seattle "D", Buffalo Game, and the big lead against the Giants, obscuring the numbers] I'm sure the passing offense will continue to improve as the Panthers fatten up on lesser opponents, and/or Stewart and Ginn acquaint/reacquaint themselves with Cam, while Shula finds better play calling (we hope)? And it's still early. Panther could be in some games where the passing offense surprises you. 

 

Ironically, both Seattle, Wash, and San Fran were all last/near dead last in passing yardage, and percentage. But it's funny how no one ever cared or noticed, and hailed "the greatness" of their flawed QB's (not saying you don't like Cam, or that Russell Wilson is as bad as RG3 or Kaep). Just offering that point. 

 

PS: I'm more concerned about the Panthers winning their next two games to go 4-3 on the year in the crappy NFC, however they do it (as long as they keep winning and getting better, ultimately). 

[Jackofalltrades]

Thats fine, grabbing playmakers come first. Really in this case, it's been last

Atlanta is suffering for following that blueprint.

Games are decided at the line of scrimmage.

[panthers55]

DWill actually outrushed AP last week, 64 - 62. But yeah, our running game takes time off the clock with minimal yardage gained. Cam's completion % is getting better, that stops the clock less as well. We are methodical. Which ironically, is what our Defense wants the opponent to be. We take our time marching down the field.

IMO, our O has improved every week. We are headed in the right direction. Don't care where we rank. As long as we play well, and limit those WTF? moments, we can be good. Teamed with our D, that could mean good things this year. That, I can get behind. Lol, get behind.

I agree that being able to consistently move the ball is the key.  The past 2 years we did throw the ball downfield and had more big plays but we also had more three and outs than this year.  We were a hit and miss offense and weren't really consistently which is how teams beat us.  That and the fact that the defense couldn't really stop people when they needed to either.  This year our defense really has improved and that is a very good thing.  One thing about this defense is that we try and prevent the big play and keep everything in front of us. That means that teams can dink and dunk us down the field.  Most times we can get off the field but we still are susceptible to other teams who can eat up the clock like Seattle did and limit out opportunities on offense.  IN those cases we still have to have big play capacity and be able to score when we need to because our opportunities could be limited.  More importantly though is the need to take advantage of our possessions so we don't put up tons of yards but few points like we did against Arizona.  We have to finish drives on offense.  

[rayzor]

Atlanta is suffering for following that blueprint.

Games are decided at the line of scrimmage.

very true, of course much of their issues right now have to do with all their play makers being hurt except for the old guy. still, if they had solid trenches they could make things work a whole lot better. 

 

a solid OL and a good DL against the pass and the run would have helped them out despite injuries to their playmakers.

 

i can't believe i'm saying this, but for this year i think we're good enough with the pass catchers we have right now. we absolutely need to get an heir for smitty and getting another TE wouldn't hurt, but what we are in the most desperate need for is an OL that can give cam more time and an OC that can dial up an offense to get the ball out quicker and work around deficiencies on the OL, because that and cam waiting for guys to get open downfield is what has us so far back.

 

oh yeah, and then there's that little issue of us not throwing the ball a whole lot recently. you throw less passes, you get less yardage. 

[MadHatter]

very true, of course much of their issues right now have to do with all their play makers being hurt except for the old guy. still, if they had solid trenches they could make things work a whole lot better.

a solid OL and a good DL against the pass and the run would have helped them out despite injuries to their playmakers.

i can't believe i'm saying this, but for this year i think we're good enough with the pass catchers we have right now. we absolutely need to get an heir for smitty and getting another TE wouldn't hurt, but what we are in the most desperate need for is an OL that can give cam more time and an OC that can dial up an offense to get the ball out quicker and work around deficiencies on the OL, because that and cam waiting for guys to get open downfield is what has us so far back.

oh yeah, and then there's that little issue of us not throwing the ball a whole lot recently. you throw less passes, you get less yardage.

Agree...add another pass catching TE and improve the OL.

[Woodie]

The OL is the #1 problem on offense. Give Cam decent time, and even with the weapons we have we'd be a very dangerous offense. Cam's biggest problem is that he doesn't trust his OL to give him the time he needs in the pocket...and usually, they don't.

 

With that said, we actually have a good group of receivers. The problem, though, is that they are a #2 and a couple of #3 receivers. We really don't have a legitimate #1 anymore. We don't have that guy that can go get the ball. Smitty was a master of it, and his ability to attack the ball in the air was the most dangerous aspect of our passing game when Jake was here. But Smitty's not that guy any more. He is still very good, but relies more on veteran savvy than explosion nowadays. LaFell is actually a pretty good receiver, but I think he is better suited as a #3. He just not one to go up and get the ball, he takes what the defense gives him...and his blocking is stellar. And Ginn has been good for us, I just don't think he is #2 worthy.

 

Bottom line, if we want to take that next step as an offense we need to make upgrading our OL priority #1. Not far behind is an attacking receiver that can go get the ball when Cam needs help. Get that, and I think we will have an offense teams fear.

[MadHatter]

The OL is the #1 problem on offense. Give Cam decent time, and even with the weapons we have we'd be a very dangerous offense. Cam's biggest problem is that he doesn't trust his OL to give him the time he needs in the pocket...and usually, they don't.

With that said, we actually have a good group of receivers. The problem, though, is that they are a #2 and a couple of #3 receivers. We really don't have a legitimate #1 anymore. We don't have that guy that can go get the ball. Smitty was a master of it, and his ability to attack the ball in the air was the most dangerous aspect of our passing game when Jake was here. But Smitty's not that guy any more. He is still very good, but relies more on veteran savvy than explosion nowadays. LaFell is actually a pretty good receiver, but I think he is better suited as a #3. He just not one to go up and get the ball, he takes what the defense gives him...and his blocking is stellar. And Ginn has been good for us, I just don't think he is #2 worthy.

Bottom line, if we want to take that next step as an offense we need to make upgrading our OL priority #1. Not far behind is an attacking receiver that can go get the ball when Cam needs help. Get that, and I think we will have an offense teams fear.

Winner winner, chicken dinner