Officially Concerned about the Offense

[Anybodyhome]

I still believe the offensive formation at the line of scrimmage is a dead giveaway to the play about to be run. For some reason when the Panthers approach the line of scrimmage I can determine a pass or run play and be right more than 90% of the time- it's not hard.

 

Second, without Steve Smith on the field, the Atlanta D just packed the box and made their mind up to force Cam to throw the ball. And they were right because Cam was air-mailing everything yesterday. The best pass Cam threw yesterday was the down and in fastball to Olsen in the end zone.

 

Make no mistake about this playoff team, the D began carrying the load when the offense stopped putting up 30 a game (and don't be misled here, because the Panthers only scored 30+ once in the second half of the season).

 

If no one believes the Panthers need offensive weapons....

 

 

[mav1234]

We were scoring 30+ points a game mid season this year.  So, either you think that the playcalling has miraculously changed since then...unlikely.

 

Or, that the players are just not executing right now.....more likely.

 

Or, defenses adjusted to our playcalls, and our playcalls didn't adjust to defenses?

[nosuchthingasapanther]

The two go hand in hand.

 

Cam needs to get into a rhythm. He hasn't had the opportunity to make a few short to mid passes in each drive before he airs out a long one. Any QB needs those to build up a head of steam and get going.

 

Airing out a 30 yarder after watching your receivers are drop 15 yarders, your RB get stuff at the line all while running for your life isn't going to cut it.

 

Give the man some quick sure thing throws. Remember when Jake would throw that out to Smitty the moment the ball was snapped. He must have did that 5 times a game. I'd like to see Ginn get a few of those.

 

 

jake got the ball to smith lightning quick...faster and more accurate than newton has done it the past.

 

newton still hasn't developed a "touch" with his short quick throws.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Without smith we go from the 24th ranked offense to the 30th ranked offense

I would not fire shula before getting some receiving weapons in here as soon as possible. But shula's far from a great offensive mind at this point.

 

 

 

if the offense doesn't improve we'll be out of the playoffs quickly and things will get interesting.  Yes we staggering

talent deficiencies on that side of the ball that are masked a good bit by Cam, but Shula was about the only person 

who would take the job when Chud left.

 

Every other OC in the league knew that there was a very, very strong possibility that Ron would be gone after this season.

At least Shula knew the system.  He was promoted more as a stopgap for one season to give the new headcoach his choice of OC's.

 

The decision made by RR, who seems loyal, and Getty, who seems more than ready to do what's best for this team, is going to be interesting.

[Zod]

We were scoring 30+ points a game mid season this year.  So, either you think that the playcalling has miraculously changed since then...unlikely.

 

Or, that the players are just not executing right now.....more likely.

 

or once there was plenty of tape of Shula's offense and tendencies the league adjusted to it? They do tend to do that.

[KendrickPanther]

To me all of our offensive problems stem from the line and Cam. Don't scape goat Byron Bell, he's bad but so is Nate Chandler, Chris Scott, and Travelle Wharton. Jordan Gross is hanging in there but he isn't dominant. You can bitch about the wide receivers all you want but they didn't drop any easy ones vs. ATL. Cam has been struggling with his accuracy. It makes me wonder if he is feeling pressure from his success. You guys will sit here and say no one is open but that just isn't true. Windows are small and you have to anticipate them. Cam hasn't been doing that. Maybe he is afraid to turn the ball over but he doesn't throw the ball unless guys are wide ass open. Cam is our star, we need him to play like our star. Stop blaming the role players.

 

I would like to think our offense would be more aggressive if the situation called for it. But with a strong D we can play close to the vest.

[Inimicus]

Not my stats but something I thought was relevent to the conversation.

 

 

This guy suggests its not the O but the D thats the problem.

 

 

Analysis: Looking at the linear fits in the second figure, the offense is pretty much on track with there trend line, while the defense is allowing more points then their trend line. This was unexpected for me, as I thought our D was beastly, and the offense was slacking.

 

[Zod]

Not my stats but something I thought was relevent to the conversation.

 

 

This guy suggests its not the O but the D thats the problem.

 

 

Pretty silly argument.

 

Thats like blaming the A+ student for getting a B and praising the F student for getting a D.

 

Sure, the trending was opposite but there is still a better student.

[The_Light_Brigade]

The two go hand in hand.

 

Cam needs to get into a rhythm. He hasn't had the opportunity to make a few short to mid passes in each drive before he airs out a long one. Any QB needs those to build up a head of steam and get going.

 

Airing out a 30 yarder after watching your receivers drop 15 yarders, your RB get stuff at the line all while running for your life isn't going to cut it.

 

Give the man some quick sure thing throws. Remember when Jake would throw that out to Smitty the moment the ball was snapped. He must have did that 5 times a game. I'd like to see Ginn get a few of those.

 

 

I feel like it is easier for Cam to get in a rhythm when we go no huddle (which it should be).  Maybe that's the reason why these last minute/gw drives pay off the way they do.  Quick plays run to the line and do it again.  Part of the reason I wanted Chip Kelly.  

[mav1234]

jake got the ball to smith lightning quick...faster and more accurate than newton has done it the past.

 

newton still hasn't developed a "touch" with his short quick throws.

 

 

When we've gone to those short plays that Zod is talking about, the ball comes out very fast

[fieryprophet]

Atlanta had 8 and 7 in the box on many plays that didn't work yesterday.

 

Even eight in the box is still a detriment to a run game without road graders on the right side of the line. I saw Chris Scott in there for a series or two; I wonder if Chandler was getting coached up or was hurt at some point.

 

What would really help is if Cam got back to utilizing his running back check downs again, his best stretch this year featured him getting the ball out quick, but by the time he's gotten to them of late they're already covered.

[AceBoogie]

To me all of our offensive problems stem from the line and Cam. Don't scape goat Byron Bell, he's bad but so is Nate Chandler, Chris Scott, and Travelle Wharton. Jordan Gross is hanging in there but he isn't dominant. You can bitch about the wide receivers all you want but they didn't drop any easy ones vs. ATL. Cam has been struggling with his accuracy. It makes me wonder if he is feeling pressure from his success. You guys will sit here and say no one is open but that just isn't true. Windows are small and you have to anticipate them. Cam hasn't been doing that. Maybe he is afraid to turn the ball over but he doesn't throw the ball unless guys are wide ass open. Cam is our star, we need him to play like our star. Stop blaming the role players.

I would like to think our offense would be more aggressive if the situation called for it. But with a strong D we can play close to the vest.

He tried to throw Lafell open yesterday and Lafell said no thank you. He lead Lafell before he made his cut and he couldn't get separation to make a play on the ball. You can talk about anticipation throws but it don't mean a damn if the wr can't make the play

[bigdog10]

That deep ball that landed between Ginn and LaFell was concerning to me. Neither seemed to want to go and get it.

It's no secret Ginn doesn't like contact, it seemed pretty obvious on that play. The ball hung up for awhile I would have like to see one of them atleast try and make a play on it.

 

Yep.  Lafell stopped his route on that play. 

 

I have no clue who the ball was intended for.  I was at the game and was watching Lafell and thought it was intended for him, but when I watched it back, it looked like it may very well have been thrown to Ginn.

 

I'm going to hope it was to Lafell, because it would have been a nice throw had Lafell actually finished his route.  If it was intended for Ginn, it wasn't a very good throw or lead.

[mav1234]

I coulda sworn Lafell dropped a real easy pass early in the game that basically hit him in the hands... but I was watching from a crappy stream