This time Rivera talking generally on PFT. Reading the tea leaves: Don't look for much change offensively.

[pantherclaw]

Yep and most of Cam's scrambles come once the play is broken down and he makes something happen.

If you minus Cam's rushing yards, Carolina's running backs combined to rush for over 100 yards just 4 times (including playoff game).

Lafell brought the total to over 100 in the Minnesota game so I didn't count it because I only included the running backs.

with a.mobile QB, why would you exclude his production?

To devalue the rb position?

Everybody wants our running backs to each have 100 + yards.

It won't happen unless our running game is absolutely dominating the whole game long, and the opposing defense is no good.

Cam's rushinh is apart of our offense, and always will be until he can't run anymore.

If the team rushes 30 plus times, and the defense performs, than we win more often than not.

Gotta love that.

[*FreeFua*]

with a.mobile QB, why would you exclude his production?

To devalue the rb position?

Everybody wants our running backs to each have 100 + yards.

It won't happen unless our running game is absolutely dominating the whole game long, and the opposing defense is no good.

Cam's rushinh is apart of our offense, and always will be until he can't run anymore.

If the team rushes 30 plus times, and the defense performs, than we win more often than not.

Gotta love that.

I'd have to re watch every game to find out with runs were designed and which were Cam being Cam. There's a difference between the two, the ones designed I agree should be included. But you can't rely on the ones Cam pulls out of his ass a few times every game.

That's why I keep stressing the importance of finding a number 1 WR. Too many times Cam is forced to make something happen because no one can get open.

And I was responding to Rivera's comments. It's fine to say they rushed over 100 yards in however many games if they were all designed runs. But when alot of these yards are coming from broken plays I don't think that's the same. For example the New England game comes to mind with alot of runs coming from broken plays.

[DaCityKats]

When Seattle's run game got stopped, they was able to throw the ball effectively. There WR would make huge plays on passing downs, so at the end of the day you have to have a balance attack.

[panthers55]

I don't know why all the negativity about what Rivera said which is that the combined catches for Smith Ginn and Lafell was around 150 for the season out of a total of  292.  Honestly we didn't have a number 1 receiver last year so we might not have one this year. 

A healthy Stewart should be good for at least 300 or 400 yards rushing and another 25 to 30 catches. Add Cotchery for another 50 catches and if Underwood gets 30 we are talking about needing another 40 catches between our draft picks and all the JAG on the team assuming we pick no other receiver up.  Certainly it sounds doable to me and won't require Cam to run that much or to be that much better passing the ball.  I expect as players understand the offense it will improve just like the defense did once everyone understood their roles.

[bleys]

apparently I have 2012 on the brain..  looking back at most games past week 4 (no need to keep working backward from week 16), Cam only had more yards than our RBs against the Pats..  which he gashed them pretty badly when they lost containment..  

[thunderraiden]

Wait our WR's didn't have 10 catches a game combined last year? BAHAHA

[hepcat]

Really not going to matter who catches the ball as long as Cam has time to throw.  Someone will be open.  I hope they get a WR in the first round and go O-Line in the 2nd and 3rd.  Really need to add some talent on the offensive side of the ball especially in the trenches...

[Brooklyn Bully]

With Seattle stacked, the 9ers still around and hungry, Aaron Rodgers back, the Eagles getting better, and the Saints being the Saints, we need to really give it all we can. Double Trouble isn't what it used to be and our O-Line isn't any better. I don't see us being bruisers this season. So yes, it will come down to the passing game and we still need a #1. This isn't 2008. Our run game is dead.

[Gin and Juice]

1) those 10 catches are a lot harder than it is said

2) I firmly believe Ron made that comment in reference to taking steps back on offense. Our Defense should improve via experience.

3) Anybody that thinks we don't want playmakers on offense is an idiot. Good thing about drafting in later part of 1st rd is the high risk/reward combine stars are off the board! Gman can defend Cooks/Mathews as BPA at 28. Then again, Lee/Matthews or Adams will be there on the board with our second rd pick! Any of those 3 will improve us offensively!

Everyone talking about finding the next Victor Cruz, yeah that would be nice, but I just hope this is the year Gman pulls some major OL talent out of late rds and undrafted. And taking a flyer on Colt in Rd 6 would be nice....take a chance

[MHS831]

Want some optimism?  Here it is, and I believe it.

 

About the OL- Remember, our budget is limited.  How many starting (at times) OL did Gettlemen find after the draft last year?  Scott, Wharton.  In addition, I think people here are screaming for free agents and draft picks, (so am I) but I get the feeling they feel they have some good, young unproven talent on the roster.  Chandler is learning and showing promies, Silatolu is coming off injury and doing well, they love Bond's arm length and size, Kugbila is a huge man who is unproven, Williams (a starter at times) is back, and we will probably draft a T or 2.  I see it.

About Shula--This extends something I have said before and Huddler repeated the sentiment earlier in this thread.  When has Shula ever had weapons?  You complain that Cam had none, but bitched about Shula's conservative play calling.  The team went 12-4 with Lafell as the #2, a short, slowing 5-9 WR as the #1, an injured LG, RB, and 'a DT playing RG".  Guards, for those who don't know, are key to a good running game.  WRs are pretty important in a good passing game.  Maybe Shula should have called plays that were neither.  (and yes, there were moments when I questioned Shula.  I would question anyone).

About Rivera--I think everyone knows, when they step back and think about it, that Rivera is not trying to duplicate last season.  That is one reason they let Smitty go--he was 35 and numbers do not usually increase at that age.  We are rebuilding the offense around our young QB.  This is phase II.  Last year was about the defense-this year, we are going offense.  No head coach aims to match production of the 29th rated offense. 

About WR--Everything I hear about Cotchery is that he is a class act, a pro's pro.  They loved him in Pittsburgh.  He will work with the young WRs.  Smitty, on the other hand, said "Why should I help teammates (WRs)?  They are my competition."  Maybe that has something to do with it.  However, I keep saying 2 things--it takes WRs a year or two to develop (we have 2 young ones) and we are going to draft a WR or 2 early in the draft.  We are going to be young, fast, tall, and athletic.  We will run bad routes at times, not block as well, and make fundamental mistakes.  As we stand right now in March, do I think we will be better at WR?  Heck yes.

 

I like what is happening.  Every year this fan base gets dejected after free agency and the draft, etc.  But last year, we took the same approach and look what Gettlemen did:

 

Starters or key contributors in free agency on a budget:

Florence

Edwards

Munnerlyn

Mitchell

Cole

White

Lester

Horton

(AND THAT IS JUST THE DEFENSE)

Wharton

Scott

 

Then look at the draft, where we found 2 starters/key contributors, one on IR, one steps in without a drop in production (Klein),

We had 5 picks.

 

Give the man some room, people.

 

 

 

[top dawg]

You're kind of preaching to the choir at this point. I believe that most people are optmistic that he will have a good draft.

As for Cotchery and Smitty, I believe that most people will accept (perhaps reluctantly) that Cotchery will be a more positive presence and menetor for a young receiving corps. On the field? That's a little bit of a stretch. But, now I am convinced that the Cotchery move is less about total on-field production than it is his total leadership. Underwood is a good guy too.

Dejected after free agency every year? I don't remember that.

Say what you want about Shula, the offense took a marked step backwards with the same core players. But, I will give him the benefit of a whole lot of doubt and see what he does this year.

It's not like the man doesn't a body of work (here, and there)

No excuses.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[panthers55]

You're kind of preaching to the choir at this point. I believe that most people are optmistic that he will have a good draft.

As for Cotchery and Smitty, I believe that most people will accept (perhaps reluctantly) that Cotchery will be a more positive presence and menetor for a young receiving corps. On the field? That's a little bit of a stretch. But, now I am convinced that the Cotchery move is less about total on-field production than it is his total leadership. Underwood is a good guy too.

Dejected after free agency every year? I don't remember that.

Say what you want about Shula, the offense took a marked step backwards with the same core players. But, I will give him the benefit of a whole lot of doubt and see what he does this year.

It's not like the man doesn't a body of work (here, and there)

No excuses.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

I agree with most points but I don't think the offense took a marked step backwards if you look at numbers.

 

In 2012 we averaged 22.3 points a game 5.8 yards per play and a TOP of 29.51.  We converted 20.5 first downs and made 43% of our 3rd downs.

 

In 2013 we averaged 22.9 points, averaged 5.1 yards per play and had a TOP of 31.54.  We converted 19.9 first downs a game and made 44% of our third downs.

 

The only difference I see was in total yards and a slightly higher yards per play but that in the category that counts the most which is points scored we did slightly better and controlled the clock which helped the defense.

 

I don't see the big regression at all.  In fact I think this past offense was actually one of the big reasons we went 12-4.  Obviously the defense and hugely improved special teams were two big other reasons as well.

[PantherPhann89]

And we cut Smith because he complained about the offense and Shula...

[panthers55]

And we cut Smith because he complained about the offense and Shula...

Probably because Smitty was telling cam not to spread the ball around so much and throw more to him.