bring on 8 in the box....

[bigjohn]

I'm so tired of seeing people view that as the way to stop the Panthers. Oohhh, they will put 8 in the box and stuff our running game.

How many times have we seen the quick pass to Smitty and he now just has one guy to burn or stiff arm and it's a 15 yard gain before the safety help can get there?

It looks like we're going to use our tight ends more effectively-- those little drag patterns are wide freakin' open with the linebackers pulled up tight.

And most importantly, you may stuff Stew and DWill a few times, but how many big runs did we have last year? That's what happens when you stuff the box like that--all it takes is one broken tackle, one missed defensive assignment, or one good block and see ya! When you load the box like that there's no one to stop you once you get through the first line of defense.

Bring on 8 in the box. BRING IT.

/rant

[Cyberjag]

If preseason is any judge, the way to stop the Panthers is to run the ball all day long, keeping your defense fresh and their offense off the field.

[natty]

Hell Denver came out in a 4-4 and STILL got run all over. I'm not worried about the offense.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

Eight is not enough.

[Jangler]

The Smoke play hardly works for us anymore. It almost like the defense knows when it's called. Need to change that.

[pantherj]

The key is to give Jake big easy targets hit. Easy passes will help Jake a great deal. The problem is not so much 8 in the box, but just facing a team that has great run defense. For example, the Vikings. You can't just come out and run it down there throat, you have to pass more than you would against other teams. Jake needs lots of options, and guys need to get open or get position. Also, Jake has to stop staring at 1 reciever the entire play. He was doing that a lot against the Fins. Anybody could guess where he was going with the ball.

[KARASMATIC444]

The Smoke play hardly works for us anymore. It almost like the defense knows when it's called. Need to change that.

i agree, it does seem like they have tightened up on that allot. I think allot of other teams started doing it as well and because of it people are prepared to see it.

[firstdayfan]

Who says that? Teams can't stack the box against us because of Smitty. He commands a safety and a corner which means that Moose or whoever else is one on one. It also means that Barnidge will be covered by either a linebacker or a strong safety which is a mismatch. Teams will have to pick their poision this year. But all that is reliant on the defense's ability to at least slow the opposing teams down. If we are getting outscored by a couple touchdowns then Dwill and Stewart are out of the equation, not a position that I like to be in.

[bigjohn]

Good point about the smoke play...but you still have to throw it once a game at least just to keep those corners honest. Then pump and go.

Damn I need to see some football. Guess I'll watch tonight just to pull against Vick.

I'm with you guys though-- definitely more concerned about the D than the O.

[Razzy]

The key is to give Jake big easy targets hit. Easy passes will help Jake a great deal. The problem is not so much 8 in the box, but just facing a team that has great run defense. For example, the Vikings. You can't just come out and run it down there throat, you have to pass more than you would against other teams. Jake needs lots of options, and guys need to get open or get position. Also, Jake has to stop staring at 1 reciever the entire play. He was doing that a lot against the Fins. Anybody could guess where he was going with the ball.

yeah, Jake's tendancy to lock down on a reciever has always bugged me. I'll have my eyes on him against the ravens.

[TbTeRRoR]

The bad thing about the smoke screen (and the fact that we are renowned for going to 89 and sometimes 87) is that defense actually try to bait Jake into throwing it. I've noticed a few Cbs line up off and then break straight in on the snap instead of playing it soft. I bet CBs are drilled than when they arn't jamming at the line to be ready to charge smith on the snap. The last 2 years the teams sucess with this play has been limited compared to the first year it was used.

[natty]

The bad thing about the smoke screen (and the fact that we are renowned for going to 89 and sometimes 87) is that defense actually try to bait Jake into throwing it. I've noticed a few Cbs line up off and then break straight in on the snap instead of playing it soft. I bet CBs are drilled than when they arn't jamming at the line to be ready to charge smith on the snap. The last 2 years the teams sucess with this play has been limited compared to the first year it was used.

That doesn't really change anything though. The point of the play is to let Smith beat someone 1 on 1 when he has the chance to do it. CBs can know it's coming but still can't beat it, or they jump on it and let Smith burn by them on a pump fake.

[Baschski]

There is no way that 8 in the box will shut down our running game with the talent we have at RB, combined with the bulldozer of an O-line we have. Teams were stacking the box a ton last year and it never slowed down Double Trouble. Besides, anytime Smitty gets the ball something special is going to happen. Barring any big injuries, the offense is top ten.

[Chaos]

I still like the end around to Smitty more than the smoke screen.