Extremely excited about the running back depth this year

[tiger7_88]

ALL of whom have had proven past success in the read-option and other pistol/shotgun formations in college and/or the NFL.

If Stewie stays healthy and Shula/Rivera decide to actually be a little more creative, I think we could have a Top 15 offense this year.

[Matthias]

I expect a great year from Stew.  We will see what it is like now that he is the full time starter.

[Jeremy Igo]

I am actually hoping for a little less creative and attacking with an old school mentality. 

 

Andrew Norwell - Ryan Kalil - Trai Turner

                    Lee Ward

      Jonathan Stewart or Mike Tolbert

 

 

That , my friends, is a recipe for humiliating and tiring defenses early in the game. Once that is done, release the Fozzy for the breakaway runs. 

 

 

[tiger7_88]

I am actually hoping for a little less creative and attacking with an old school mentality. 

 

Andrew Norwell - Ryan Kalil - Trai Turner

                    Lee Ward

      Jonathan Stewart or Mike Tolbert

 

 

That , my friends, is a recipe for humiliating and tiring defenses early in the game. Once that is done, release the Fozzy for the breakaway runs. 

 

 

Except for the Seahawks and Beast Mode, the NFL is a QBs game.

If all we did in signing Newton to a big $$$ extension is pay for a really expensive guy to hand the ball off more often than not, that was a bad investment.

[caatfan]

At least if he gets hurt again we should have some decent backup. I don't want to see any more RB's who retired or got cut 2-3 yrs. ago.

[Jeremy Igo]

 

Except for the Seahawks and Beast Mode, the NFL is a QBs game.

If all we did in signing Newton to a big $$$ extension is pay for a really expensive guy to hand the ball off more often than not, that was a bad investment.

That pendulum started to swing the other way last year. You want to be ahead of it, not way behind it. 

[Montsta]

 

Except for the Seahawks and Beast Mode, the NFL is a QBs game.

If all we did in signing Newton to a big $$$ extension is pay for a really expensive guy to hand the ball off more often than not, that was a bad investment.

I don't think paying Cam big money has any correlation one way or the other with pounding the rock. If we can smash the ball down the defenses throat on the ground, all that's going to do is take the pressure off Cam and make the passing game that much better. 

[VerticalThreat]

I agree with those saying to pound the rock. That's one thing we know that Shula likes, conservative football, but Cam's strength is the deep ball. We paid Cam to make big time throws and have given him big bodies who can get down the field and win when the ball is in the air. We need the reputation of a team that can beat you up the middle. Force the safety and LBs to respect play action and let those big bodies win one-on-one mismatches. That's our offensive recipe for success. 

 

We're not built as a technically sound football team, meaning we're not going to "out-scheme" anyone, but we're gonna maul teams. Out-physical them. That's Panthers football. Can't wait. We have a team of physical freaks...WARNING - Homer Statement: More than I believe most teams can say they have. 

[Chauncey Ellerbee]

Offense top 5 Guaranteed Defense top 5 Guaranteed!!

[TN05]

I'm actually as excited to see Cameron Artis-Payne than Funchess. I don't see us feeding Stewart 250 carries, in addition to however many receptions he'll have. I think Cam has the speed to be a great change-of-pace guy.

[LinvilleGorge]

I'm excited about the RBs too.  You always have to throw in the obligatory "if Stew can stay healthy" line, but Stew as the starter with Fozzy spelling him and CAP getting some action too with the occasional Tolbert bulldozing?  Cam is also going to have some carries every game.  I like it.

I agree with the pound the rock philosophy for this team.  Once again, our OL is probably going to be far better at run blocking than pass protecting.  The best way to help them protect Cam is to establish the run and live off of play action.  

You also have to consider that with so many pass heavy offenses in the league right now, more and more defenses have been evolving to defend the pass.  They're heavy on pass rushers and coverage guys.  Let's find out if they have enough junk in the trunk to stop some smash mouth football.  The Seahawks (and Cowboys last year) have been showing that a lot of them don't.

[L-TownCat]

 

Except for the Seahawks and Beast Mode, the NFL is a QBs game.

If all we did in signing Newton to a big $$$ extension is pay for a really expensive guy to hand the ball off more often than not, that was a bad investment.

if Marino could have done that he would have several rings instead of none.

[MHS831]

I don't think paying Cam big money has any correlation one way or the other with pounding the rock. If we can smash the ball down the defenses throat on the ground, all that's going to do is take the pressure off Cam and make the passing game that much better. 

I agree 100%.  People need to remember, if Cam runs the option once, the defense has to game plan for it.  If he breaks out of the pocket and runs on occasion, the defense has to game plan for it.  When they have to shadow Cam, keep a DE/OLB in contain mode, or even better, bring eight to the box---then watch how good Cam's passing gets. If we run between the tackles, the DTs can't pin their ears back on play action.  If we run the option, it changes things on the outside for the defense.  Throw in a good screen package (something we need to work on, IMO) and some deep balls, and we have stretched the D to cover the whole field every play.

Sometimes Cam is not as important as the threat of Cam.

[iamhubby1]

I agree with Igo on this one. Back in the day Defenses were beefed up to stop teams running on them. So Offenses got quicker and threw on them. Now, most Ds are built to stop the pass. All lean and quick, with no meat on the bones. Now is the perfect time to unleash a beastly O-line and pound those smaller Ds. Force them into making adjustments to stop our running attack. Once that happens, the passing game could take off.

 

With our WRs, if we force teams to respect the run, only good things can happen. Tire the D out, force them to adjust, and we can be effective without having to be unconventional. Shula ball can work with what we do against Ds that are not geared to stop it.