Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Let's talk about the running game

Ruff

By Ruff,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

Ruff Newbie

Ruff

Posted
Posted

As of right now, with one game left to finish and one more to go tomorrow, we're ranked 6th in the NFL with 132 rushing yards per game. As usual with our Cam Newton team, those numbers are incredibly deceiving. Cam right now is the second leading rusher on the team, with 144 yards rushing. (Which, btw, is more than any other QB in the league. The next closest is Russell Wilson with 109 yards rushing).

The rest of our rushers look like this:

Tolbert - 11 carries / 59 yards
CAP - 3 carries / 6 yards
Fozzy - 3 carries / 5 yards
Philly Brown - 1 carry / 12 yards

So, basically we're using Stewart to carry the majority of the carries (he's at 49, with 170 yards, right now, while Cam is at 31) while also using Cam. This, to me, is a major problem. The fact that the rest of our running backs, combines, have 14 less carries than our QB, along with almost 80 less yards combined, is ridiculous. Sure, we use our QB heavily to run the ball, which is definitely a staple of our offense. But, what our running game is doing is relying on Cam to bail us out when we get back in a hole. But, there's a bigger problem than that.

"But, that's Shula's plan. Let Cam create. Cam is a playmaker." I totally agree. And it's definitely a legitimate gameplan. (I would say that Cam, right now, would be my favorite for MVP. He and Brady are running a close race, imo.) Here's what we're looking at for the long haul of the rest of the season. If we take the data we have now, this will be the end of the season result:

Stewart - ~261 carries / ~907 yards
Cam - ~165 carries / ~768 yards
Tolbert - ~59 carries / ~302 yards
CAP - ~16 carries / ~32 yards
Fozzy - ~16 carries / ~30 yards

That's by season's end. If you're wondering where those numbers stand, as far as carries go, let's take a look. 261 carries would be 40 more than Stewart has ever had in a season. With someone who has had injury problems in the past, isn't that concerning. Oh, and when did he have 221 carries? In 2009. That's six seasons ago. Since then? He hasn't had more than 178 carries in a single season. At this rate, he would have almost more than 100 carries than he has in a single season than last year. 

How about Cam's numbers? Cam has rushed a lot in his career. Eclipsing more than 100 carries in each of his professional seasons. But, where would 165 carries be on that list? How about almost 40 more than he has ever rushed in a single season? Right now, his most attempts in one year was in 2012, when he rushed for 127 times. 2012, you might remember, was when Chud was full-on using the read-option offense to keep defenders guessing. But now we're opening Cam up to taking, potentially, 40 more hits in the regular season than he has ever. And 62 more than last season (in which, obviously he missed a game). 

Remember when I said there was a bigger problem? Well, there definitely is. We're running at a very good clip right now. But, we're doing it at a cost that is incredibly high in the long-term. We're risking the health of our best running back, who has been known to be injured, along with the health of our entire offense in Cam Newton. That's without a lot of read-options plays mixed into the fold, also. So, we're full-on in the, "PLS GOD LET CAM SAVE US OUT OF THIS THIRD AND FIVE" mode than has ever happened in Carolina, at least through the first few games.

I'm not dissing Rivera, or Shula, or anyone else. We've faced defenses that are very good. (Well, we thought they were good until the Patriots dropped 50 on them) We've gone up against JJ Watt. But, what we're doing now, in this stretch that should be easier than after our bye, is sacrificing our team in the long term. At some point we either have to a) get CAP and Fozzy involved or b) change the ideas on the offense up. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
LUUUUUKE Rookie

LUUUUUKE

Posted
Posted

I read the first two paragraphs, but it got kind if muddled, so I'll just say this.

Let Stew rest this week, that gives him two weeks for his knee to heal before we face a formidable opponent and we'll need him during that stretch.

Next week, a heavy dose of Fozzy/CAP/Wegher (or pick 2) and let's see why they made this squad. 

We'll be fine without Stew this week. No need to push the issue. I'm curious to see what life after Stew looks like. 

This IMO makes the most sense to me

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ruff Newbie

Ruff

Posted
  • Author
Posted

My whole concern is with Tolbert. What in the Sam hell does he provide this team?

That's my main concern, as well. Is he a FB? Not really. Is he a bulldozer? Well, Kenny Vaccaro tackled him by himself in the open field at least twice today. Is he a pass catcher? I mean, what exactly is he? 

Is it because he's a fat guy that dances? I know a bunch of fat guys that dance...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Metalli_cat Newbie

Metalli_cat

Posted
Posted

Stew is being paid like a workhorse back. If he can play, he's getting the bulk of the carries. Run blocking has been a bit of an issue, but I think stew has been slow to feel when to cut up field on some of his rushes.

would rather not see Cam running a bunch, but he's gotten better with sliding, and doing other things to protect himself.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
gtanaka Explorer

gtanaka

Posted
Posted

That's my main concern, as well. Is he a FB? Not really. Is he a bulldozer? Well, Kenny Vaccaro tackled him by himself in the open field at least twice today. Is he a pass catcher? I mean, what exactly is he? 
Is it because he's a fat guy that dances? I know a bunch of fat guys that dance...

idk how you can be hating on Tolbert right now. He has been really solid the last two games. Picking first downs and having a couple 10+ yard reception/Rushes

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CPantherKing Grand Master

CPantherKing

Posted
Posted

Defenses are sitting on the running game and challenging Cam Newton to beat them.

Cam now has the keys to the offense and is changing plays up a lot to get out of running plays. As soon as defenses start playing Cam Newton breaking the pocket, doubling Olsen over the middle, and making sure they have a safety over the top with Cam's deep ball, then the running game will start gashing defenses.

Teams are putting 8 in the box and at times sneaking a 9th in the box.

If Cam keeps taking the top off of the defenses and making them respect the deep ball, then defenses are in trouble with Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • WUnderhill
      JJ Jansen on tanking

      By WUnderhill · Posted

      Tanking in the NFL isn’t really a thing and anybody wanting to bring the rigged lottery to the NFL has an ulterior motive.
    • Seltzer
      Ravens safety out for year. Torn Achilles… Panthers may need to do something

      By Seltzer · Posted

      I understand where you're coming from, but we need another safety IMHO. Other positions, especially on defense, dont have ideal depth, but to me at least S is the one position we can't stand pat at even when thinking about the future
    • Seltzer
      Ravens safety out for year. Torn Achilles… Panthers may need to do something

      By Seltzer · Posted

      100%. Nick Scott was awful last year. Like, even for a franchise that hasn't historically invested in that position, it stood out for how awful it was. If he sees meaningful snaps at S again we're cooked.  Maybe he has value for ST, but I certainly hope we can upgrade. Jordan Fuller, who was by all accounts an Evero guy, was almost as bad. Xavier Woods was bad, but not complete garbage. Still did not want him back. Those 3 guys seriously may have been the worst S group in the NFL. And they all were brought in, especially Fuller, as good fits for this system. Everyone knocks the defensive line, and they deserve a lot of blame, too, but so, so many times our safeties inability to tackle let 4-5 yard runs turn into 10+. And it happened over and over and over again if you watch the film. Honestly, Demani Richardson was the only S by the end of the year I remember making positive plays. I have no issue with Richardson being in the mix and/or competing to be a starter, but we still need another S desperately IMHO who has actually played meaningful snaps in the NFL. The only caveat/excuse for our secondary was the fact our pass rush was nonexistent for large stretches last year. Maybe that helps with coverage, but I dont see how that makes any of these guys better at tackling.  I know it somewhat feels like piling on at this point, but I feel 100% confident in saying this was the worst tackling team in franchise history. The 70ish yard pass play we gave up to Jamarr Chase where he ran through and past everyone in the secondary has to be up there in terms of most embarrassing plays I've ever seen. I can't imagine how embarrassed Kuechly must have been watching from the booth... I think bringing back Evero was a mistake, but for a team that has had nothing but change over the past 5 years, I'm willing to see this through. I definitely think we added significantly to the floor of this defense with the additions we made. I dont think Evero has any further excuses if he cant field a unit that can at least somewhat hold their own. Fixing the safety play is going to be a big part of that.
×
×
  • Create New...