Week 9 WIN agains the Packers - Stats & Analysis

[KB_fan]

Note:  I would argue with the comment in the article from 538 above that we haven't improved our passing game this year.  Sure, Cam's stats are down, primarily due to his lower completion %  (a lot of which is explained by our WRs drops, etc.)  BUT, we're actually scoring MORE passing TDs, and Cam's yards / completion stats are way up.  It suggests he's throwing the deep balls more / better, and that we're being more efficient in scoring in our passing game.

[pantherfan188]

5 Sacs on Rodgers! I think thats one of the most impressive stats of the game.  Here is a cool breakdown of our Blitz plays and how our defense is successfully pressuring QBs : https://realfootballnetwork.com/blog/2015/11/10/xs-os-panthers-blitz/ 

[KB_fan]

3 minutes ago, pantherfan188 said:

5 Sacs on Rodgers! I think thats one of the most impressive stats of the game.  Here is a cool breakdown of our Blitz plays and how our defense is successfully pressuring QBs : https://realfootballnetwork.com/blog/2015/11/10/xs-os-panthers-blitz/ 

FANTASTIC link @pantherfan188

Really, that short analysis of our defensive pressure is a MUST WATCH for anyone interested in how we shut down Rodgers so effectively for most of the game.

I'd seen a mention of that analysis yesterday in a list of articles / links at BBR, but hadn't had a chance to watch it until just now.

[KB_fan]

I've never explored the Real Football Network site until today.  Looks like they have some very interesting stats & analysis.

Particularly, I've been focusing on their week 9 "best of" lists:

https://realfootballnetwork.com/blog/2015/11/10/week-10-analytics-best-of-lists/

 

For instance, res: RBs. Jonathan Stewart rates highly in terms of missed and broken tackles

 

and Stew also has a very low Stuffed % - in the 10 lowest among RBs

 

Ted Ginn has the highest drop % among WRs with at least 50 targets:

 

Josh Norman leads DBs with the lowest "burn %"

 

And J-NO is #2 in most pass breakups:

 

[KB_fan]

Not a stat per se... but it's just been announced that Cam was named NFC Offensive player of the week.  It's the 4th time in his career, which leads the Panthers' Franchise.

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Newton-named-NFC-Offensive-Player-of-the-Week/58a0aea1-4274-4a44-9441-97f651a2cb25
 

Quote

 

Newton earned the honor for the fourth time in his four-and-a-half seasons by leading the Panthers offense to Sunday's 37-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers that improved Carolina to 8-0 for the first time in franchise history.

He threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown that tied him for second place in league history with Kordell Stewart for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Steve Young is the all-time leader since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 with 43.

Newton, the third quarterback in NFL history with 15 games featuring two or more passing touchdowns and one or more rushing touchdown – along with Young and Fran Tarkenton – hooked up with three different receivers for scores Sunday. In addition to short scores to tight end Greg Olsen and wide receiver Devin Funchess , Newton hit Philly Brown for a 39-yard touchdown. He had two more deep strikes as well – as 52-yarder to Funchess and a 59-yarder to Jerricho Cotchery to help Carolina build a 27-7 halftime lead.

Newton has been honored as NFC Offensive Player of the Week more than anyone in team history. Kicker John Kasay was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week six times. Newton is the third Panther to be named player of the week this season, joining cornerback Josh Norman (Week 4) and defensive tackle Kawann Short (Week 6).

 

See also:  http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/nfl-blog/article44238120.html

[KB_fan]

And... speaking of superlatives....  There's this tweet about Luke Kuechly:

Jonathan Jones ‏@jjones9 4m4 minutes ago

Luke Kuechly has a 99.9 @PFF rating, the highest of any player at any position

 

We are SO in Luke to have him on our team!

[KB_fan]

More Cam Newton Stats:

http://blackandbluereview.com/cam-newton-rising-in-nfl-record-books/

Here are a few of Cam's awesome numbers..

Most combined yards in first five seasons

1) Peyton Manning - 21,174
2) Matt Ryan - 19,457
3) Dan Marino - 19,428
4) Cam Newton - 19,160

Most total touchdowns in first five seasons

1) Dan Marino - 171
2) Peyton Manning - 147
t3) Cam Newton - 134
t3) Jeff Garcia - 134

[Datawire]

I don't know how you have the time to do all of this. I do enjoy reading it though, great contributions.

[KB_fan]

4 hours ago, Datawire said:

I don't know how you have the time to do all of this. I do enjoy reading it though, great contributions.

The main way I've gained time is that I've stopped a lot of reading.  Usually I read for pleasure (fiction & nonfiction) at least an hour a day, and much more on weekends.  I've cut WAY WAY back on most reading since the season began.  That frees up some time for Panthers-geekery.

[KB_fan]

Two analytical pieces our worthy of linking here for the record.

1) Real Football Network's "The Curious Case of Cam Newton" - breaking down his stats this season (using their passing map grades) and comparing his not very great stats with the fact that he's winning both games and the eye test.  They chalk it up to leadership & grit, doing what it takes to win.  Yup.

https://realfootballnetwork.com/blog/2015/11/11/the-curious-case-of-cam-newton/

 

2) Our own PhillyB's fantastic analysis "the slaying of Aaron Rodgers" - shows how we succeeded in stopping him and the Pack offense in the 1st half, and why we struggled in the 4th Q.

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/boards/topic/120950-on-the-slaying-of-aaron-rodgers-and-other-football-titans/

[KB_fan]

An updated analysis at C-S-R in regard to 7 key areas of statistical success that typically accompany a winning season.  For each stat, the writer set a desirable goal for this season.  This post updates how the Panthers are progressing to meeting those targets and what it means for their continued success:

http://www.catscratchreader.com/2015/11/11/9711884/end-of-season-stats-the-panthers-should-shoot-for-revisited

An excerpt:

 

Quote

 

1. Season goal: Run the ball at least 500 times.

Over the past five seasons, 19 teams recorded 500 or more rushing plays in a season. Of those teams, 12 had double-digit wins. Last season, the Panthers finished with 473 rushes (76 more than their opponents).

With the Panthers depleted receiving corps, as long as Cam and JStew remain healthy, expect the Panthers to eclipse 500 rushes this season.

After eight games, the Panthers have ran the ball 269 times, tops in the NFL, and 20 more than second place Atlanta.   At that rate, they would have 538 rushes by the end of the season.  Notable, is that Seattle led the league in rushing attempts last season, with 525.

 

 

Quote

 

5. Season goal: Hold teams to 3.7 or fewer yards per rush

Five defenses held teams to 3.7 or fewer yards per rush last year, and those teams won an average of 11 games in 2014.  Last season, the Panthers were tied for 27th in the NFL, allowing 4.5 yards per rushing attempt.

This is an unacceptable stat for a team with a loaded front-seven, and the Panthers allowed only 4.0 yards per rush in 2013.  Either Star Lotulelei or Kawaan Short should be the next Panther to earn a high-dollar extension, and both should be entering their prime. While neither is a Geno Atkins-like pass-rusher, they need to become dominating against the run.

After eight games, the Panthers are allowing 4.2 yards per rush, far above my goal of 3.7.  Strangely, that average has worsened after the return of Star Lotulelei and Luke Kuechly, but that seems to be more about the quality of the competition.

 

 

 

[KB_fan]

I don't follow Football Outsiders every week, but I happened to check their Week 9 DVOA analysis.  Carolina made a big move up the rankings with the win over the Packers

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2015/week-9-dvoa-ratings

I like the graph charting the change in Atlanta's & Carolina's fortunes & DVOA rankings week to week

 

[KB_fan]

I really enjoyed Greg Cosell's weekly analysis at WFNZ. 

Very good discussion of what's making the Panthers tick this season.

[KB_fan]

For the record, here are the Week 9 PFF Player rankings and season grades to date, compared with the prior 3 weeks:  Note they've changed something with their rankings, presumably dropping players below a certain % of snaps, so the rank field is empty for a lot of players, and for some players there's been a huge change in ranking this week even though their overall grade hasn't changed much.

Mike Remmers shows the biggest jump in overall grade.  Kony Ealy also shows good improvement, as do our WRs.  Nice to see TD's ranking beginning to finally look close to rational.  He still needs to move into the top 10, but he's a lot closer.