Bleacher Report: Very In-Depth Look At The Panthers Future On Offense

[Saca312]

With the media hyping up the Panther's offense, there's a ton of reason to hope the Panthers are ready to take over the league by storm. Although our defense is massively underrated, our offense is getting the attention it deserves.

Bleacher Report is no exception to the hype machine.

An extremely good read. I just had to post it here, it's something you have to look at.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2710132-the-panthers-have-the-weapons-to-conquer-the-nfl-with-option-football?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national

Here's what the Panthers shouldn't do this season to take advantage of all their new offensive weapons:

Line Christian McCaffrey up in the I-formation. Give him a first-down handoff up the gut for a gain of two. Then, if Cam Newton cannot make something happen on second down, bring Curtis Samuel off the bench for—surprise!—a screen pass that the entire defensive line knows is coming. 

Yawn.

McCaffrey and Samuel are multidimensional playmakers who completely change the complexion of the Carolina offense. Instead of pounding the ball between the tackles (sometimes with Newton) to set up deep shots, the Panthers are now built to get the ball to playmakers in space, both on the perimeter and short in the middle of the field.

 

In other words, this is a team that is custom-tuned to bring the option back the NFL.

                              

Free Cam Newton

The Panthers already use a lot of option principles, of course. They just aren't getting enough bang for their buck. Or too much bang for their buck, if by "bang" we mean "hits on Cam Newton."

Newton rushed 73 times on designed running plays last season, according to the Football Outsiders database. He gained 308 yards and scored five touchdowns on those runs, the touchdowns all coming on goal-line plays. That's a lot of rushing, and frankly, 4.2 yards per carry are not really worth the additional hits it meant for Newton.

Part of the problem was many of those designed runs were not options. A few were sneaks for short yardage. Many were quarterback draws or inside power runs, with no option for a handoff or pitch. Franchise quarterbacks shouldn't be hammering the football up the gut twice per game, but excluding sneaks and scrambles, Newton ran between the guards 32 times last season. 

Another problem was the stale design of coordinator Mike Shula's option package. In the second quarter against the Chiefs in Week 10, for example, Newton lined up in a diamond formation, with Jonathan Stewart to his left and receiver Corey Brown behind him. The play design was a triple-option: Stewart looked for an inside-zone handoff to the right, but Newton pulled the ball and ran left, while Brown fanned out toward the sideline as a pitch recipient.

 

The Chiefs sniff out a 2016 Panthers option.Tanier Art Studios

 

Problem was that Brown's presence in the backfield alerted the Chiefs to shenanigans. They loaded the box. Their backside defenders responded to the play like they just emerged from an option seminar with Nick Saban: The edge defender crashed on Stewart, a linebacker replaced him to contain Newton and a safety slid into the alley to neutralize the Brown threat. Newton took a hit and gained zero yards.

McCaffrey and Samuel give Shula the opportunity to put option pitch threats in the backfield, the slot or wherever his imagination leads him, without tipping his hand to the defense. Both McCaffrey and Samuel also possess the speed Stewart now lacks, making them more effective weapons on plays to the perimeter.

No more Newton between the tackles. No more Corey Brown. It's time for the Panthers to option smarter instead of harder.

(Read the rest on the BR link above)

A very good article expounding on many possible concepts the Panthers could employ.

 

 

[KB_fan]

Saw this article earlier when Bill Voth tweeted about it.  Hope Shula reads the section on what NOT to do and takes notes!  LOL.

You might want to shorten that excerpt for copyright restrictions....  seems a bit long.

[Saca312]

40 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Saw this article earlier when Bill Voth tweeted about it.  Hope Shula reads the section on what NOT to do and takes notes!  LOL.

You might want to shorten that excerpt for copyright restrictions....  seems a bit long.

Appreciate the heads up on that. Fixed. I'm pretty bad at realizing the fact I accidently posted the whole thing since certain articles have so much I want to show. Of course anyone could click the link for such, and I'm not doing the site owner any favors.

Thank you!

[UpstatePanther]

I saw this on Facebook first and was very impressed with its detail :)

[DaveThePanther2008]

The Army QB run I keep seeing Cam running that play.   Cam running down the field like the 2011 game against TB at Christmas time.   Where he carried defenders for 10 yds.  One of my favorites with Cam.  Cam in in open space is as dangerous as any top of the line RB.

The options are immense.  I think the key will be how to utilize the same group of players (Samuel, CMC, Stewart, Cam, KB and Olsen).  If you aren't substituting too often can catch a team with the wrong players on the field.

Remember if the offense doesn't substitute you don't have to wait for the defense to substitute.

[Hogmolliesmaht]

Regardless of how you run the option, the QB is a legitimate target to be hit every time you run it. It's better to just get the ball out of his hands quicker on conventional running plays and short passes and let the guys you drafted do the dirty work. That's why you drafted them in the first place.

[RealBitsOfPanther]

This article does a fantastic job of breaking down option concepts. When the option is set up and executed properly, you cannot stop it.  

[lightsout]

Inb4TheOptionSucks

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[Hogmolliesmaht]

9 minutes ago, lightsout said:

Inb4TheOptionSucks

Sent using the amazing CarolinaHuddle mobile app
 

It does suck if you don't want your QB to get beaten up. 

[RumHam]

Damn, all that writing and insight and you already predicted Shula-ing. Hand off to McCaffrey for two, QB sneak for none, screen pass or 30 yard hook. 

[lightsout]

It does suck if you don't want your QB to get beaten up. 

Because traditional QBs never get beat up. Sure, Cam takes more hits than almost any QB. But it's not like he doesn't want to run. And he's not getting injured from the option, he's getting more beat up in the pocket or when otherwise trying to pass. The option is deadly when you have a QB like Cam, if your OL can block it and your OC doesn't make it obvious where it's coming from.

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