Cam is better without a #1 target

[TheRed]

Cam and this entire offense is better when we can run the ball outside of Newton himself. Strange how that does wonders for the passing game.

[Hoenheim]

1 minute ago, TheRed said:

Cam and this entire offense is better when we can run the ball outside of Newton himself. Strange how that does wonders for the passing game.

I saw in a stats thread today that we're undefeated when Stew rushes for 60 or more yards.. there's something there . 

[jfra78]

3 hours ago, ECUpanthersfan said:

I can't seem to make this a topic on its own, so...are we a blue collar team and if so, what the fug is wrong with that? Charlotte tries to play itself off as a cosmopolitan city, but in sports, we are grinders. The Panthers have always been last second, beat of a heart win types. I think it kind of matches with the city. At any rate this was going to be it's own topic but nature happened. The point is, why try and make us what we are not, we are not flashy, we are grinders, and win or lose that is who we have been for over a decade...IJS

There's a button in the subforum that says "start new thread"  push that.  As far as your topic,  I have always thought of Charlotte as white collar, and the crowd as well.  The team plays blue collar, because it's been run first for like ever.  But I don't think you can put a label on our team

[t96]

7 minutes ago, CPF4LIFE said:

KB is not on Alshons level. Same size and frame but alshon just does what we needed KB to do better. 

Alshon hasn't been good for years. When he was at his best yeah KB isn't close to that. But Alshon just isn't good right now. He's getting the least separation of any player in the league right now at 1.7 yards. Less than every eligible TE and less than KB who is third worst at 2.0.

[t96]

7 minutes ago, TheRed said:

Cam and this entire offense is better when we can run the ball outside of Newton himself. Strange how that does wonders for the passing game.

Duh. This coaching staff's incompetence in building a run game that's not dependent on Cam is probably the biggest reason for our offensive struggles over the years and the biggest reason Cam isn't healthy all the time and isn't putting up MVP numbers every year. I've been saying for years now that we need to build a run game that can sustain itself and THEN add Cam's running to the mix only in certain situations and letting him scramble when the opportunity presents itself. You can't ride your QB like he's John Riggins. It's ridiculous. Either laziness by our coaching staff so they don't have to try hard to do their job, or incompetence. Likely the latter. 

One step towards doing this would've been getting Fournette and building the run game solely around him. I like McC and he's a great offensive weapon but unfortunately he's not a HB that can carry the load of the run game and likely never will be. But his threat as a receiver has been making up for that.

[CPcavedweller]

8 hours ago, NAS said:

I think Cam is clearly better when he doesn't have a #1 target that he tries to feed the ball too.  Clearly, he's more focused and makes better decisions when he is asked to spread the ball around.  Last night's game reminded me of 2015 in how he hit so many different targets.  Even though Funchess had a great game, it was a byproduct of this process.  I don't think Cam was forcing the ball to anyone like he used to do with with Smitty,  KB, or even Olsen.

Maybe Funchess is a better number 1?

[SOJA]

8 hours ago, Snake said:

Not true, Cam is just better without KB. I really wish we would have given him D. Jax or Jefferys. We would be a much better team.  

agree 100% on D Jax, not sure about Jeffery's, imo he's a better version of KB but still has lots of inconsistency issues. 

[csx]

Funchess was already the top target

[juliosantos]

cam is best when he has deep threats because of his big arm

[Mr. Scot]

5 hours ago, TheWiz said:

Whose Tom Brady's number #1 target? Great QB's don't need #1 targets. Great QB's make the most of the opportunities the defense gives them. It seems like Kelvin took away some of those options by only being a big possession receiver. We saw this in 2015 and apparently its still true. 

Doesn't hurt when they have one, though.

Montana and Young had Rice. Aikman had Irvin. Manning had Harrison, Eli has OBJ, Marino had Clayton (and Duper) and of course Jake had Smitty.

On the flipside, there are guys like Brady, Brees and Wilson who often seem to be throwing to an ensemble cast. Worth mentioning that Brady has had Moss and Gronkowski but most years it still applies.

It's a long running debate which approach works better.

I tend to prefer having a target the defense has to account for every play but ultimately, whatever works...

[MasterAwesome]

2 hours ago, Hoenheim said:

I saw in a stats thread today that we're undefeated when Stew rushes for 60 or more yards.. there's something there . 

This year maybe (which would be 3 games)...but last year alone had 4 losses with Stew rushing for 60+. Denver, Oakland, first Saints game, season finale in TB.

[Saca312]

10 hours ago, thomas96 said:

Alshon and KB are like the same player, KB prob better at this point

lol you can't be serious.

[Darvinsun]

I think as long as Cam has the ability to run and the line is blocking somewhat decent, Cam will be fine. He wasn't forcing the ball to Kb this yr. The line just seems to be playing better and they have went back to using the read option which Cam and stew are good at. I dont see much difference in our offense no more than maybe we are not focusing on deep balls as 1st read. We still are running most of the old offense with few wringles.

[yasuhara2241]

Cam is better with: 

1. Running game is going. This is true for all QBs but when Cam is involved in the running game than he seems more in tune. 

2. WRs that get separation. Cam in not a timing passer. He does better when a WR gets separation and throws them open with a powerful throw. This is why Steve Smith, Ginn, even Philly did well with Cam. My favorite throw of the night on Monday was the back shoulder to Funch. We don't see him trust the WRs like that often so that is good. 

3. Up-tempo offense: Let him go no huddle and call the plays. He seems to thrive in the uptempo offense when he has more time to read the defense and not rush with only a few seconds left on the play clock.