Article - The Panthers Offense Runs Through Cam Newton And Christian McCaffrey, And That's Why They're A Dangerous Playoff Contender

[Saca312]

Came across this article recently and thought it was really good. This offense does in fact run through Cam and CMC and has been absolutely deadly. It is still possible for this offense to succeed with Cam, CMC, and Olsen doing the heavy lifting.

Kinsley explains why here - 

https://purpleptsd.com/the-versatility-of-cam-newton-and-christian-mccaffrery-make-the-panthers-the-most-underrated-playoff-team/

excerpts - 

...

Since the Benjamin trade, the Panthers have been 6-1, clinching a playoff spot in the process. The big change in the second half of the season has been the offense; With Benjamin gone, the Panthers are putting up 29.3 points per game as opposed to 18.5 before the trade. The turnaround from 6-10 in 2016 to 11-4 in 2017 with a game left is extremely impressive, especially in a loaded NFC.

While it might seem foolish to pinpoint the success of a team based on the absence of one player, the trade actually gave the Panthers addition by subtraction. Despite some gaudy stats, Benjamin was an anchor to the Panthers offense. He’s a big, tall receiver, but size means nothing without physical ability. Benjamin was a slow route runner in Carolina, often running the wrong one entirely and failing to box out or create a frame or margin of error for his quarterback.

Add that he had drop issues and failed to create separation, you got an easy situation for the Panthers front office.

...

With injuries to Curtis Samuel and Damiere Byrd though, many are skeptical of the Panthers making a playoff run, but there are two big reasons that suggest why they could.

...

Drafted in the first round of the 2017 draft, McCaffrey has been in the shadows of fellow rookies Kareem Hunt and Alvin Kamara, but hasn’t been any less spectacular. He’s been almost exclusively known as a receiving back, but has over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season. He is quick in all phases of football, and his raw speed, sublime route running and ball skills make him the dream draft pick the Panthers have been waiting for.

Make no mistake, McCaffrey is already a phenomenal player.

...

The increased focus on Newton and McCaffrey has paid off. In their first eight games of the season, Carolina ran for 781 yards for 97.6 yards per game. In the last seven games, they’ve put up 1,234 yards for 176.3 yards per game. Massive, indeed.

...

You normally don’t name a playoff team dangerous on the basis of two players alone, but Cam Newton and McCaffrey literally do anything and everything. With Newton’s downfield accuracy and precision in tight windows combined with his outstanding running ability, as well as McCaffrey’s technique as a receiver and ridiculous versatility allowing him to be positioned everywhere on the field, and you have perhaps the most dangerous offensive duo of players in football.

[Adb6368]

I took 3 things from that article.. posted below in order of importance:

1) People that don’t think cam is an nfl qb are idiots

2) Mike Shula is holding this offense back

3) CMC is not a RB but IS worth a first round draft pick 

[The Big Bartkowski]

Panthers can go deep...all depends on matchups. For starters I think you guys matchup real well the Rams. They have the 7th best offense and middle of the pack defense (16th). Look at the Vikings / Rams game for an idea of how that game might go. Vikes 24-7 win. Shut down Gurley and put the ball in the young QBs hands. Rams live off turnovers (+6). Don't turn it over and you win. McCaffrey out of the backfield and Cam's running ability keeps the defenses on thier heels. Funchess has become a problem too. 

[Hoenheim]

2 hours ago, Adb6368 said:

I took 3 things from that article.. posted below in order of importance:

1) People that don’t think cam is an nfl qb are idiots

2) Mike Shula is holding this offense back

3) CMC is not a RB but IS worth a first round draft pick 

McCaffrey is averaging the same ypc on the season as Tiki Barber did his first season. Tiki ended up being a pretty good runner albeit it took a few years for him to really take off

And after all the hullaballo about Fournette, he's averaging 3.9 ypc on way more rushing attemtpts than CMC has 3.8 ypc. And that 3.9 is factoring in that huge ass long run on the steelers without that he'd probably be even lower YPC (fournette). 

[Saca312]

what this article really touches on that no one here brings up is that our offense actually does run through cmc as well as cam. without cmc, we're not 11-4 and definitely not in the playoffs. he's worth a first round pick and more for how much he's really transformed this offense.

[PantherOnTheProwl1523]

1 hour ago, Adb6368 said:

I took 3 things from that article.. posted below in order of importance:

1) People that don’t think cam is an nfl qb are idiots

2) Mike Shula is holding this offense back

3) CMC is not a RB but IS worth a first round draft pick 

 Sorry but CMC isn't going anywhere because he is an important part of the team and you need to stop smoking that bad stuff you have there.

[GoobyPls]

Considering Mccaffrey shows up every other week it doesn’t really run through him.

[Ace_Aladdin]

3 hours ago, Saca312 said:

what this article really touches on that no one here brings up is that our offense actually does run through cmc as well as cam. without cmc, we're not 11-4 and definitely not in the playoffs. he's worth a first round pick and more for how much he's really transformed this offense.

Offense runs through Olsen then CMC.

Huddlers will realize the importance of Olsen when it really matters.

[Adb6368]

6 hours ago, rbsponsel52 said:

 Sorry but CMC isn't going anywhere because he is an important part of the team and you need to stop smoking that bad stuff you have there.

Not sure what you’re reading but might want to read my post again...

[Mikey815]

22 minutes ago, Tomás The Boss said:

Can't compare Fournette's YPC - being used very differently vs. McCrapfrey.

Forget fournette One dimensional injury prone straight ahead runner

[joemac]

30 minutes ago, Tomás The Boss said:

Can't compare Fournette's YPC - being used very differently vs. McCrapfrey.

Ahhhh, McCrapfrey. How clever!

[Khyber53]

The other big, big factor is how balanced the team is. We've won games because of our defense and our offense, and arguably one important one because of special teams play. It seems that when one falters, the others take up for it. It means close games rather than blowouts, but a win is a win in the end.

Only three teams have been unable to unravel us this year and two of those (Chicago and Philadelphia) would find it impossible and unlikely respectively to hang a second loss on us if given another go of it. The Saints seem to have our number and I don't like our chances in a third head to head match with them. Hopefully they will stumble across a kryptonite team in the playoffs before we collide.

[JakeDel5674]

Let's compare McCaffrey's YPC to Fournettes because it fits our narrative.  Let's completely ignore comparing him to Hunt or Kamara because it DOESN'T fit our narrative.  Ah, the Huddle will truly Huddle when they need to.  

[Mikey815]

20 minutes ago, JakeDel5674 said:

Let's compare McCaffrey's YPC to Fournettes because it fits our narrative.  Let's completely ignore comparing him to Hunt or Kamara because it DOESN'T fit our narrative.  Ah, the Huddle will truly Huddle when they need to.  

Give the guy lead back carries of 15 to 18 carries per game then Let’s see what we got.  Either a Faulk/Barber or a third down scatback