Cam: the answer to our offensive woes

[Peon Awesome]

Our biggest weakness on offense since Rhule and Brady took over has undoubtedly been short yardage and red zone situations. It honestly doesn't even matter if Cam's shoulder doesn't hold up or he struggles to connect on passes more than 20 yards. His threat as a runner is one of the greatest redzone/short yardage weapons in the entire league. With only a few days to practice and implement plays for Cam, the team already looked worlds better in that department. The worry over Cam running it in freed up Robby on the TD catch and later on a 3rd and 1, with the option to McCaffrey, the focus on Cam held the defender long enough for McCaffrey to EASILY break through for the 1st and much more. It was a beautiful thing to see. 

With McCaffrey as a surehanded 5-10 yards on every target as the checkdown, we honestly don't need the big play threat. We're perfectly content to slowly march down the field with 10+ play drives, extended by 1st downs on 3rd and shorts, and punctuated with 7 points whenever we reach the redzone, not 3. Cam helps ensure that. I'm admittedly a major homer and optimist, but I'm bullish on the Panthers prospects. We've got the potential to make some real noise.

 

[panthers55]

This week will be a real litmus test. Rivera knows Cam better than anyone and what he can or cant do. He will devise a defensive scheme to account for Cam. Lets see how Cam mixes it up and uses our better personnel to score. If he dismantles Washington on Sunday he will make believers out of his skeptics. 

[pantherj]

Basically were going to run the read option with Cam and CMC. If they go for CMC then you have a 6'6" 245 pound athlete barreling forward for a good gain. If they go for Cam, then you have CMC untouched and on the loose. That is why Cam is getting a big one year deal. 

Now Cam's passing is not that accurate nor consistent, and his deep ball may be gone, but we don't need that to win. We can tear teams apart with the read option. The read option is unstoppable so long as the o-line does it's part, and our o-line is noted for good run blocking and brutish play. Pass blocking, not so much, but it won't matter when we're short yardage after using the read option.   

[L-TownCat]

It’s not going to be perfect.  It doesn’t have to be either.

I think Cam is as healthy as he is ever going to be.  Cam and Christian running the RPO with a Cam that has the physical ability to throw should be difficult to stop.

[pantherj]

We are built to beat teams like AZ that have a wimpy smaller d-line. We are also built to beat Washington with them not having Chase Young and Montez Sweat. That means that there was be many read option plays where a scrub off the bench is trying to decide to go for Cam or CMC. There is no question in my mind that the bench warming DE will not be able to handle Cam and CMC running the option at him. Not going to happen. That means our offense will feast on the read option, and our defense will be fresh. The Washington game looks to be in our favor.

[BlackPanther21_]

1 minute ago, pantherj said:

We are built to beat teams like AZ that have a wimpy smaller d-line. We are also built to beat Washington with them not having Chase Young and Montez Sweat. That means that there was be many read option plays where a scrub off the bench is trying to decide to go for Cam or CMC. There is no question in my mind that the bench warming DE will not be able to handle Cam and CMC running the option at him. Not going to happen. That means our offense will feast on the read option, and our defense will be fresh. The Washington game looks to be in our favor.

Not to mention our defense should tear Heinicke to shreds.

[pantherj]

I anticipate we are going to run the read option as much as we did in the Chud era, which means a poop ton of times. And that is the smart thing to do if you want to win the game, and to hell with injuries to Cam. Run the option and win. I only care about winning, and this depleted Washington defense is extremely vulnerable to the read option.

[pantherj]

1 minute ago, BlackPanther21_ said:

Not to mention our defense should tear Heinicke to shreds.

Heinicke will "Rudy" his way to some short try hard magic plays here and there. It's going to be hard to bottle him up, but he shouldn't put up big numbers.

[MHS831]

Cam adds a dimension that we have not had since he was here before.  I hope that the rust falls off him and he plays lights out.  He is motivated, and we nearly lost the season with Darnold.  I am really looking forward to watching this one. 

[Catsfan69]

Even if he only becomes an inside the 30 QB that is still a tremendous help.

[Catsfan69]

4 minutes ago, pantherj said:

Heinicke will "Rudy" his way to some short try hard magic plays here and there. It's going to be hard to bottle him up, but he shouldn't put up big numbers.

He's the enemy but I have to admit that 360 spin move escape from death and run to the endzone he had last year is exactly what I thought of when I read your post.

[joemac]

6 minutes ago, pantherj said:

I anticipate we are going to run the read option as much as we did in the Chud era, which means a poop ton of times. And that is the smart thing to do if you want to win the game, and to hell with injuries to Cam. Run the option and win. I only care about winning, and this depleted Washington defense is extremely vulnerable to the read option.

Honestly I’ve always thought that with a QB like Cam every single rushing play should be a read option? Why the hell not? Cam is so good at it that he makes the correct decision 9/10 times. We can absolutely kill teams on this one play. Really not many teams feature it anymore. 

[RJK]

The best thing that can happen on sunday is carolina leans on the power run game and WFT just can't stop it. I'll be very worried if cam starts and throws the ball 30+ times. If that's the case then most likely the panthers will lose

[pantherj]

Basically we have to stay out 3rd and long. That can easily be accomplished using the read option. Stay in short yardage and you take the vulnerable o-line out of the equation. Now Cam is throwing shorter passes that are easier to complete, and CMC can make a guy miss to get the short stuff. Work the read option of the fresh of the bench Washington scrub DEs until they are crying. Then keep going. Wear them the hell out, and stay in short yardage.