Running Teams in the NFL

[Mother Grabber]

This morning, his schmarminess, John Clayton, said that running teams in the NFL are good for 8-9 wins at best. Our beloved Panthers are perhaps the best 'running team' in the league, and no doubt one of the more obvious about it. Many of us, myself included, have complained about the Fox plan being too conservative and too single minded.

Perhaps he agrees? Afterall, we did put a lot of stock into the future of our passing game...

[panthers55]

I guess he is pegging New Orleans and Dallas to 8 or 9 wins then. Both were top 10 in rushing last year, LOL. Cincinatti was one of the best running teams last year. Anyone think with 85 and TO, they won't throw more this year.

Most any team has to be able to pass and run at the same time. We ran so often last year because we really couldn't throw it very well with Delhomme. I expect that we will throw the ball alot more this year and open things up if we get good quarterback play.

[Lumps]

Balance is the best weapon.

[beastson]

I guess he is pegging New Orleans and Dallas to 8 or 9 wins then. Both were top 10 in rushing last year, LOL. Cincinatti was one of the best running teams last year. Anyone think with 85 and TO, they won't throw more this year.

Most any team has to be able to pass and run at the same time. We ran so often last year because we really couldn't throw it very well with Delhomme. I expect that we will throw the ball alot more this year and open things up if we get good quarterback play.

Thats what it boils down too. Now Tennessee, thats different

[CRA]

Carolina alone shows that thought process is garbage.

2008- 12 wins

2009 - with some of the worst QB imaginable for the majority of the season we got 8 wins. With average QB play (not great or even good) Carolina wins easly 10 games.

[panthers55]

Thats what it boils down too. Now Tennessee, thats different

Wouldn't be surprised if Tennessee has to pick up their passing game also. I don't know that Johnson has another year like last year in him. Look what happened to Turner in 2009. He might be injury prone after all the abuse he took last year.

[Swarly]

Not that I agree with running teams automatically failing, but bringing up the Saints & Dallas doesn't help the argument. Both of those teams were top 10 in passing, which opened up their run game a lot more than us.

It's a quarterback league, and will continue that way with the constant rule changes and etc benefiting quarterbacks. Look at the Jets. Their passing game was awful and they basically won 7 games, and were given the last 2 games with Colts/Bengals resting. Then you have teams like the Titans who didn't establish their passing offense until later in the season, and would have finished with a better record had they established it earlier.

If we can just get our passing offense to average, we'll be fine.

[Davidson Deac II]

Last year was more of a passing year, no doubt about it. Yet 5 of the top 10 teams rushing wise made the playoffs, and most of the rest finished at or above 500.

[CRA]

Not that I agree with running teams automatically failing, but bringing up the Saints & Dallas doesn't help the argument. Both of those teams were top 10 in passing, which opened up their run game a lot more than us.

It's a quarterback league, and will continue that way with the constant rule changes and etc benefiting quarterbacks. Look at the Jets. Their passing game was awful and they basically won 7 games, and were given the last 2 games with Colts/Bengals resting. Then you have teams like the Titans who didn't establish their passing offense until later in the season, and would have finished with a better record had they established it earlier.

someone on Sirius NFL commented about teams focused on stopping the pass and the swing back to the run once teams realized some teams might be exposed.

If we can just get our passing offense to average, we'll be fine.

I think it is worth noting....that the league is constantly changing. It is a passing league and teams are building themselves to stop it. At the same time it will be more difficult for teams to stop teams focued on the power run building for speed/coverage.

With Jake's play teams often put 9 in the box last year. We had 2 RBs at over 5 yards a pop. If not for turnovers that formula is very effective imo in today's NFL with the focus on most defenses.

[panthers55]

Not that I agree with running teams automatically failing, but bringing up the Saints & Dallas doesn't help the argument. Both of those teams were top 10 in passing, which opened up their run game a lot more than us.

It's a quarterback league, and will continue that way with the constant rule changes and etc benefiting quarterbacks. Look at the Jets. Their passing game was awful and they basically won 7 games, and were given the last 2 games with Colts/Bengals resting. Then you have teams like the Titans who didn't establish their passing offense until later in the season, and would have finished with a better record had they established it earlier.

If we can just get our passing offense to average, we'll be fine.

Our running game depends on passing also. We need to be able to keep the safety out of the box and have the DE worried about the pass which makes them susceptible to the draw. And the run sets up the play action pass. We need a good passing game this year so we can score lots of points. We lost several games last year because of an anemic offense. With the defense still up in the year, we need to be able to win a few shootouts this year.

I agree we don't need to throw for 300 yards a game, but we will have to score 24-30 points to beat Atlanta or New Orleans this year.

And bringing up Dallas and New Orleans shows that the best teams can run and throw the ball. One side helps the other.

[thefuzz]

Easier to win consistantly through the air than on the ground.

[Baschski]

Roflcopter. We got those 8 wins last year with the worst QB in the league and an unreal amount of turnovers. With a middle-of-the-road QB we would have won 10-12 games easily last year. This year with an easy schedule it's not at all unreasonable to think we can win 10. Clayton sucks.

[panthers55]

I think it is worth noting....that the league is constantly changing. It is a passing league and teams are building themselves to stop it. At the same time it will be more difficult for teams to stop teams focued on the power run building for speed/coverage.

With Jake's play teams often put 9 in the box last year. We had 2 RBs at over 5 yards a pop. If not for turnovers that formula is very effective imo in today's NFL with the focus on most defenses.

That is a good point. With teams going to lighter faster DEs and DTs to get pressure, it allows a team like us with a very big offensive line to just blow folks off the line. Teams focusing solely on the pass play right into our hands.

[Peppers90 NC]

I say Dallas and Saints are passing teams, with the ability to run very productively. But their top weapons are their QB's and WR's with very solid lines.