Should the running game have been better?

[Jpjr]

I know it's easy to say that the run has been shut down due to teams loading the box amidst bad QB play... I've said it myself.

But then I watch Cleveland play the Pats and you see exactly what you had hoped to see in Carolina... a great rushing attack supporting a young quarterback. McCoy did not throw a touchdown pass against either New England or New Orleans. He threw less than 20 passes each game. Yet his team has put up > 30 points in both and won handily.

We can argue all we want about Clausens future but I for one would not argue that McCoy is a better quarterback than Matt Moore right now. Yet the results for each team have been totally different.

It just makes you wonder to Fox's point about execution and why the running game has been so terrible this year relative to last year (before the injuries). However I do keep coming back to lack of motivation, undisciplined practices, bad scheme, or other things that get back to coaching.

[Cyberjag]

It's partly the execution, and a lot about play calling. We aren't asking our quarterbacks to make quick throws, everything takes time to develop and they're throwing to rookies. The passing game doesn't work.

[Anybodyhome]

Comparing any other team in the league with the Carolina Panthers relative to their success, or lack thereof, is not a plan to move forward with.

Other teams in the NFL game plan for their opposition. They look hard to find the weakness of their opponent and design a game plan that will take advantage of that weakness. Cleveland being no different than anyone else except for one small fact- they are also starting a rookie QB. Because of this I'm sure the Brown's coaching staff limits the passing plays to those that are typically high percentage and have less chance of catastrophic failure.

The Panthers appear to lack any game planning. Every game is a mirror image of the last. Panther QBs walk to the line of scrimmage staring at an 8 or 9-man box and still hand the ball off thinking DeAngelo or Jonathon is going to get between the tackles. The running game stinks because everyone knows what's coming. And everyone know what's coming because everyone also knows Carolina cannot throw the ball consistently nor will it hurt you when they do complete a couple passes.

[nosuchthingasapanther]

the run game was put on the back burner during the offseason and the focus was put on passing...despite losing linemen to cuts and injury.

it was just assumed that they would be able to run the ball successfully just like the past 2 seasons.

people can blame playcalling all they want. the passing game didn't look good in the offseason, looked like crap during preseason, and is garbage now...anyone willing to bet where the focus is going to be for the rest of the season?

[bleys]

there wasn't much reason to assume the run game would fall off when we ran well with Schwartz/Bernadeau and Otah on the right side.. With Otah not playing and expecting 2 young guys to pick up that roll was just too much to ask..

and Cyberjag nailed it regarding our passing game..

[Jpjr]

it is just a shame because this offense ran the ball fine with moore late last season. it could possibly be the rookie WRs utterly failing to find separation, but i would have expected under any circumstance to see a running game not at the bottom of the league tables.

[AsylumGuido]

I know it's easy to say that the run has been shut down due to teams loading the box amidst bad QB play... I've said it myself.

But then I watch Cleveland play the Pats and you see exactly what you had hoped to see in Carolina... a great rushing attack supporting a young quarterback. McCoy did not throw a touchdown pass against either New England or New Orleans. He threw less than 20 passes each game. Yet his team has put up > 30 points in both and won handily.

I wouldn't use that Cleveland/New Orleans game as an example. The composition of the game was not reflected in the final score. Cleveland was held to 210 yards of total offense (versus 394 by the Saints). 68 of those Browns' yards came from the punter on a fake punt. The Browns' offense only managed 85 yards passing and 57 yards rushing. The Cleveland scoring came primarily from two defensive TD's and from a very short field following the punter's run. Peyton Hillis managed only 69 yards on 16 carries while the rest of the Browns were held to a -12 yards on 11 carries.

[TheRealDeal]

I wouldn't use that Cleveland/New Orleans game as an example. The composition of the game was not reflected in the final score. Cleveland was held to 210 yards of total offense (versus 394 by the Saints). 68 of those Browns' yards came from the punter on a fake punt. The Browns' offense only managed 85 yards passing and 57 yards rushing. The Cleveland scoring came primarily from two defensive TD's and from a very short field following the punter's run. Peyton Hillis managed only 69 yards on 16 carries while the rest of the Browns were held to a -12 yards on 11 carries.

What about the other game he mentioned where Hillis ran for 180+?

What about the fact that the Steelers were able to run the ball 7 straight times last night and move into field goal range (although missed) to try and ice the game? Bengals knew they were going to run and they still did it. How about Mendenhall breaking a 9 yard run with 10 guys in the box, 10!

Other teams can run the ball at will. They can run it with 8, 9, 10 in the box. We can't. Blame whoever you want. We are no longer an elite running team. The most inspired/best run came from our 4th string RB this year.

[rayzor]

It's partly the execution, and a lot about play calling. We aren't asking our quarterbacks to make quick throws, everything takes time to develop and they're throwing to rookies. The passing game doesn't work.

agreed. trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. young team needs to have an offense built around it's strengths and that takes into consideration it's weaknesses. fox has a very narrow mind and philosophy about how football should be played and can't stand the idea of change or adapting a game plan to fit the needs of the situation or the strengths of the players.