third downs!

[rmoneyg35]

First off let me say that I am very happy where we are right now even though we are 0-2. We have been able to compete against every team and could of won both games. Our rookie QB is playing better than expected but still makes rookie mistakes. I am very pleased with Newton and wasn't expecting him to be this good right now.

I honestly think our biggest problem is ourselves. We have been able to win both of our games but have instead lost them in the second half of games. I think most of this is due to the play calling. We need to run the ball a lot more. Not just when we are winning. We are killing ourselves on third downs because all we are doing is throwing the ball. We cannot continue to have all of these third and longs every possession. Even though Cam can throw we need to keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible. He is going to make mistakes and having a run game will help limit those mistakes.I know Cam is throwing for 400 yards a game but I would rather him have 200 and have 100 yds rushing rather than the passing. Our defense is good enough to win but they cannot be on the field as long as we have been letting them. If we run the ball it will help two things. First of all we will not have as many third and long, second of all it will take time off the clock and our defense will be more rested.

I know that our run game has been horrible. It makes no sense why double trouble can't do anything on the ground but I believe one problem is that we are not running the ball enough. We all know how the run game works thanks to John Fox. I have noticed that most of the time the run game doesn't start working till the middle of the season. Our run game has always started our slow so I'm not too worried. I just hope our offensive coordinator will change his scheme next week. We will have a great chance to win but that's only if we play smart. We cannot pass 40 times a game with a rookie QB and expect to win. Sorry Cam I believe in you and I think one day you can be a great NFL QB but right now you just don't have the experience to get the job done by yourself.

I know people already want our OC's head which is dumb considering its only been two games and our pass game has been good. We need to be patient. I know loosing all these close games to good teams is heart breaking but remember we are rebuilding with a rookie QB and we are not supposed to be this good.

[frash.exe]

our third down efficiency in this game was better than our opponent's

[rmoneyg35]

our third down efficiency in this game was better than our opponent's

Yea but we can do better with a run game setting up 3rd and short. Also a run game will help set up play action and the pass game, ECT.

[PhillyB]

we need balance. i hope chudz finds a way to work in more runs.

that said, passing is working consistently even when teams know we are going to pass, which says a whole lot. it's weird to actually EXPECT to convert third downs on a consistent basis.

[JawnyBlaze]

I agree with the thought behind the OP, but I think a lot of it is taking what the defense is giving us. Like Rivera said today after the game, they're facing a lot of stacked boxes and when that happens, you pass the ball. When the defenses start playing coverage more, we'll get back to running. Taking what the defense is giving you is good playcalling. Chud's playcalling has been light years ahead of anything we've seen from our past couple of OCs. My only real gripe has been the playcalling inside opponents 10.