Newton's good, but he can't do it all for Panthers

[Kuech Da Sneak]

Jordan Gross was steamed.

The Carolina Panthers' Pro Bowl offensive tackle was talking about the Panthers' lack of a running game following the team's 30-23 home loss to Green Bay Sunday, and his normally affable nature had disappeared. He was angry with the loss and angry with the way it occurred.

"We get down inside the 15, and we throw it every time," Gross said. "I mean he (Cam Newton) scored on that one QB keep to the right, but you know I'd like to have 50% of those (plays) be runs. And I don't think Chud is trusting us to get it done right now."

He knows it, everyone knows it.

Also thought this was a telling stat.

After Gross said his piece about how the Panthers seemed to throw the ball every time from the 15, I looked it up. The Panthers had the ball for 20 - yes, 20! - snaps inside the Green Bay 15. On three of those 20 plays, they used a traditional "hand-the-ball-off" running play, and this is what happened:

Minus-2 yards for Stewart.

Gross penalized 10 yards for holding.

Minus-2 yards for Stewart.

So you can understand why every other play Chudzinski called was either a pass or a run or scramble by Newton. That's all that was working.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/130098603.html

[pantherclaw]

My response to that read....

AMEN!

[Marguide]

I want Gross to be pissed. As the leader of our offensive line, he should take it personally.

He and Wharton and Kalil are all very good players. Add in Otah when he is in. These guys need to prove to Chud they can get the job done run-blocking.

However, they also need to be recognized for generally handling blitzes very well in the first two games. The pass blocking has been pretty solid.

[Catalyst]

I really don't get why we can't run right now. These same 5 guys were once a dominant run blocking line. Even last year we ran pretty well most of the time. They can't have regressed THAT bad. I have to believe this is a temporary situation that will be addressed heavily this week leading up to Jacksonville.

[SpeedOFLight]

I agree with him and glad he spoke out. Fact of the matter is that we could have been 2-0. Silly calls in the redzone. We have the running backs. We just need to use them more. We will be fine. We are getting better by the week which is exciting.

[Easyt65]

1 big 'Kudo' to Gross for the 10-yard 1st-down run Stewart had! Gross pulled and flat out ROAD-GRADED a Packer on the outside, allowing Stewart to cut back inside for the extra yards and the 1st down!

Good on him for speaking out, but if he wants Chud to trust them more they need to PERFORM BETTER! I LOVED Otah's 1st year - he was an absolute road-grader, and DW & Stewart set the record for an NFL RB tandem. It starts with the OL!

[chknwing]

I wish everyone would calm down. Carolina isn't suppose to win. This is still a rebuilding year with many pieces of the puzzle left to find. Rivera stated before the season, that the team would be competitive, and it is. I for one am happy. Its been a long time since Carolina was competitive and could go toe to toe with and elite team. Good Job Rivera. More changes are coming to this team.

[Niner National]

Gross' hold on the 2 yard line killed us. Should have had 7.

[Lout]

Gross' hold on the 2 yard line killed us. Should have had 7.

You mean the phantom hold call? Go back and watch, Gross barely touched his man.. def no holding.

[chknwing]

CAM wont have to play the 4th qtr next week. Game will be decided by then.

[rayzor]

they aren't trusted because they aren't getting the job done.

they aren't getting the job done because they aren't opening any holes.

they aren't opening any hole because teams are still scheming against the run game and stuffing 8 into the box.

once teams start focusing on shutting down cam and the passing game earlier they will back of the run game and things will open up. right now opposing teams are just hoping on being able to get on the core board a lot to be able to beat us. not every team is going to be able to do that.

it will come. panthers aren't yet at a point that they can impose their will, but it will come. typically it takes a few weeks for the Oline to get their crap together even in the most normal of years. 2nd half of he season will be a lot more productive than the first half.

[mwright350]

He should be mad - honestly I'm glad he is. What I hope is that he directs that anger at the right place. The run game has been limp; that's partly due to the amount of time that was devoted to installing the new system I'm sure but it is at least partly due to our o-line as well.

They deserve all the credit in the world for turning into better pass blockers than anyone here legitimately thought they would be but can't be mad at the coaches for putting the ball in the hands of a QB who is putting up numbers like Newton is when the running game has not seen the holes that we're used to materializing.

[jramsey4]

WTF is wrong with our run blocking? With Cam out there proving he can throw the ball our RB still have no holes to run through. Redzone or the 20 I saw no big holes open up all game. If we don't get this running game going Cam is going to take some lumps.

[Snake]

Run blocking works when your oline decides to move people the fug out the way not try too. I have seen more then one guy wiff on blocking.