3Rd Greatest Rushing Attack In Nfl History?

[CRA]

You could argue the 2011 Panthers were the 3rd best ground attack of the Superbowl era. Carolina averaged a league leading and impressive 5.4 yards per carry as a team. Based on Cold Hard Football Facts list of the greatest teams until 2007 and what occurred since....our Panther team would place 3rd in the Superbowl era on their list.

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/11_1700_The_great_ground_attacks.html

I have seen several comments in the million DWil/Stewart threads list the potential to become the greatest rushing attack of all time is a reason to keep the duo together. So I ask....is that something NFL history shows would be a good thing?

Since 2006 - 7 teams have averaged at least 5 yards per carry as a team. So that brings the count to 25 teams during the Superbowl era have averaged 5.0 yards per carry or better. When looking at the 5 yard per carry teams (25)

12 of those 25 teams had winning records.

The 25 teams combined for 6 playoff wins

0 Superbowl wins

Seems the elite passing teams have faired much better than the elite rushing teams in the Superbowl era. Without doing the research of adding in 2007 to present day to their figures.....they already account for 5 Superbowl wins based of the criteria used.

[number28]

winning is all that matters.

trade stewart, or let him walk.

[chknwing]

[Ivan The Awesome]

So you're suggesting that we will never win a super bowl?

[Jangler]

so you are saying there's a chance.

[panthers90]

Cut Cam! his 5.6 YPC is really bringing our avg up.

[PhillyB]

we were also a top ten passing attack in 2011, something the majority of those top running attacks couldn't claim.

that's why i'm an advocate of keeping stewart, as he's clearly one of the central cogs that keeps this juggernaut running. given the way the league has transformed, i'm more than happy having more of our salary cap tied into offensive playmakers than defense.

[CRA]

So you're suggesting that we will never win a super bowl?

No merely pointing out the greatest rushing teams during the Superbowl era haven't done much....just pointing out being the best on the ground hasn't worked to get anyone a ring.

[Ivan The Awesome]

No merely pointing out the greatest rushing teams during the Superbowl era haven't done much....just pointing out being the best on the ground hasn't worked to get anyone a ring.

You sure fooled me. With all this evidence you have offered, I would surely go out on a limb and say you do not believe we will win a super bowl with our running back stable. This isn't even including Cam, who runs as well.

The way I see it, we will break the mold in the next 3 years.

[CRA]

we were also a top ten passing attack in 2011, something the majority of those top running attacks couldn't claim.

that's why i'm an advocate of keeping stewart, as he's clearly one of the central cogs that keeps this juggernaut running. given the way the league has transformed, i'm more than happy having more of our salary cap tied into offensive playmakers than defense.

Not sure we were a top 10 passing attack

I think balance is key though...

But if you could choose to dominate in one aspect wouldn't we prefer to build a great passing attack based off recent NFL history and during the Superbowl era?

[CRA]

You sure fooled me. With all this evidence you have offered, I would surely go out on a limb and say you do not believe we will win a super bowl with our running back stable. This isn't even including Cam, who runs as well.

The way I see it, we will break the mold in the next 3 years.

I think Cam can be one of the greatest of all time and win multiple rings. I just don't think building a super backfield is the means to aid him. The greatest attacks in league history haven't gotten anyone a ring.... have barely aided a QB in just winning playoff games.

[panthers55]

we were also a top ten passing attack in 2011, something the majority of those top running attacks couldn't claim.

that's why i'm an advocate of keeping stewart, as he's clearly one of the central cogs that keeps this juggernaut running. given the way the league has transformed, i'm more than happy having more of our salary cap tied into offensive playmakers than defense.

Obviously whether or not a team rushes for 5 yards a carry is unrelated to winning playoffs or Superbowls. But that has little to do with whether or not we should keep Stewart or continue to develop our running game. As you noted, we also had a top 10 passing offense (6th in yards per attempt).

Lets look at teams that had a top 10 passing game and 10 ten rushing attack and see if any teams in the last 5 years won the Superbowl. Seems to me new Orleans fits that bill.

But I think the much bigger issue here is whether a team had a top defense especially in the playoffs. Teams can get the playoffs with a good offense or defense but to win a Superbowl you need offense, defense and specials teams to all step up. When we develop a top defense then we will be playoff bound. Obviously just a good offense rarely gets you in the playoffs unless it is Patriotesque.

[panthers90]

I just don't think building a super backfield is the means to aid him.

Less defenders playing the pass will definetly aid him.

[cotblock]

Out of 46 Super Bowl Champions, only 3 of them passed for 4000 yds. So obviously, since Super Bowl Champions tend to rush for fewer than 5 yds/carry and throw for fewer than 4000 yds/year, our offense was just too damned efficient last year. It's all Chud's fault! Fire him now!