Suggested Panther Playbook for Utilizing Armanti Edwards

There's electricity in the air in Charlotte and all across Panther fandom.

For the first time, the Panthers have another playmaker and game changer at WR besides Steve Smith.

But, unfortunately there's a couple of problems.

First, even though AE threw for over 10,000 yards and rushed for over 4000 yards, and showcased a natural talent as good as any college player in the 2010 draft while a QB at App. St., he hasn't actually caught a pass in a game in like 5 years.

So far though, and albeit only through OTA's, he's getting rave reviews about his transition from QB to WR from the media and his fellow teammates. He's got too much football savy and football intelligence for this to be a problem.

Second, AE got drafted by a team that traditionally runs one of the most conservative offenses in the NFL and there is a question about how to utilize his talents and get him on the field.

There are a multitude of ways to utilize AE to make the Carolina Panthers a better football team. AE's natural talents can be utilized as a punt returner, kickoff returner, wide receiver and Wilcat QB.

Jeff Davidson and John Fox should be adding plays to the playbook to utilize AE's talents. I think it would be fun for us here at CSR to do their jobs for them. I've come up with a few plays I'd really like to see from the Panthers this year. All utilize AE and get him the ball where he can do some damage.

Let's take a look at what I came up with after the jump, and you can join in as well...

1. Pro Right Slot Left 28 Delay Dig YSeam X10 Z6 39 Delay Swing Pass

This play is designed to get AE the ball in the middle of the field in space. On the snap, Moore will be reading the Mike. The seam route by Barnidge will 95% of the time pull the Mike and the Sam toward the seam. AE takes a few lazy strides upfield and explodes on a 4-5 yard dig and will be open across the middle under the backers. If the Mike stays home and drifts to the middle of the field, the seam should be open, if the Sam jumps the seam, Barnidge runs a secondary out. The stop and go chair route will be the third read. Another great advantage to this play is the delay swing route will almost always be open as a check down.

2. Pro Right T 4Swing X4 3Counter5 YArrow Z6 Pass

This play is designed to get AE the ball on the outside of the field in space. On the snap, Moore will be reading the Will. If the Will moves horizontally or stays home, the swing is immediate getting AE the ball quickly. If the Will runs hard at the swing route, the medium comeback route should be open behind him. Goodson running the slant corner should hold the Free Safety in the middle of the field. As the third read, if the FS slides toward Smitty, no MLB in the league will cover Goodson that deep. If the FS stays and is deeper than the out, that is the breakoff route.

3. Trips Right X Left Shotgun 2Scissor Z5 YDig X8 3Swing

Another play designed to get AE open in the middle of the field in space. On the snap, LaFell and Smitty releasing deep will commit the SS deeper and to one side of the field and take the FS with Smitty. Goodson running the swing will move the Will toward the flats. Jarrett's dig will commit the inside CB to him and will move the Mike to the left. Moore will be following Jarret and reading the Mike. As soon as Jarrett crosses AE's face, he runs an arrow route, the first part of the scissor to commit the outside CB, if the Mike is going with Jarrett a pump fake by Moore should set the CB up nicely and move him forward. AE then completes the scissor either crosses the face or cuts behind the CB and should be wide open in the seam. If the Mike moves toward the flat to help with the trips and covers up the seam, Moore reads the SS, if he commits to Smittys side, LaFell. If he moves straight back or commits to LaFell's side, Smitty can abuse the FS in a number of ways.

4. Pro Right Slot Left 29 Rip Layer In's X8 39 Arrow Pass

This play primarily uses AE as a decoy to pull the Mike forward to open up a zone behind him. AE goes in motion and on the snap immediately curls around the DE and runs a 4 yard dig route. Moore will be reading the Mike. If the Mike jumps the dig route, Moore will read the over/under on the Safety. If the Safety is deeper than the deep in, the short in will be open. If the safety jumps the short in, the deep in will be open. If the Mike slides back and toward the initial seam by Barnidge, BINGO, we got AE in the middle of the field in space, as the Will should be down to cover DeAngelo out of the backfield.

5. Pro Left Splits 28 Rip Reverse Pass Z8 Y7 X0 3Swing

It's time to show off AE's arm, this is the Home Run play. AE goes in motion and on the snap loops around and takes a handoff from Moore on a fake reverse, and pulls up to pass. If the FS crosses the line of scrimmage, Stewart seals the back side, if not contines on his route. Barnidge and Jarrett shadow block for a second to sell the reverse then release on their routes. Gross takes the DE toward the sideline while Wharton seals to the inside. The key is Smitty faking a block on the Corner then blowing by him on the post. The TE post-corner should hold the SS leaving Smitty open for the deep post. If the SS smells a rat and releases toward Smitty, he can break off to a corner route. If the SS commits to Smitty, the post-corner by Barnidge should be open. Either way, this equals BIG PLAY. If all the receivers sell the fake, all 3 should be open, along with Stewart in the middle and Moore on the swing.

This play can be ran out of the exact same set with AE keeping the ball on the reverse, reading Gross and Wharton to determine where to cut it up, inside or outside.

6. Pro Right Slot Left Fake 32 Dive Delay Drag 28Rip 1 Y5 XDig

Showing off the arm again. Is he going to handoff, run, or pass? LaFell starts in motion. On the snap, AE fakes the 32 dive to Goodson. The play fake should hold the LB's giving Rosario room to get past the Sam. AE will be reading the SS on the over/under corner post routes. If Rosario gets by the SAM the SS will have to commit to the TE, and Smitty should be open on the deep post. If the SS drops back on the post, the TE corner should be open over top of the Mike. Jarrett and LaFell running intersecting routes should hold the Will and Mike relatively deep. Goodson will move into the interior and run a drag on a thousand one, thousand two, thousand three delay and should be wide open as a checkdown.

Well, those are a few I'd like to see from the Panthers this year. If you'd like to play along I've inserted a template below and instructions (for those who need it) on how to save, manipulate and insert your play in a comment. You can use it, or come up with one of your own, or whatever you want to add.

To save the template, right click on the template and select "Save Picture As", name it and remember where it's saved.

To manipulate your play, click Windows Start > All Programs > Accessories > Paint   (or another program if you prefer)

Once open, on the menu line of Paint, click Image > Resize/Skew and change the Resize Horizontal and Vertical to 150%, it will make it much easier to manipulate. You can use the Select button on the left and drag a box around a player to highlight that player and drag them where you want them pre snap. Hint: make the box as small as possible around the O or defensive player. You can use the Line button on the left to draw routes. You can add player numbers and read numbers with the Text button. Hint: use size 8 and create them in the endzone, use Select and drag them where you want them.

Remember, if you screw up on anything use Edit > Undo and try again.

Once your play is complete. Go back to Image > Resize/Skew and change the Resize Horizontal and Vertical to 75%. Uploading to photobucket.com is the easiest way to save them for uploading to CSR.  

If we get some good ones, I may email the whole thread to Jeff Davidson and John Fox.