Are the Panthers transitioning into a balanced offense?

by Son of a Newton on Jan 21, 2012 3:01 PM EST

Over the course of the year Panther fans grew accustomed to big passing days, and success through the air from Cam Newton. And the sense that emanates from many Panther fans is that the Panthers have transformed into a passing offense similar to the vestiges of Detroit, New Orleans, New England, and Green Bay. However, the numbers have shown that the Panthers are not becoming an Air it out offense; moreover, the Panthers have morphed into a hybrid Air Coryell offense with a smattering of the Option, that garners its prosperity from the success of the run game.

First off, we'll look at the stats. The Panthers finished the season with 2,408 rushing yards (3rd in the NFL). The Panther's achieved this numerical superlative behind the legs of Deangelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, and Cam Newton. This three headed monster became the first ever trio to rush for over 700 yards on the same team. Furthermore, the Panthers achieved this stat on only 445 attempts (13th in the NFL). This juxtaposition of attempts to rushing yards afforded the Panthers 5.4 Yards Per Rush, good enough for the best in the NFL. In comparison of wins and losses, the Panthers averaged 180 yards per game in winning efforts, while in losses the Panthers averaged 132 yards per game.

As a collation we'll take a look Cam Newton and the Passing numbers. Cam finished the year with 4,055 yards passing (10th in the NFL). The Panthers also finished with 519 passing attempts (23rd in the NFL) combining for 239 yards per game (13th in the NFL). In fact, over the last 6 games of the year, Cam only averaged 25 attempts a game for 194 YPG. In that stretch the Panthers rushed the ball 31 times per game for 188 YPG. During those 6 games, the Panthers finished 4-2.

As the season wore on, the Panthers became more balanced between the Pass Game and the Running Game, and the wins piled up for the Panthers. I attribute all of the preceding stats to NFL.com, and Panthers.com

Rushing Numbers

Panther's schedule

The content of these posts are those of the user/fan making the post only

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Good info

Now if we can get the defense sorted out and have them playing effectively.

Integrity first. Service before self. Excellence in all you do. -- USAF Core Values

by Disciple of Carolina on Jan 21, 2012 3:08 PM EST reply actions

The Panthers not only led the league in Rushing Average, per play, but also...

In Rushing TDs, with 26
1st Down , with 31.2

of 20+ yd rushing plays, with 24

and in fumbles lost, with an amazing THREE!

by bigdavis on Jan 21, 2012 5:59 PM EST reply actions

That should read "# of 20+ yd rushing plays."

by bigdavis on Jan 21, 2012 6:00 PM EST reply actions

great post

However, I don’t think this is a transition really. I think it was the plan all along. Proir to this year BAMF talked about being balanced, not one dimentional, and being able to attack in the running and passing games. Also Chud and BAMF kept emphasizing early in the season that the running game was coming along slowly bc the coaching staff focused a lot on getiing Cam acclamated to the pro passing game in the shortened offseason. Chud said the running game was going to get better as the line got more reps in pads and in game situations. My apologiy for not siting the exact article but I want to say it was around midseason in a press conference these statements were made. Any1 else remember this?

In Cam I trust! In BAMF & Big Cat we believe!

by my2centz on Jan 21, 2012 6:09 PM EST reply actions

RR has said several times

That they were trying to accelerate Cam’s learning curve as much as possible and that’s why we threw so many times early on.

"Beer, both the cause of and solution to all of life's little problems." - Homer Simpson

by Kris Mynatt on Jan 22, 2012 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

This is what really really excites me about next year

This team played the majority of the past year with one hand behind its back. Short offseason, and with a coaching staff more focused on developing talent than on winning games.

Imagine what next year will be like with the system fully installed and with the team finally re-focused on winning.

can’t wait.

by Floods on Jan 22, 2012 3:07 PM EST up reply actions

No.

They’re already a balanced offense.

by pantheredgar on Jan 21, 2012 7:43 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

yes and for good reason they are so well equiped to do it good job Hurney

They werent running enough early but turned that around. I myself still didnt get why they werent running it more at the end of the year but then realized that the attempts were about the same the yards per had gone up and there is only so much time in an nfl game. I just lost track of time as I enjoyed watching them play offense so much this season.

by allthatremainsstillowns on Jan 21, 2012 7:48 PM EST reply actions

Oh and hopefully we only scratched the surface!

by TheWhite Mamba on Jan 21, 2012 10:54 PM EST up reply actions

I love our offense

We can run when we have a lead and we can pass when we are down.

by PantherFan1 on Jan 21, 2012 11:10 PM EST reply actions

Or...we can do WTF we want, whenever we want.

Try and stop it.

Just try.

by bigdavis on Jan 22, 2012 12:40 AM EST up reply actions

Pretty much as long as...

Cam is happy. Only frustrated Cam gets in his way (e.g, Tennessee, 2nd half @ New Orleans). I hope he learns from last year!

by pantheredgar on Jan 22, 2012 9:06 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

+1

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Jan 22, 2012 12:07 PM EST up reply actions

absolutely!

coach rivera even said on his show one week that they had thrown everything at newton early in order for him to pick up the offense. believe he called it “baptism by fire.” once they integrated the running game around the middle of the season, cam became more efficient. (stands to reason with defenders caught between coming up or moving back). i think we’re becoming a team that could run for 250+ and kill a team if they try to bring db’s out, and throw right over their heads for 300+ if they try to crowd the box. everything you could want. now the d and special teams need to shape up enough to keep opponents around 30 points (or even under when we’re running the ball) and we can win 12 games and host a playoff game NEXT YEAR. it could happen.

by bylinebrown on Jan 22, 2012 1:13 AM EST reply actions

A good balanced O is a like a boxer who knows to attak high and low.

Fox’s run first mentality was a constant pounding of body shots that when healthy could wear down any oppoint however stagnation set in and we got caught without an arm to rely on.

The Pass first Martz style mentality is like throwing haymakers all night long. Entertaining as all get out and some nights you get the knockout other nights you get knocked out.
The best championship boxer/team not only speaks of balance but lives it so heres to the Panthers sucess.

I am a proud supporter of troll hunting.

by bigred28655 on Jan 22, 2012 1:18 AM EST reply actions 2 recs