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November 17, 2007
Davidson: Lots of reasons for offensive woes
With Carolina's offense struggling to score points, another reporter and I walked off the practice field Thursday with first-year offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson and talked about some of the team's difficulties.
Davidson, like Dan Henning before him, has caught some heat with the Panthers having scored two offensive TDs in their past three games. But he wasn't offering excuses. He did say that all the changes at quarterback have prevented the team from moving much beyond a basic offensive scheme, and that he's regularly thinking of ways to get the ball to wide receiver Steve Smith.
But he refused to blame any one player or thing for Carolina's scoring problems.
"I think that where we are offensively is not about any one guy," Davidson said. "Every approach we've had to each play is, we've got 11 guys who have to perform better. So whether it's an offensive lineman blocking a little bit longer, a receiver running a cleaner route, the ball being delivered better, all those things come into play.
"There is no one thing that we have to put our finger on that's been an issue. It's been a number of things; we've got to clean 'em up and we work on them each day.
"I would say that inconsistency is a word that we've used a number of times. It's unfortunate, but that is where we are right now. We have to ways to get ourselves out of that, and it starts with me." -- Stan Olson
Posted by Observer Sports on November 17, 2007 at 12:32 AM | Permalink
Comments
A lot of the usual coach mumbo-jumbo, but you have to appreciate his willingness to hold himself accountable.
Way to man-up, Jeff.
Posted by: hillbilly | Nov 17, 2007 1:29:27 AM
I didn't see anything there about play selection. When the opposing team's defense knows you're either going to run the ball straight into the line or pass the ball behind the line of scrimmage, they pack 10 people in the box. You've got to at least pretend you're going to go long occasionally. Now Smith is so frustrated he has developed a mysterious "shin injury" and is no longer practicing. We won't win another game if we don't do something differently. So, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY!
Posted by: unclejim | Nov 17, 2007 6:32:17 AM
how bad does cleveland miss you jeff?
Posted by: hmmmmmm | Nov 17, 2007 9:56:37 AM
You know, I've followed the panthers since they started. I was loyal during those tough losing seasons but my loyalty is now fully tested as I watch a team that dosen't seem to want a championship. It seems as though ownership and management are jumping over dollars to save pennies. Look at New England. They go out and get Moss and others to ensure a winning season. And guess what, those dollars spent will bring huge returns and superbowl rings. The difference; I wouldn't even buy a panthers jersey right now.
Posted by: Scott | Nov 17, 2007 12:50:27 PM
As long as D. Foster is the starting running- back, this offense will be one of the worst in the NFL. Until we have a back that can consistently get 4 yards on first down then Steve Smith will continue to be a non factor.
Posted by: bill | Nov 17, 2007 1:55:13 PM
I think the offensive woes really belong to John Fox and Marty Hurney for the inefectiveness of the team overall, but especially for the offense. Sure one can blame individuals position by position. Problem is the problem is more general than that. John Fox plays an extremely conservative offensive game-plan. Which isn't bad really. A balanced run-pass offense eats up the clock and time the other team's offense is on the field, it wears down their defense physically, and it makes it more difficult to defend against. But it also needs a strong, stead, and reliable "downhill" running back. A "North-South" attack guy like Steven Davis was. A back the line can rely upon to hit holes, no matter how brief or small, and puck up 5 yards dragging five tacklers along with him. While Davis was in his prive the Panthers went to the Super Bowl and Fox looked like a genious. But without Davis the POanthers have foundered ever since. DeShaun Foster is not a "North-South" guy. He is too easily brought down and he (as in his collegiate days) still has a propensity to fumble the ball. Deangelo Williams is more a scat-back running back, and very good at it. But just sending him straight up the middle into a pile of 350 lb pile of defensive linemen doesn't make sense. Nor is he a threat in that role.
Marty Hurney and Fox (or his succesor nowadays) need to get some stability and reliability to the running game if the Panthers are to become good again, much less a threat offensively. The shopping list at most of the offensive positions is long, and yet this past year they (Fox and Hurney) sat on their hands and did nothing. And now the Panthers (and us fans) are paying the price for their idleness.
Injuries as an excuse? Sure, a nice excuse. But excuses don't put W's in the win column either.
Maybe Jerry Richardson should start talking with Bill Cowher. I mean he only lives now over in Raleigh. And that guys jawbone alone scares hell out of anyone. ;-)
Posted by: donatello | Nov 17, 2007 2:35:43 PM
Let me see, Mr. Jawbone won one superbowl in what 50 years with the same team? If we would of had some of the running backs he had, I think John Fox would have at least 2 superbowls in what 5 years.
Bill Cowher is not the answer. Get over it.
Posted by: pslholder | Nov 17, 2007 4:42:01 PM
WHO BLAMED JEFF DAVIDSON FOR THIS HORRIBLE PERFORMANCE?
WE DIDNT
WE ALL BLAMED FOX
CAUSE THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WITH HENNING IS HAPPENING THIS YEAR
THAT MEANS ITS FOX
LISTEN U CANT FOOL US!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Makaveli | Nov 17, 2007 5:09:44 PM
Glad makaveli got his comments in!
Posted by: what the heck | Nov 17, 2007 8:54:43 PM
makaveli is an idiot!
Posted by: what the heck | Nov 17, 2007 8:55:31 PM
my dick really itches. can one of you fools scratch it for me?
Posted by: SYRPIS | Nov 18, 2007 9:14:11 AM
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