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November 17, 2008
Panthers No. 6 In rushing -- and going higher?
After gaining a team single-game record of 264 yards on the ground in yesterday's win over Detroit, the Panthers have moved up to sixth in the NFL in rushing.
This follows precisely the pattern that was expected during the bye week -- that Carolina would load up on rushing yardage against Oakland and Detroit in back-to-back weeks because those teams have struggled all season to defend the run.
The Lions are now last (32nd) in the NFL vs. the run and Oakland is 30th. The Panthers also had a big day rushing against the No. 31 team, Kansas City.
Carolina's success isn't a fluke, however. The Panthers want to be good against the run and have a nice pair of running backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, plus a physical offensive line that was designed for strong run blocking.
There could be more big running days ahead. Though the Panthers play only teams with .500 records or better in the final six games, only one of them ranks in the top 10 in the league vs. the run, and three are in the bottom 11.
Here are how the defenses of the Panthers' next six opponents rank in run defense: Atlanta 22nd, Green Bay 28th, Tampa Bay 12th, Denver 26th, the New York Giants 8th, and New Orleans 19th.
-- Charles Chandler
Posted by Observer Sports on November 17, 2008 at 01:22 PM | Permalink
Comments
Interesting stats. Although stats don't mean everything, it is encouraging to know that our strength on offense could be a weakness of some pretty good teams we will play down the stretch. We know Foxy is loving that.
Posted by: Chris | Nov 17, 2008 2:52:03 PM
We've finally got the formula we want. Run all over them, and a solid defense! It's so much fun watching Williams and Stewart run WILD! Only a matter of time before this opens up HUGE gains downfield in the passing game.
Posted by: Jake | Nov 17, 2008 3:39:41 PM
The running is great, but Jake Delhomme sucks. He overthrows, underthrows, and tries to fit too much into too little spaces. If we are ever in a situation again (like in tampa bay) where they are successful at taking away the run and we have to rely on Jake, we are in serious trouble. Although i would hate to think about life with out him (like last year), i hate that he has been looking so terrible the last couple of games. SNAP OUT OF IT JAKE!!!!
Posted by: Chuck | Nov 17, 2008 5:01:55 PM
Yes...games like Arizona, Chicago, and Atlanta, where we ran for 114 yards or less. Oh...wait a minute? You mean Delhomme led us to wins in ALL of those games? Crazy. I guess Chuck doesn't know what he's talking about.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 17, 2008 6:36:48 PM
Procton, We should have let williams go and kept foster, I guess you dont know what you are talking about.
Posted by: Billy | Nov 17, 2008 8:10:04 PM
I agree with Chuck. Jake is not looking good - I think his arm is getting tired. Snap out of it!!!!
Posted by: kelso | Nov 17, 2008 8:18:11 PM
I love our offense as long as Jake is handing the ball off! Run the ball and stop the run...thats what wins Championships! Keep up the great job O-line,Williams, Stewart, and our Defense!!! Hopefully we can throw in a lil play-action every now and then and Jake wont kill us when the game is on the line! But if he does...we have to get a QB in the 2nd round of the draft or move up to get a QB worthy of moving up! Or put in Matt Moore...he wont throw 4 INT's in a game!!!
Posted by: duston | Nov 17, 2008 8:34:50 PM
Look for Carolina's offense to bounce back strong. They should be able to move the ball both through the air and on the ground.The Panthers will look to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to run the football quite a bit. BTW, saw some cool widgets at statbeast.com. Take a look!
Posted by: Bill Tsiu | Nov 17, 2008 8:41:13 PM
Our 3 byes are over and we start our season this Sunday in ATL.Our defense will hold Turner to under 50 yards,Johnson & Peppers will sack Ryan and our secondary will play hard and shut down their passing game.Now regarding our Offense...Jake will snap into playing his best,with playaction passes to our TE/RB's. Smith will catch several across the middle and even run some end arounds.We need this game and our Panthers will step up their play...Go Panthers !
Posted by: Patfan1 | Nov 17, 2008 9:26:56 PM
should we look at going to the Wildcat more often?
Posted by: Buck | Nov 18, 2008 12:52:01 AM
Nice comments patfan that's the attitude we need in Charlotte. Jake has had two bad games but there's no need to be worried. He'll be fine and if we need him to win us a game I am confident he'll do it especially playoff time. There's no one I'd rather have taking snaps down by six in the fourth quarter. Moose a Steve will be itchin for the ball too.
Posted by: niplets | Nov 18, 2008 1:56:39 AM
these are some excellent observations. what worries me, is that atlanta, and other upcoming teams have studied the game tape regarding how we lost to the succaneers, and look to do the same thing. i think the panthers need to draft a high quality, CONSISTENT QB for two reasons. we need to get a new guy to prepare to replace delhomme after the next 2 years, so that he can learn how to play like jake when jake is on fire. someone like aaron rodgers, for example. and secondly, jake plays best under pressure, so he would turn his game up notches knowing that a few terrible games might leave him on the bench...they should try and hold onto jake, but really we need a QB who is more like Beason when it comes to delivery...not another hit or miss backup.
Posted by: coward | Nov 18, 2008 2:44:15 AM
People kill me. He had a couple errant throws, a TE who ran a bad route and made him look bad, and at least two killer drops from the guys who SHOULD be the best WRs on the team, no turnovers at all, yet all the focus is on his 2-3 bad throws yesterday? Love it.
Posted by: DD | Nov 18, 2008 3:31:27 AM
I'm not going to defend Jake's performances over the past couple of weeks (although he really wasn't that bad against Detroit), except to point out that every year he's played for the Panthers, he's had 2-3 games, usually in the middle of the season, where he just goes wacky-bad. I don't know if it's physical wear, mental tiredness and lack of focus, or just law of averages, but there hasn't been one year since he got here (other than ones like last year, of course) where he hasn't just outright stunk for a couple of games.
In the past, it lead to things like 5 game losing streaks. This year, he had the good sense to have those games against two of the worst teams in the league, and in games where Smash and Dash ran wild, so we didn't even lose them.
The good news is, he always elevates his play for big games. So quit worrying, everyone.
Posted by: BullCityDog | Nov 18, 2008 7:50:08 AM
Don't worry about Atlanta seeing the tape. The previous two teams saw the tape, but still couldn't stop it. Now we all know that Atlanta will stack the box with anticipation that Jake can't throw accurately. However, we know that Jake typically does well in big games. I think this game is for the division. Tampa goes to detriot while we battle a division woe. It is a must win in my books.
I am happy that nfl analyst have us off the radar, that is when we do our best historically.
FIREFOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: FIREFOX | Nov 18, 2008 9:09:35 AM
...sort of like he did in the last game against Atlanta, when he passed for 2 TDs and nearly 300 yards?
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 18, 2008 10:15:47 AM
yeah dd and jake also overthrew a wide open rosario by 5 yards which would have been a td and still cant execute a screen pass or audible out of a 9 man front and is so dense he still has to read the plays off his wrist 6 years after he became the starter.
Posted by: ray | Nov 19, 2008 11:07:48 AM
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