Carolina Panthers: Five Plays Defenses Must Stop

The Carolina Panthers boasted a trio of the NFL’s most effective offensive weapons in 2008—running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and wide receiver Steve Smith.

Those three Panthers accounted for more than 70 percent of the NFC South Champions’ offense, and offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson and head coach John Fox found plenty of ways to get them the pigskin.

Here is just a small sample of the Panthers’ most effective offensive plays.

5. Ace Backfield, Three-wide Set: WR Motion Right, Play-action Screen Left to Williams

With three wide receivers on the field, opposing defenses must commit at least three—usually four—defenders to them (Smith deserves double teams on every snap), leaving an over-matched linebacker or safety (in nickel sets) to cover Williams.

Motion from the wide receiver gets the defense looking one way, and after play-action Williams slips to the opposite flats where he often is wide open. Once Jake Delhomme gets him the ball in the open field, defenses have their hands full trying to bring him down.

4. Three-wide Set: Streak to Smith

It’s pretty sad when two guys can’t cover one. It’s even sadder when the play is all but a Hail Mary. But that’s just what the Panthers do. They send Smith deep—sometimes utilizing play action, other times not—and have Delhomme heave it as far as he can. More often than not, the pint-sized Smith goes up and gets the ball for big gains. If anyone in the NFL could cover the wide receiver out of Utah, you’d likely see less and less of this play. That said, look to see it a lot throughout the 2009 season.

3. Three-wide Set (Smith on One Side, Two Receivers on The Other): Smith Motion in, Play-action, Fake Streak, Outside Bend to Smith

When receivers are as dangerous going down the middle as Smith is, it’s easy for defenders to assume he won’t be heading anywhere else once he’s sprinting downfield.

Fatal mistake.

Once defenders—yes, the plural—commit, Smith bends his route toward the sideline with one plant on his inside foot, leaving defenders scrambling to catch up.

They don’t…at least not until Smith has a 30-plus-yard grab. And if there isn’t a defender within five or so yards—which is the case quite a bit—don’t look for Smith to stop until he reaches the end zone.

2. Goal-line Set: Isolation to Stewart off Tackle

When the Panthers get inside the 10-yard line, it’s Jonathan Stewart time—even more so when they’re inside the five.

In these situations, the Panthers don’t sissy-foot around. They line up the big guys and essentially say, “Go ahead, try and stop us from putting Stewart in the end zone.”

Ask Tampa Bay how that worked out. The Bucs gave up a two- and four-yard score to Stewart in week 14. Of Stewart’s 10 touchdowns in 2008, seven came from inside the five-yard line—and another from the eight.

1. I-Formation: Wide Receiver (Smith) Motion In, off-tackle to Williams

The Panthers take advantage of two different strengths in this play—Smith’s uncanny blocking ability and Williams’ open-field savvy.

Using the motion to build some pre-snap momentum, Smith is able to crack block the opposing linebacker and open up an outside running lane for Williams, who knows just what to do with lots of green in front of him.

This play accounted for 57 yards and a touchdown (16 yards) on two attempts against Tampa Bay in week 14.

Honorable Mention

Pro set: play action, pass to Smith across the middle
Special teams: Smith punt return
Ace backfield: WR motion in, quick toss to Williams