Black & Gold Xs & Os: New Orleans Saints' Defensive Gameplan vs. Carolina

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After watching the past four games the Carolina Panthers have played, it is very clear their offense is very good at one thing—running the football—and not so good at another—throwing it.

Anyone probably could have said the same thing, without breaking down the Panthers previous four games.

I hope to give you some more patterns and tendencies to watch for on Sunday afternoon.

One of those is that the Panthers routinely run the football on first down. I don't have an actual percentage but I would say at least 60 percent of the time. The other 40 percent is made up of primarily play-action and some quick dropback passes.

When they use play-action on first down, about 90 percent of the time they are trying to get an explosive play down the field, and most of the time they are trying to hit Steve Smith. He runs a lot of "Go Routes" and Deep Posts, as well as some Deep Ins (Digs).

The other main form of play-action the Panthers will use is a bootleg where they generally hit a tight end or back out of the backfield in the flat.

I should have noted previously that the Panthers line up probably 98 percent of the time on first down with either 21, 22, or 12 personnel. In order, that is two backs and one tight end, two backs and two tight ends, and one back with two tight ends.

This is relevant because it gives them the bulk and strength to block teams in the run game. They use a lot of I-Formations and offset-I to run the ball.

They also use the Ace (from 12 personnel) sets to run the ball. Either way, it forces eight defenders in the box, which is when the play-action threat becomes most dangerous.

It is also common for the Panthers to use pretty much the same alignments and play concepts on second down.

It seems fair to say that after Monday night's game, and the success the Panthers have had in recent weeks, that the Panthers will focus mostly on the running game, especially early in the game, and for as long as they are able to stay close.

One other set they have shown in recent weeks, on any D & D (down and distance), is a bunch formation—three eligible receivers to one side of the formation, all within about one yard of each other.

They use this primarily to out-man one side of the defense and really power the ball to that side.

But they also love the inside zone, which goes off tackle, or off guard. They also will run a zone cut play, where they slant the entire line to one side, hand off that way, but send their fullback the other way. The back then cuts and runs back that way through a huge hole.

Additionally, the Panthers have two different types of toss plays. On one, they simply zone block—again where they all slant to the side the ball is going.

The other is the more traditional toss play, where a guard pulls to the side of the toss, hoping to take out a filling linebacker or safety.

In addition to blocking well in the running game, the Panthers have two outstanding backs. That really is the key to their being a very good running team.

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are among the best in the game as a tandem. Both have good power and speed.

Both are blazing fast when they get out in the open field. But what makes both of them so dynamic, simply as runners, is their ability to press the line of scrimmage, and then quickly get outside with great speed.

Both cut very quickly on those zone cut plays. Both catch the ball out of the backfield very well, and this is really a tremendous weapon for the Panthers offense. But, neither is great in pass protection. That is where they can be had.

When the Panthers come across a third down, they become slightly more exotic, both personnel-wise and formation-wise. They will use 10, 11, 12, and 21 groupings in this situation. 11—three receivers, one tight end, and one back—is their most common grouping on these downs.

They often will go with 3x1 formations (three receivers to one side of the formation, one to the other) and that lone ranger is often Steve Smith. By doing this, they are hoping to get him matched up one-on-one.

They know if you help with a safety or LB that they then have a man advantage on the other side. In my opinion it is worth it, since no one else is really going to burn you very often.

Much like Atlanta

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