Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams is having the breakout season team fans have been waiting for since 2003, the year Stephen Davis gained 1,444 yards as Carolina advanced to Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Williams has accumulated 782 yards on 153 carries and has scored six touchdowns, and he owns a 5.1 yards per carry average this season.
Just for comparison, consensus elite RB Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings has carried 225 times for 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns in 2008. AP has a 4.9 yards- per-carry average. Theoretically, if Williams had as many carries as Peterson, he would have 48 yards more than Peterson, in addition to several more touchdowns.
But Williams doesn't get as many carries as other starting running backs because he's in a platoon with rookie Jonathan Stewart. The pair forms a two-headed rushing monster.
Nevertheless, Williams is getting better every week.
At the beginning of the year, Williams was turning in poor performances against better run defenses.
He combined for 85 yards against the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, three teams well known for their stifling run defenses. Yes, I know—the Bears' run defense is terrible now. But there were unusual circumstances that made running on them tough in that game. And I'm not just saying that to make Williams look better.
But he was also tearing up porous run defenses, running for a combined 383 yards and five touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and Detroit Lions.
A key attribute to Williams' success is the offensive line.
In Week Two against the Bears, star Panthers receiver Steve Smith was serving the second game of a two-week suspension (we all know what for, but everything has been fine for a long time, so I won't go into that). That made it much easier for the Bears to stack eight in the box and focus almost entirely on stopping the run.
In addition, Panthers starting left guard Travelle Wharton didn't play that week because of a knee injury.
Essentially, the Panthers were missing a starter pivotal to the success of their running game as well as a notable figure in their passing game, which allowed a then-dominant run defense to stack the line of scrimmage, making it nearly impossible for an elusive back like Williams to have a respectable game.
As a result, he gained only 31 yards on 11 carries in the first half and was spelled by backup Jonathan Stewart at the beginning of the second half.
In Week Three against the Vikings, Carolina faced one of the NFL's most daunting rush defenses with Wharton out once again. Sure, it didn't help that Wharton sat out the game. But the real kicker was that the Vikings were 0-2 at that point and in real danger of dropping so far down that they would be playing catch-up the rest of the season if they were going to have a shot at making the playoffs.
Thus, Minnesota came out with a fire that only a team trying to save their season would have. Needless to say that that extra competitiveness and adrenaline only made their defense better, namely their run defense.
Carolina's offensive line got severely overmatched and couldn't open any holes for Williams to run through, and nobody could have successfully juked five defenders rapidly converging in wave. So Williams only picked up 27 yards on 10 carries.
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about 1 month ago
very nice! i don't think he will pass Davis' record, however, because he would have to average about 110ypg for the rest of the season. We still have to play Tampa and New York, and while he could very well gain 110 against the other four opponents, those will be toughies! It's possible, though!
And you're right, we've been waiting for this for a long time. With a coaching staff and a playbook that's so dedicated to the run--even when they don't have the proper pieces *coughcoughdeshaunfostercoughcough*--it's comforting to know we have somebody back there now who can get the job done! actually two guys!
good article man POTD
from about 1 month ago
I don't think he will break Davis' record, either. As you said, those games against the Bucs and Giants will be tough games to run successfully in. But he could make up for some of that against the awful defenses we will face, like Denver and New Orleans'. Never say die, I guess, and for some reason now I've got a feeling that he will break it. Logic says otherwise, but so far my instincts have proven right.
Stewart and Williams are more or less the same dynamic player now. Both have great speed, agility, and elusiveness (yes, I think even Stewart is somewhat elusive), and can muscle through tackles and drag piles. With Delhomme under center and a bigger, more physical offensive line in addition to the two great running backs, along with Smitty and Moose at receiver, we have perhaps the best offense we've ever had.
Thanks for the Pick vote!
from about 1 month ago
stewart and williams are about even now, i would say too. there is no drop off when they sub and that's invaluable for any team. i second your notion that we have perhaps the best 'O' we have ever had!
hopefully they can produce in these last 6 games like we have seen that they can.
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