Cam Newton Needs to Become the Focal Point of the Panthers' Running Game

The Carolina Panthers were hopeful that this season would bring with it significant improvements both offensively and in the NFC South standings, but after six weeks the Panthers find themselves with only one win and a head coach on the hot seat.

Coming out of the bye week, Carolina sits in the NFC South cellar at 1-4 with many already writing off the 2012 season as a lost cause. But Rivera isn't buying that, telling the Associated Press (via The Washington Post) that the team spent some of the week off taking a long hard look at themselves.

"“[We need to] put players in good position to make plays” and players need to “step up and make plays. It goes hand in hand,” Rivera said."

One area where the Panthers desperately need to improve is running the ball. Granted, the Panthers rank a respectable 13th in the National Football League in rushing, averaging 114 yards a game, but given how much of their salary cap is tied up in tailbacks, the Panthers should be near the top of the NFL, not mired in the middle.

Sure, some of the responsibility for Carolina's running game likely lies with injuries and poor play along the offensive front, but running backs DeAngelo Williams, Mike Tolbert and Jonathan Stewart deserve their share of the blame as well. The trio have combined to average fewer than 3.7 yards a carry this year.

Maybe the spark that the Panthers' running game needs lies with the player who has the highest average per carry on the ground this season.

Second-year quarterback Cam Newton.

Predictions of a sophomore slump for Newton have come true and then some, with the 23-year-old's offensive numbers down across the board from the pace he set a year ago.

It may not have been reasonable to expect 14 rushing touchdowns from Newton again in 2012, but the fact of the matter is, defenses appeared to have adjusted to Newton compared to last season, containing him between the tackles and forcing him to beat teams with his arm.

The Panthers need to jump-start the offense, and to do so, they should look back to their lone win of the season, a Week 2 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

In that game, according to Pat Yasinkas of ESPN, the Panthers ran the ball 41 times, gashing the Saints for well over 200 yards. Twenty-three of those plays were read-option calls.

The result? An eight-point win for the Panthers.

I'll freely admit that I'm not a huge fan of the read-option at the NFL level, but when you have a 245-pound quarterback with Newton's wheels, it suddenly becomes a much more viable offensive option that keeps Carolina's suspect defense off the field.

So, regardless of the money the team has sunk into Williams and Stewart, it's time for the tailbacks to take a backseat to Newton on the ground. Run the the read option through him, and let him decide whether to pitch or plow.

Who knows, maybe it will not only jump-start the Carolina ground game, but Newton's 2012 season as well.

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