Will we be able to run the ball effectively this season?

RB Williams thrilled with changes to Carolina’s offensive scheme
By Steve Reed
CHARLOTTE — When running back DeAngelo Williams heard about the changes to Carolina’s offensive scheme, he was excited. When he finally opened his playbook, he was ecstatic.
“I was like, ‘Yeah! Oh yeah, yeah, yeaaaah!” Williams said.

What Williams saw inside his playbook was obviously to his liking.
He’d read in the newspapers that new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson would be implementing a zone blocking scheme on offense and running more screen plays his predecessor Dan Henning, but was a little hesitant to believe it until he saw the playbook. When he saw the plays, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm.

“I’m excited about the offense altogether because it’s identical to the offense we ran in Memphis,” Williams said. “We threw a lot of screen passes to the running backs and we ran the outside and inside zone plays. We did the one-back power, things like that. It’s just like the offense at Memphis, but with some different terminology.”

If Williams produces anything like he did in college, that’s good news for the Panthers.
Williams finished his four-year career at Memphis as the NCAA Division 1-A leader with 7,573 all-purpose yards, breaking the previous mark of 7,206 held by Ricky Williams of Texas. He gained more than 6,000 yards on the ground, a feat accomplished only by three others backs — Tony Dorsett, Ron Dayne and Ricky Williams.

He also put up an NCAA record 34 100-yard games during his career, all of which prompted the Panthers to select him in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft.
Williams ran for 501 yards as a rookie last year, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and had 33 catches for 313 yards and scored two touchdowns last season under Henning.
Williams is expected to again split time with DeShaun Foster in the backfield again this year, but it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that he could take over as the starter this season if he excels in this familiar offense.

Foster declined comment on the new system.
The zone-blocking scheme, in particular, has Williams excited because it allows him to use his vision to pick a hole. The Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos have both had great success with the scheme over the years and more than a dozen teams have already switched to it. Carolina made the switch, according to head coach John Fox, not because of Williams or Foster, but to better utilize their athleticism on the offensive line.

“If you look at it, this is what the entire NFL is shifting to because of the backs that are coming out of college are accustomed to it,” Williams said. “The colleges are teaching it to the kids at a younger age.”

Williams believes the new blocking scheme is a no-lose situation for him.
“The fact that no matter what the defense does, they’re wrong,” Williams said. “In a zone-blocking scheme, what it all boils down to is you pick your own hole.

“It’s more about vision than quickness because if you can’t see the hole you can’t get there no matter what you do. It basically boils down to your vision. It opens the field up a lot too. If they are a worried about someone with the ball and what hole they are going to choose. It’s like chess, if you choose the wrong hole, it’s checkmate.”

 

Panthers to build offense around Smith

By Mike Cranston, AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One of the most baffling aspects of the Carolina Panthers' disappointing season was the inability to get the ball to Steve Smith. The problem led to the firing of offensive coordinator Dan Henning and the release of Keyshawn Johnson, who was brought in to prevent teams from double- and triple-teaming Smith.
Now there's a new offensive coordinator in Jeff Davidson. And after only two days of minicamp, he's installed an offense that puts Smith in motion more.

"All the new wrinkles, they're interesting," Smith said Saturday. "If you want to compare it, it's like sitting in coach and then moving up to first class."

Smith's criticism of Henning came despite Henning constantly talking about "feeding the stud." That's how he described Smith, who led the NFL with 103 catches for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdown in 2005 -- with Henning calling the plays. But Seattle was able to beat Carolina in the NFC championship game by using constant double and triple teams to shut down Smith.

Johnson caught 70 balls last season, but Smith wasn't as dominating. He missed the first two games with a hamstring injury and finished with 20 fewer catches, 400 fewer receiving yards and four fewer touchdowns in a season that ended 8-8 for Carolina.

In their four-game losing streak late in the season that knocked them out of the playoff race, Smith didn't have a 100-yard receiving game. Next season, Smith may have to go back to carrying the Panthers' receiving game after Johnson's sudden release.

"I was surprised," said Smith, who at 28 most likely will be the oldest receiver on the regular-season roster. "Obviously, we've got to get these young guys prepared and get them to step in line and step up to the task at hand, which is being a professional at a relatively young age in this league."

Dwayne Jarrett, the Panthers' second-round pick, is considered a Johnson clone, only younger. A possession receiver without great speed, the 6-foot-4 Jarrett could end up starting in the opener against St. Louis. But at minicamp he's been working with the second team.

"Right now, he's not standing out because he's thinking (too much)," Smith said. "I think we'll see a step up in him and all the other guys. Because of the new installments and new wrinkles in the offense. I think once those guys get it down pat, they'll be better."

Jarrett, the 45th pick in the draft, has tried to stay away from the Johnson comparisons.

"The team felt that was the best decision, I guess, and I'm just here doing what I'm supposed to do and working hard," Jarrett said.

Drew Carter, who came on late last season, and Keary Colbert, who has been a disappointment since being drafted in the second round in 2004, will have their chance now that Johnson is gone. If Jarrett starts, one of them will need to become the No. 3 receiver.

Smith was attending a friend's wedding in California last weekend when he found out from a text message that Carolina took Jarrett. He didn't see Johnson's release coming.

"It's just how it is," Smith said. "I wasn't happy or sad. It was just like, 'Oh, OK.' I still got to come out here and play football."

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

Dag, DF has no comment? Don't particularly like that. Wonder if Henning will hear about Smitty's analogy? Ouch.

edit: main reason Henning isn't here, he lost the players

 

I've expressed my skepticism before about how much Davidson's play-calling will imitate Weis', but if it does, then Smith could see a lot fewer targets now than he did under Henning. Comments about more passes to the RBs and TEs certainly at least suggest that we'll spread the ball more often, so be prepared for outbursts from Smitty if he doesn't feel like he's getting enough catches.

 

Foster doesn`t comment on most things and when he does the quotes appear to be fairly cryptic. Him not talking doesn`t bother me, fumbling does.

 

A little more variety isn't a bad thing, and I'm willing to deal with the occasional Smitty tirade. We can be a good screen team. Our linemen are suited for it.

Not that I expect us to become Philadelphia, but we could certainly utilize the RB's a bit more often.

 

While I agree we will most likey move away from "feed the stud," Davidson would be foolish not utilize a guy who can take it to the house on any given down. As a gamebreaker, I'd hope Smith would still get a lion's share of the touches.

 

I do not necessarily want Smith to get more touches, I just want him to get more touches that have a chance for him to make a plan. Getting him killed by running a dozen smoke screens per game does not help anything. If by putting him in motion and spreading the field he can catch the ball with a chance to do something then it will be great.

 

Very good point.