New offensive coordinator Davidson a messiah for Carolina?

by user DraySpittle

January 15th, 2007. A date which will live in infamy. The Carolina Panthers suddenly and deliberately fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning.

Okay, maybe comparing the firing of Dan Henning to Pearl Harbor is a bit of a stretch, but you wouldn't know it by the way the Panther's fan base reacted to the news. For years, fans had watched the same old monotonous game plan being used week after week, with absolutely no adjustments being made. It seemed as if the NFL had figured out Dan Henning's offense and he didn't care. Had the game past him by? Was he simply too old to be effective anymore? No one will ever know whether there was any substantial truth to these accusations, nevertheless, the event came to pass and with it followed speculation as to who would replace him.

Would it be Jim Fassel? That "one guy with the really hard to pronounce name who coaches Carson Palmer?" Would they promote from within their own staff? Or would it be a seemingly no-name offensive line coach from Cleveland named Jeff Davidson?

Eight days later, the answer came, and it WAS that no named offensive line coach from Cleveland. What about this guy could have led the Panthers to hire him over bigger name prospects? Well, he did coach under Charlie Weis' offensive with the New England Patriots, and some say he was slated to take over as offensive coordinator there once Weiss left to coach Notre Dame, but instead left with Romeo Crennel to coach the [Cleveland Brown]]'s offensive line. He was also slated to take over as the offensive coordinator there, before eventually deciding to jump ship and accept the Carolina Panthers'offer to be their offensive coordinator.

Despite working with the likes of Crennel, Bellicick, and Weis, fans in Carolina were still skeptical of the front office's choice for offensive coordinator. That was until he first revealed what his offensive philosophies were. Several points have really stuck out to me and others as noticeable differences between Davidson and his predecessor Henning.

Re-commitment to the run game

The Carolina Panthers' formula for offensive success has always been running the football. It was what almost won them a Super Bowl victory in 2003 behind Stephen Davis' 1400+ yards, and what has been lacking ever since. Davidson emphasized he wanted to revive the run game to its 2003 form; a mauling grind-your-opponents-into-the-mud type of ground attack.

Increasing the tight end's involvement in the passing game

In Dan Henning's offense, the tight end was mainly used as a blocker. Davidson favors an offense that involves the tight end in the passing game, something Panther fans had been wanting for years. As a result, many mock drafts have the Panthers taking Greg Olsen out of Miami. However, I believe the tight end Davidson is looking for is already on the roster. Jeff King was projected as a possible first-round pick after his Junior year at Virginia Tech, but had a disappointing season his Senior year. Disappointing mainly because of his quarterback, Marcus Vick. He has all the tools to be the tight end Davidson is looking for, and if the Panthers do take a tight end, it won't be until a later round.

Adjustment in the game plan

Perhaps the most important difference between Davidson and Henning is in regards to the issue of adjustments. Henning seem to favor no adjustments whatsoever, no matter how badly the offense was performing. Davidson has said in several interviews that he is a big advocate of changing a game plan when it is not working. This may not seem like much, but it's like an answer to the prayers of many in the Carolinas.

Zone-blocking

The current offensive line for the Carolina Panthers should consist of Travelle Wharton, Mike Wahle, Justin Hartwig, Evan Mathis, and Jordan Gross for the 2007-2008 season. All five linemen are athletic, something very in regards to zone-blocking. One reason given for the poor run game the past few years has been not the offensive like itself, but the blocking scheme. DeShaun Foster and Deangelo Williams are not power runners, and did not favor the type of blocking Dan Henning advocated, but zone-blocking would allow more running to the outside, which would suit both Foster and Williams much better. The controversial thing about zone-blocking is a technique known as "cut-blocking", but it's important to clear up misconceptions of this technique.

For one, all teams utilize some form of cut-blocking to an extent, generally, cut-blocking from the front. This approach carries with it a much lower risk of injury, because the lineman know it's coming, and can better prepare themselves for it. The type that is generally associated with injury is cut-blocking from the side or from behind. The intended target can't see the player coming to cut-block them, and of course, in that case, aren't expected to get upended. However, this technique is really only used by Alex Gibbs and his blocking schemes that have been in service with Atlanta and Denver.

In short, no one knows anything about how well the new offense will work, and even if it doesn't work right away, it might take a year or two for the players to get a complete grasp on Davidson's play book. Davidson could completely flop as the offensive coordinator. However, sometimes change is all it takes to energize a team, especially one that seemed to lack motivation throughout the last half of the 2006 season. Carolina hasn't signed any big name free agents so far, so for many, Davidson is the ONLY thing to get excited about. After all, it's a brand new season, what's so bad about having high hopes?