Taking a page from U of M Coach Tommy West’s playbook, the Carolina Panthers tried snapping the ball directly to DeAngelo Williams yesterday. The results were Tigeriffic.
Playing their third straight game without quarterback Jake Delhomme (thumb), the Panthers decided to run the ball — even though the had managed 88 yards rushing in the past two games.
“Coach (John) Fox talked about it all week. He said we were going to run the ball until we got a first down,” center Geoff Hangartner said. “Luckily that happened pretty early.”
DeShaun Foster rushed for 102 yards on 28 carries, while DeAngelo Williams added 82 yard on 21 carries while often taking direct snaps from center. The Panthers, who had the worst third-down conversion rate in the NFL, went 8-for-16 on third-down and seven conversions came on direct snaps to Williams.
Read more about the Panthers’ victory and slim playoff hopes here.
