Matt Bowen; Bears Need Discipline Against Panthers Triple Option......

**soulman** · 10-26-2012, 03:31 PM

Bears need discipline against Panthers' triple option

Newton can be potent weapon if too many defenders take bait and allow him extra step

Panthers offense 1 (October 25, 2012)

Matt Bowen Scouting the Bears 11:06 p.m. CDT, October 25, 2012

The Bears defense will have to prep for some option football Sunday against Cam Newton and the Panthers. Using the All-22 coaches tape, here is an example of how the Panthers created an explosive play running the triple option against the Cowboys.

The Panthers have Posse personnel (three receivers, one tight end, one running back) on the field in a two-back "pistol" set. Wide receiver Brandon LaFell aligns in the "pistol" look (behind the quarterback in the shotgun) with running back Jonathan Stewart offset to the open (weak) side of the formation. With the Cowboys in a two-deep shell, the Panthers will option the end man on the line of scrimmage (Newton's first read) and the nickel back.

On the snap, Newton rides Stewart through the mesh point and "reads" DeMarcus Ware. If the linebacker stays up the field, Newton will give to Stewart. If Ware crashes down, Newton pulls the ball and options the nickel back with LaFell as the pitch man. In this situation, Ware takes the bait and slants to Stewart with both inside linebackers attacking the line of scrimmage. This allows Newton to work to the second level of the defense.

To defend against the triple option, you have to play the dive, the quarterback and the pitch. The Cowboys don't have the numbers here. With the nickel back taking the pitch man and Ware late to recover on Newton, the quarterback is out the gate and into the secondary.

On Sunday, the Bears defensive ends and linebackers will be tested by the multiple option concepts (Read Option, Zone Read, Inverted Veer) from the Panthers out of a variety of alignments. And to beat the option, you must play with speed and discipline.

Twitter @MattBowen41
Special contributor Matt Bowen, who played at Glenbard West and Iowa, spent seven seasons in the NFL as a strong safety. You also can find his work at nationalfootballpost.com.

**soulman** · 10-26-2012, 03:40 PM

This will be a good test for DEs like McClellin and Wootton both of whom are essentially rookies.

Both of them will play a significant number of snaps on Sunday and you can count of the fact that the Panthers will try to use Newton this way and try to exploit their inexperience. They have the speed to play Newton well and contain him but if they get over aggressive and over pursue he can make them pay.

Let's hope Lovie and Marinelli have spent a lot of time with them this week reviewing game films of this look and what the Panthers can do out of it. I think they'll opt to attack more on the ground than most teams have been doing do far.

I think they'll try to spread the defensive line and LBs out to open up running lanes and use Newton on planned runs hoping to get some big plays that way. If we drop our Safeties deep to prevent Smith or Olsen from hurting us as we did against Detroit that will put a lot of pressure on the line and the LBs to control their gaps and force plays into the pursuit. But if we over pursue we'll leave a lot of daylight for runs.

Bowen is right. This week it's all about showing discipline and gap control. The success of these plays depends on us making mistakes so we have to make certain we don't make them.

**JPosh2012** · 10-27-2012, 01:33 AM

I realize the Panthers stink this year but the Bears can't take this game lightly because Cam Newton is looking for a big game where he can let loose and if the Bears take this game too light it just could happen.

Thread: Matt Bowen; Bears Need Discipline Against Panthers Triple Option......

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Matt Bowen; Bears Need Discipline Against Panthers Triple Option......

Posting Permissions