How the Broncos Shut Down Jonathan Stewart and the Panthers’ Run Game

1-10-CAR 20 (Q3, 15:00) (Shotgun) 28-J.Stewart left guard to CAR 20 for no gain (94-D.Ware, 59-D.Trevathan).

This is another read option play. Ware gets the tackle. Newton makes the correct decision to hand off, as the threat of the option held Ware initially. Honestly, Ware shouldn’t have been able to make this play. Why was he able to? Malik Jackson. While the design is to have Stewart cut back, he cuts it back to soon. The problem is, Jackson split the double team again. Stewart doesn’t want to run into the back of his own man, and Ware was able to slide over enough to defend against the cutback and make the tackle.

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2-10-DEN 35 (Q3, 13:34) 43-F.Whittaker right tackle to DEN 25 for 10 yards (25-C.Harris, 54-B.Marshall). PENALTY on CAR-70-T.Turner, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced between downs.

This is a FB lead. It’s very well blocked by the Panthers. The double team by Kalil and Norwell works, Turner and Remmers are able to kick out their men, and Tolbert seals Trevathan in the hole. The sweep action by Cotchery held the backside LB. Whittaker gains 10 yards off this play. However, Turner then makes a mistake and decks Antonio Smith after the play is over, putting the Panthers back 15 yards for a net loss of five.

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1-10-DEN 40 (Q3, 13:05) 35-M.Tolbert up the middle to DEN 39 for 1 yard (97-M.Jackson, 96-V.Walker).

This is inside zone. The Broncos’ DL creates a pile of bodies where Tolbert tries to run, and he gets basically nothing.

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1-10-DEN 25 (Q3, 11:46) (Shotgun) 1-C.Newton left guard to DEN 26 for -1 yards (97-M.Jackson, 94-D.Ware).

This is a read option similar to the one Cam picked up 14 on earlier. The fake freezes Miller, but Cam chose the wrong hole to run through. Oher has been beaten by Jackson, but he has the inside. If Cam chooses to run between Oher and Norwell, assuming he can fit through the hole, he has a lot of green grass in front of him. Instead, he chooses to run right at Jackson’s gap, and the play has no chance. Jackson physically dominated Oher and did a fine job on this play, but Cam also made the wrong choice.

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2-6-DEN 34 (Q3, 6:49) 28-J.Stewart right end to DEN 28 for 6 yards (52-C.Nelson).

This play is inside zone with a pulling block by Jericho Cotchery. Stewart is initially looking to run up the gut, but the Broncos’ DL creates a mass of bodies in the middle with little room to run through. Therefore, he decides to bounce it outside. No one has set the edge, and Stewart is able to use his forward momentum to pick up 6 yards and a first down.

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1-10-CAR 19 (Q3, 3:12) (Shotgun) 28-J.Stewart right tackle to CAR 19 for no gain (95-D.Wolfe).

Just like the fourth run play of the game, Ryan Kalil was late getting to the second level off of his combo block. He doesn’t reach Marshall in time, and it forces Stewart to bounce the play outside again. There he was met by Derek Wolfe who did a strong job of coming off of Remmers’ block.

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