Mike James
The One... and the Two
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Registered: May 2003
Local time: 02:08 PM
Location: Rice University
Posts: 1191
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Catching on with running game
September 3, 2003
By Brett Borden
www.Panthers.com
A rising tide lifts all boats.
It's an old saying which basically means that team success will lead to individual success, not the other way around. Those could be words to live by for the Carolina receivers this year as the team has stated its intentions to run the football early and often this season.
Muhsin Muhammad wants to help the offense march down the field. (Getty Images)
One might think that a run-happy offense would lead to unhappy receivers. Not so, says Panthers pass catcher Muhsin Muhammad.
"The thing about having a good running game is that it creates good down and yardage situations, second-and-short or third-and-short," said Muhammad, who ranks as Carolina's all-time leader with 431 receptions and 5,509 receiving yards.
"Those are ideal situations to be in. Any time you move the sticks and create first downs, it gives other guys more opportunities to make plays because you are on the field longer. Drives are longer, and the coordinator feels better about opening up the playbook."
Muhammad went to the Pro Bowl in 1999, when he was a key cog in the Panthers offense that set almost every team record on that side of the ball. Muhammad was one of the most productive receivers in the League in 1999 and 2000 when he posted 198 receptions for 2,436 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The passing game was especially prolific, but in 1999 it also featured a nice running attack to provide balance. The Panthers have struggled in the running game since then and have seen several fourth quarter leads evaporate over the past three seasons. It's no secret that the difficulties the team has had running the ball contributed to those defeats.
"Every offense wants to be in that victory formation at the end of a ballgame," said Muhammad. "We were in situations last year where we could have run out the clock but we put our defense in bad situations.
"Hopefully, if the running game is the way we expect it to be, it will open up some passes and we'll be able to dictate what goes on in that fourth quarter."
Rising with the tide beats the sinking feeling that comes with defeat any time.
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09-06-2003 05:51 AM
