Over 100 Yards on a Double Toss!

The Carolina Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today, 42-28.   Probably the best play of the game took place inside of 12 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter.  The Panthers had 1st and 10 at the Bucs' 33-yard line.  Check out the starting formation (click on image for a larger view).

I had to circle and identify several Panthers for what was about to unfold.  Panthers running back Alexander Armah (#40) moved to his left prior to the snap (click on image for a larger view).

Once the play got going, look at the initial motions of wide receivers D. J. Moore (#12) and Curtis Samuel (#10) (click on image for a larger view).

Both wide receivers are headed toward the backfield!  Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (#1) took the snap and faked a hand-off to running back Christian McCaffrey (#22).  After the fake, Newton tossed to D. J. Moore (click on image for a larger view).

But the fun had just started because Curtis Samuel is racing back to receive the second toss (click on image for a larger view).

Samuel's momentum actually took him to the 46-yard line before he turned on the jets toward the left sideline.  He made three positively sick cuts on the play.  Check out the first one, which was to his right (click on image for a larger view).

His teammates were blocking in front of him, but there was little space, so Samuel cut hard to his right.  Note how close to the left sideline he is, and remember that he began between the numbers on the 35-yard line, closer to the right sideline.  Now check out his second hard cut, which was to his left (click on image for a larger view).

Bucs outside linebacker Lavonte David (#54) was barreling down on Samuel when the third cut was needed, which was to his left.  This cut left David with his legs cut out from under him (click on image for a larger view).

You can see David going down.  Samuel managed to squeak out of harm's way and then ran across the field to the far right of the end zone (click on image for a larger view).

The play took 14.2 seconds to complete.  I estimate that Curtis Samuel ran 103 yards on the play, though he only got credit for a 33-yard run.  His average speed was 14.8 mph, but he did hit 18 mph at one point.  It was the three sick cuts that got Samuel into the end zone!

I looked at the cuts more closely, specifically when Curtis Samuel turns about 45 degrees in only a step or two.  The inward force needed to change his velocity so quickly is over four times his weight.  At 200 pounds, plus pads, helmet, etc, his legs could have felt peak forces close to 900 pounds!  No wonder there are so many ACL injuries in football.

Gary O'Reilly of Playing with Science joined me on today's Check Down piece we did for TuneIn's 1st & Goal.  Click here for the audio link.