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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Quarterback Cam Newton said if the Carolina Panthers are to be successful this season their running backs need to be more involved in the offence. Newton said that means a concerted effort to get the running backs involved early in games. The Panthers once invested nearly $80 million in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart -- both contracts have since been restructured -- and also brought in free agent Mike Tolbert last season. Yet, it was Newton who led the team in rushing with 741 yards in 2012. Williams, Stewart and Tolbert combined for 1,256 yards rushing last year, which ranked 28th in the league among running backs, according to STATS Inc. Only Jacksonville (1,231 yards rushing), Atlanta (1,225), Dallas (1,212) and Arizona (971) had less production from their backs. Carolinas running backs seemed an afterthought at times last season under former offensive co-ordinator Rob Chudzinski, touching the ball on only 38 per cent of the offensive plays. "For us, the running game is key," Newton said this week at the teams minicamp. "In years past, success for the Carolina Panthers has meant getting our running backs involved in the game early and letting those guys do what they do. I feel like we have an unbelievable group." Coach Ron Rivera agreed. He said one of his primary goals is to get the running backs more involved and "keep them involved." "We want to keep them as a big part of what we do," Rivera said. "I think with Cams ability to get the ball downfield is going to open things up underneath. His ability to run will make people hesitate and that is where you can see the effectiveness of the running backs." The Panthers added rookie Kenjon Barner from Oregon in the sixth round this year, giving them another weapon coming out of the backfield. General manager Dave Gettleman said the Panthers will use him as a "scat back." Barner hasnt disappointed in minicamp, turning heads with exceptional speed and quickness. "We have guys that are capable of running the ball as well as catching it out of the backfield," Newton said. "We have to use that to continuously keep the defence honest. Everyone knows we have playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. But in order for us to be successful, we have to run the football. We will run the football." Williams ran with the first-team offence during minicamp while Stewart recovers from minor surgery on both ankles. Williams carried the ball only 173 times last season, while injuries limited Stewart to 93 carries. Tolbert, the teams fullback, carried 54 times. Newton ran 127 times, averaging a team-best 5.8 yards per carry. Carolina finished last season ninth in rushing and 7-9 overall, largely because of Newtons contribution. The Panthers have used the zone read option extensively over the past two seasons with Newton, but are expected to limit that this season. "I envision it being used in certain situations and circumstances," Rivera said. "There are still some things that we can exploit against opponents because of it. Well use it and use it smartly... But were not going to go with something like that as a staple" of the offence. Nothing would make centre Ryan Kalil happier than if the Panthers ran the ball a little more. "I think people tend to be numb to that statement of hey, we want to run the ball more, but its very true that most successful teams do have a balanced run-pass attack," said Kalil, who has played in three Pro Bowls. Kalil said its a matter of getting back to what the Panthers were doing well in 2008 and 2009 when they ranked among the leagues leaders in rushing. "Its sort of what it looks like were doing," Kalil said. "Its what we got back to at the end of last year. I think it helps out Cam, too. It helps out for the passing game and its exciting to watch the two horses we have back there (Williams and Stewart) do what they do best." NMD R1 Stlt Triple Black . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. NMD R2 Primeknit Ireland .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. http://www.swiftrunireland.com/adidas-deerupt.html . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Adidas Swift Run Ireland .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. Adidas Iniki Runner Black White . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. ATLANTA -- For all the questions about his history at Georgia and his long record of success as a visiting coach at Georgia Tech, Mark Richt was only thinking about his ACC debut.Shaquille Quarterman and Joe Jackson each returned fumbles by Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas for touchdowns in a span of less than a minute in the second quarter and No. 14 Miami beat the Yellow Jackets 35-21 on Saturday.Richt improved to 14-0 against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, including an 8-0 record at Georgia and 5-0 as an assistant at Florida State. The win came in Richts 200th game as a coach -- and his first Atlantic Coast Conference game.It was victory No. 1 in league play, which is even more important, Richt said before his focus quickly shifted to next weeks state rivalry game against No. 12 Florida State.I can promise you before we land Ill be watching some Florida State tape, he said.Miami (4-0, 1-0 ACC) led 28-7 after the fumble returns of 17 yards by Quarterman and 18 yards by Jackson -- both freshmen.I was happy, Jackson said. It happened so fast. I picked it up and was like `Im going to score!Georgia Tech (3-2, 1-2) drew to 28-21 before Miamis Brad Kaaya answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Stacy Coley late in the third quarter.Georgia Techs offense bounced back with 361 yards after being shut down in last weeks 26-7 loss to No. 5 Clemson. Freshman Dedrick Mills had 99 yards rushing. He scored three touchdowns on runs of 7 and 1 yards and a 9-yard pass from Thomas.The Yellow Jackets couldnt overcome three turnovers by Thomas.We gifted them two scores in the second quarter, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said. It ended up being a big momentum changer and a big part of the game. ... We made way too many mistakes.Thomas said he was looking to pass before being hit from behind by Trent Harris, forcing the fumble recovered by Quarterman. He said he wanted to pitch to Clinton Lynch two plays later but said he wasnt looking, so I pulled it in. ... I was goinng down at the same time and the ball came out.dddddddddddd.It was the first time a Georgia Tech opponent returned two fumbles for touchdowns.A fourth-down pass by Thomas was intercepted by linebacker Michael Pinckney with about two minutes remaining.They didnt do nothing to stop us, Thomas said. We stopped ourselves the whole game.THE TAKEAWAYMiami: The Hurricanes proved they are a contender in the ACCs Coastal Division. Miami also showed its big-play defense, which began the day ranked first in the nation in scoring defense, sacks and tackles for loss, is ready for conference action.Georgia Tech: Back-to-back home losses to Clemson and Miami have shown the Yellow Jackets are a notch below the ACCs Top 25 competition. The two lost turnovers in a span of three plays were especially distressing as Thomas, a senior, is expected to provide stable leadership with his pitches, runs and passes while directing the option offense.POLL IMPLICATIONSMiami needed a strong showing against its first Power 5 opponent to add validity to its undefeated record and Top 25 ranking . Miami could make another move up in the poll before next weeks home game against Florida State.MIAMIS NUMBERSMiami had no turnovers. Kaaya completed 13 of 19 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown.Joe Yearby had 65 yards rushing, including a 27-yard scoring run, and Mark Walton added a 14-yard touchdown run.UP NEXTMiami: The Hurricanes will try to end Florida States six-game winning streak in the state rivalry in next weeks game at Miami. Miamis last win in the series came in 2009 and its last home win came in 2004.Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets string of four straight home games ends with next weeks game at Pittsburgh. Georgia Tech had won two straight in the series before losing to the Panthers in 2015.---AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '