Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver Projections - Week 1

[Ruff]

I think we'll add another receiver not currently on the roster.

[davos]

My givens:

 

WR1/2-Benjamin

WR1/2-Cotchery 

WR3-Avant

 

Bubble for the 4th and 5 guy to have on the active roster:

 

Underwood v. Bersin v. Lucas v. King v. Pilares ---very close.  If DG and Rivera continue their trend with UFAs on the offensive side, it's no crazy to think Bersin or Lucas end up at that 5th spot.  

 

By that first game, I think the guys that will see the field the most would be KB, Cotchery, Avant, Olsen, & Dickson so the bulk of our offense is kinda set even though we've got some great competition going on.  

 

[davos]

I think we'll add another receiver not currently on the roster.

 

And this really is a possibility during the preseason and cuts.  

[mbarbour21]

1. KB

2. Cotchery

3. Avant

4. Underwood (because of his experience and production in actual games, he is placed over Bersin)

5. Bersin (redzone threat and reliable hands seem to be the pattern this year)

6. Pilares (I would love to put Marcus Lucas here, but we have some tall guys already. Assuming Dixon and Williams become part of the plan, which i believe they already are, our need isn't as great for another big man. Pilares grabs this spot due to familiarity and he can be a returner. Versatility wins out.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I attended camp Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.  I paid special attention to the receiver corp.  Granted I did not have Tuesday's camp experience to go on and this is still early and I'm sure things will change but here are my thoughts.

 

My picks heading the class:

 

1) Benjamin - Showing out, catching everything possible and more.  So excited to see what he is doing.  I reluctantly picked him as Panthers 1st pick in the draft.  (Didn't want him then but had a feeling he would be there and based on who I thought would be left had a feeling it would be him.  Picked and thought the same about Star the year before.  That makes me 4 for 4 since Cam.)

 

2) Avant - RELIABLE HANDS that move the chains.  So glad we got this guy.

 

3) Crotchery - Routes, leadership and knows his role.

 

Guys I see making a statement in camp:

 

4) Pilares - Looks like he is catching everything thrown his way and making some good moves after the catch.  Having a great camp in my opinion.

 

5) Bersin - WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT!  So impressed with his route running and making some tough catches in heavy traffic.  Good concentration catching the ball before trying to run with it.  Could become an outstanding possession reciever (Ricky Proehl anyone?).

 

6) Lucas - Just doing the right things.  Had to grab my roster several times saying "WHO IS THAT!?!?!"  Then I watched for his number in the rotation.  Doing a good job making blocks and getting off jams at the line of scrimmage.  He may be the dark horse in this race.

 

The rest of the bunch

 

7) Underwood - Making catches.  Seems the best of the rest but just not exciting me. (How in the world does his hair still stand straight up like that after taking his helmet off?)

 

8) King - Made one outstanding grab that stood out otherwise just average imo.

 

9) McNutt - Not doing enough to seperate himself from the mediocrity

 

10) Clemons - Who?

 

11) Brown - OK, this one I don't understand.  I'm hearing a lot of praise on this guy but it seems I've seen this one drop a lot of passes.  I MEAN A LOT!  Another thing I noticed was so many passes his way being so far off the make it makes me wonder about his timing and route running.

 

Something I need to do a better job of watching for is receivers doing their other very important role of blocking.  This is such an important skill that many of us forget.  This would be my biggest question for the rest of you huddlers that went to camp. Who stood out in this role?  I only noted Lucas for this because he had made some outstanding catches then noted who he was and his story and started watching him come to the line in the rotation.

 

When listening to the POD Cast and they mentioned that Underwood wasn't really showing that speed we hired him for.  I

think that makes him expendable. 

 

Pilares is that perfect slot receiver with the RB mentality.  He is our KO return man.

Bersin deserves the nod.  I have heard of one drop.  If he is getting open and making plays.   That is what you want. 

Why can't it be Lucas.   If he is making plays, why can't he be that UDFA that makes the team.

 

I have been on the Philly Brown bandwagon because of his punt return capabilities but I know we can't or won't keep 6 WRs so practice squad would be ok with me.

 

[panfanman]

When listening to the POD Cast and they mentioned that Underwood wasn't really showing that speed we hired him for. I

think that makes him expendable.

Pilares is that perfect slot receiver with the RB mentality. He is our KO return man.

Bersin deserves the nod. I have heard of one drop. If he is getting open and making plays. That is what you want.

Why can't it be Lucas. If he is making plays, why can't he be that UDFA that makes the team.

I have been on the Philly Brown bandwagon because of his punt return capabilities but I know we can't or won't keep 6 WRs so practice squad would be ok with me.

Whatever Brown had going for him coming in may have been highlighted with upside accolades and potential filled games reel clips, but all I've seen is his iinability to catch a ball. I'm not a hater. Don't have a bias. Want the greatest for everyone in the Black and Blue. Just calling it the way I see it.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Whatever Brown had going for him coming in may have been highlighted with upside accolades and potential filled games reel clips, but all I've seen is his iinability to catch a ball. I'm not a hater. Don't have a bias. Want the greatest for everyone in the Black and Blue. Just calling it the way I see it.

 

Like I said he has great potential and I hope he at least remains on the practice squad.

 

[joemac]

So was KB really kicking ass in practice before he got hurt?

[bleys]

Pilares will be cut from the roster this season. Sorry, but he sucks.

KB

Cotchery

Avant

McNutt/King

Bersin

[TheRumGone]

It's easy to make the argument that this group can be slightly better than last years because outside of Smitty last years group was non existent.

However this group needs to be ALOT better than last years. It's games against the elite D's like Seattle and SF that it was painfully obviously how poor our recievers were outside of Smitty. I remember watching the playoff game and seeing how exhausted Cam looked in the second quarter.

However I assume we'll run lots of 2 tight end sets with Dickson and Olsen to make up for the lack of recieving. Cam thrived in his rookie season with Shockey and Olsen. Now add KB on the outside and we got some monsters on the field. Really have high hopes for Dickson this season.

I don't like this argument. Seattle and the 9ers are top defenses for a reason. It's not like we got shutout. Everyone struggles against them minus a couple fluke games. That's why they were in the Super Bowl and NFC championship game.

Situationally we have to be better. Not fumbling the ball at the end of the game and getting a td on the 1 yard line. We beefed up the interior of the line.

[The Huddler]

I highly value height at the wide receiver position. Hopefully Underwood can be our speed guy.

Yup. I value height over speed in this offense because that is our style. Speed is great, but we are a ground and pound offense that values consistency in the routes and great hands. Big bodies that shield the defender for the conversion. If we were one of those teams that want to outscore their opponent instead of playing defense, then speed might be more of a priority

[AceBoogie]

hate to say it but at this point, I dont see us missing Smitty this year.

It's early, players like Steve Smith don't come along every lifetime. He was the heart and soul of this team, the only player the crowd cheered louder for than Cam. He will be missed in some capacity, you can bank on that. Ray Lewis wasn't that good his last year, but ask anyone on that Ravens team how much they missed him.

[*FreeFua*]

I don't like this argument. Seattle and the 9ers are top defenses for a reason. It's not like we got shutout. Everyone struggles against them minus a couple fluke games. That's why they were in the Super Bowl and NFC championship game.

Situationally we have to be better. Not fumbling the ball at the end of the game and getting a td on the 1 yard line. We beefed up the interior of the line.

There's 2 ways to look at it

1. Like you said, situationally we have to be better.

2. Also, our WR's need to make plays throughout the game so we aren't put into situations like that. That first Seattle game, Ginn was the only wide out to register a catch and he only had 1.

[PantherFan4Ever]

hate to say it but at this point, I dont see us missing Smitty this year.

 

I think we'll miss his heart/passion