Kelvin Benjamin - Aside from the touchdown....

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Also, read an article today that Marqise Lee has been struggling some and Gus Bradley got on him about his performance in their first pre season game. Still early, but initial reports seem to suggest we made the better choice there. Safe to say we should all learn to trust the professionals and their evaluation process.

[jumpman910]

So how did KB fall into our laps? I know this was a strong WR class and many teams needed to address the position but none more than us. Ricky worked out tons of prospects and Gettleman seemed to hint that they were always most impressed with his workout. Is it as simple as having an ex NFL receiver knowing what to look for more so than other scouts during workouts? Kelvin had problems with drops in college but it's obvious to those watching that they were primarily concentration related. I guess I'm just asking how was he available at 28? Definitely curious to see where he would have gone next year had he dominated with Winston for another season. Both could have been potentially top 10 picks.

IMO he dropped because people were most concerned with his drops and the fact that he was older then most of his peers and even some receivers already in the league. So they felt by the time he corrects some issues and gets accustomed to the NFL he may be 24-25. And even with these issues many who were down on him knew he probably had the most potential and upside of any receiver in the draft but it would be a "project" but I was almost in awe when we actually took him. I wanted him back in January but listening to reports and past gettlemen drafts I had convinced myself that we would pass on him for a OT but I'm glad we didnt

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[TheRumGone]

But you are not comparing them to nfl players. You are comparing the to other college talent.

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Yeah I get that I just took what you said differently. Like he needed solid pieces around him to elevate his game, but there would be even better pieces in the pros. I dunno

[FootballMaestro]

So how did KB fall into our laps? I know this was a strong WR class and many teams needed to address the position but none more than us. Ricky worked out tons of prospects and Gettleman seemed to hint that they were always most impressed with his workout. Is it as simple as having an ex NFL receiver knowing what to look for more so than other scouts during workouts? Kelvin had problems with drops in college but it's obvious to those watching that they were primarily concentration related. I guess I'm just asking how was he available at 28? Definitely curious to see where he would have gone next year had he dominated with Winston for another season. Both could have been potentially top 10 picks.

 

With out even getting into all the details yet, let me this: Drafts are "wrong" all the time. It's not an exact science.

 

Too many times top picks bomb, and lower picks (or even later round picks) excel or become Pro bowl players. Happens all the time.

 

Now with Benjamin, I (and I'm sure other Panthers, along with Proehl and Gettleman) could look at Benjamin and see he's a stud.

 

However, sometimes reporters, and even scouts have a tendency to focus on things they deem a negative, and/or things a player needs to improve on, instead of what they do well.  With Benamin:

 

1) first it was his experience or lack of it for one. This was Benjamin's first/only year of big time college. This is why some called him a "project".

 

2) Some would bring up his measurable's (though it was clear he stumbled out of the gate in his 40 YD times). People, took this and ran with it as well. You even had people on the Huddle, basically calling him a bum, who wouldn't make the team he was so bad.

 

3) Others,  a few insignificant drops in college (that became a chorus and calling guard round draft time). 

 

Keep in mind, none of this takes away from the fact, that Benjamin's 6'5", 240lb, physical, flexible, acrobatic, beats and jukes defenders downfield, and has great hand eye coordination when you watch him play.

 

However, others may have seen different, or relied on what they felt were more "experienced" receivers as the safer pick.

 

These type of mistakes (misjudging someone's experience, athleticism, work ethic and desire) happen all the time in the NFL and other sports. It's not an exact science, cause personalities and lack of exposure come in to the picture. 

[ctrcat]

NO doubt in my mind too that the Patriots were going to pounce at 29. Word leaked out pre-draft they had 6 of their front office including BB on the F$U campus and this rarely leaks from the tight lipped Pats. NO DOUBT in my mind. And that makes me smile. :)

[jumpman910]

NO doubt in my mind too that the Patriots were going to pounce at 29. Word leaked out pre-draft they had 6 of their front office including BB on the F$U campus and this rarely leaks from the tight lipped Pats. NO DOUBT in my mind. And that makes me smile. :)

Not even just them. He knew he would fall in a good situation for him or a good team. There's no way he would've made it two the second round. Pats,49ers, or Seahawks would've took him had we passed and I'll rather have him here then trying to figure out how to cover him considering the way he's working our cb's at camp. I remember listening to an interview he had with a 49ers broadcast and he talked about how Colin was telling him how much he wanted them to draft him. And if you recall KB only took pictures in three teams gear us, pats, and seahawks.

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[ctrcat]

So how did KB fall into our laps? I know this was a strong WR class and many teams needed to address the position but none more than us. Ricky worked out tons of prospects and Gettleman seemed to hint that they were always most impressed with his workout. Is it as simple as having an ex NFL receiver knowing what to look for more so than other scouts during workouts? Kelvin had problems with drops in college but it's obvious to those watching that they were primarily concentration related. I guess I'm just asking how was he available at 28? Definitely curious to see where he would have gone next year had he dominated with Winston for another season. Both could have been potentially top 10 picks.

 

Don't underestimate the strong WR class working huge in our favor, many teams thinking they could nab a quality WR later in the draft.  Like you said, no one needed more than us however, and right now, if there was a redraft, and the Panthers had the #1 overall pick, I'd take KB.  I think many would agree.  Certainly GMan's lightning speed turning in the card spoke volumes. 

[ctrcat]

Not even just them. He knew he would fall in a good situation for him or a good team. There's no way he would've made it two the second round. Pats,49ers, or Seahawks would've took him had we passed and I'll rather have him here then trying to figure out how to cover him considering the way he's working our cb's at camp. I remember listening to an interview he had with a 49ers broadcast and he talked about how Colin was telling him how much he wanted them to draft him. And if you recall KB only took pictures in three teams gear us, pats, and seahawks.

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My gut told me after the playoff loss that we would get a coveted playmaker that the teams picking 29-32 wanted.  It still stung, and still does, but I can see KB helping us win multiple rings instead of just the one we lost last year. 

[FootballMaestro]

So how did KB fall into our laps? I know this was a strong WR class and many teams needed to address the position but none more than us. Ricky worked out tons of prospects and Gettleman seemed to hint that they were always most impressed with his workout. Is it as simple as having an ex NFL receiver knowing what to look for more so than other scouts during workouts? Kelvin had problems with drops in college but it's obvious to those watching that they were primarily concentration related. I guess I'm just asking how was he available at 28? Definitely curious to see where he would have gone next year had he dominated with Winston for another season. Both could have been potentially top 10 picks.

 

Another thing:

 

All it takes is for some one to be wrong in a few areas in the ratings, to slide you down.

 

Remember, if their charting 10 WR's, and let's 100 players, they have to rate them all. Because of this, they can't always spend too much time with one player (especially initially). So they grade them in different facets for an overall score. Now here's where I guy like Benjamin can slide in a stacked WR draft.

 

Let's say for experience; he's dinged low.

 

For drops, he's dinged avg.

 

For speed he's rated avg (though he stumbles out of his 40 YD dash).

 

And for Route Running, he's dinged low.

 

Now it's not because he's necessarily bad at these things per se. However, it's because he's deemed "in-experienced or a project", and you have other more "experienced" "NFL ready" receivers available, so people think "project" subconsciously, thus his overall score drops in comparison to "more experienced", "alleged" NFL ready receivers.

 

Now, if they're wrong, or Kelvin rapidly improves on some of these areas (experience, speed, route running, and/or or drops), then you end up with  a much better prospect than his draft position would indicate.

 

Happens all the time, especially in deep drafts. Some of the best players of all time were the 5-6 QB, WR (or whoever) chosen.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Another thing:

All it takes is for some one to be wrong in a few areas in the ratings, to slide you down.

Remember, if their charting 10 WR's, and let's 100 players, they have to rate them all. Because of this, they can't always spend too much time with one player (especially initially). So they grade them in different facets for an overall score. Now here's where I guy like Benjamin can slide in a stacked WR draft.

Let's say for experience; he's dinged low.

For drops, he's dinged avg.

For speed he's rated avg (though he stumbles out of his 40 YD dash).

And for Route Running, he's dinged low.

Now it's not because he's necessarily bad at these things per se. However, it's because he's deemed "in-experienced or a project", and you have other more "experienced" "NFL ready" receivers available, so people think "project" subconsciously, thus his overall score drops in comparison to "more experienced", "alleged" NFL ready receivers.

Now, if they're wrong, or Kelvin rapidly improves on some of these areas (experience, speed, route running, and/or or drops), then you end up with a much better prospect than his draft position would indicate.

Happens all the time, especially in deep drafts. Some of the best players of all time were the 5-6 QB, WR (or whoever) chosen.

Well said and I agree. Thank you for taking the time to write it all out. We seem to have hit the jackpot in the first round once again. Next year I hope the Panthers make it 5 gems in a row.

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[magnus]

So how did KB fall into our laps? I know this was a strong WR class and many teams needed to address the position but none more than us. Ricky worked out tons of prospects and Gettleman seemed to hint that they were always most impressed with his workout. Is it as simple as having an ex NFL receiver knowing what to look for more so than other scouts during workouts? Kelvin had problems with drops in college but it's obvious to those watching that they were primarily concentration related. I guess I'm just asking how was he available at 28? Definitely curious to see where he would have gone next year had he dominated with Winston for another season. Both could have been potentially top 10 picks.

*one top year of production, which has had mixed results in the past

*4.61 scared some teams I'm sure

*deep WR draft, plenty to choose from

*hands

*possible work ethic issues

Individually they aren't awful things to get around, but you put those four things together and you get USC's Mike WIlliams.  For everyone saying he was Megatron, there was an equal amount worrying of the massive man-child WR like Williams that doesn't end up producing. 

 

 

There were plenty of guys who were worthy.  The 4 guys that went ahead of KB were all really, really good.  Between that and the OL/DL, you had a lot of dilution where he, Cooks would've gone top ten in some other drafts.  Benjamin was more flawed in theory than the above four guys, but if you see that extra gear after his slow 10-yard (re: his 40) and get to know him to see his character concerns from three years ago aren't there anymore, you know you get a guy who'll overcome his weaknesses with smarts and hard work. 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely, right now there are a bunch of teams seeing him from the eyes of their scouting department that are going to start regretting not taking him.  Cooks is playing well and he's a more complete guy with speed than Brees has ever had, but he doesn't scare me the way it would if KB right now was playing this well. 

[fieryprophet]

I was not a Kelvin fan based on the fluctuation in his route running that seemed to cycle between crisp and lazy. Throw in warning flags with the drops and reports of work ethic issues and blowing off that coach (whether true or not) just made me very wary. But it seems he's just one of those players who need and want professional coaching and his rapport with Cam is undeniable. He might have come to the best possible place because Cam will hold him to his standard of play on every snap and he seems eager to learn and work. I'm am hoping to be so incredibly wrong and will love every bit of it.