Here is why Kelvin Benjamin should be every Huddler's favorite player in 2014

[BigBoss]

My favorite player for 2014 will probably be either Luke, Star or KK short, but don't worry I'll still pull for Kelvin, your entitled to have your own favorite.

[FootballMaestro]

we need to improve the run game to help Benjamin be successful. he might still have alot of catches and TDs and i hope he does regardless, but he will draw double teams if our run game cant be at least adequate. 

 

i still think the run game will be fixed, at least with the first team. and even if it doesnt, i was impressed with the pass protection last night. giving Cam as much time as we gave all the QBs last night will result in completions or successful QB scrambles. i cant believe i am saying this but the Panthers have alot of receiving weapons. between the TEs and top 4 WRs, just give Cam 3 seconds to throw the ball and i have a feeling someone will be open. and the greatest part is that they seem to be catching passes efficiently in traffic.

 

what i am trying to say is that even without the run game, i think the Panther's offense will be surprisingly productive. but it will help immensely if we can fix the glaring problems we saw last night.

 

Believe it or not (and you can mark this down): I think the Panthers passing Cam will lead their run game (as it did the first 8 games of Cam's rookie season, till they were able to run first, more the second half).

 

It's gonna be too tempting (both in actuality, and the fact teams are going to be set up against the sucky run anyway) for the OC to resist.

 

I feel the threat of Benjamin (and what he'll do, and/or the double teams he'll draw, and who he leaves open) is going to make it easier for the Panthers to pass the ball, than run it. Unless the Pass protection just sucks, the Panthers appear to have better performers in the passing game (Cam, Benji, Olsen, Dickson, Cotchery), than any of the RB's, with probably the exception of Tolbert.

 

Expect 4000 + yards for Cam this season, again.

[Cape Fear Cat]

Here's what it all boils down to. Let's assume that KB is going to be exactly what he appears to be this far. Let's assume that he's Calvin Johnson 2.0 or Andre Johnson 2.0. That's what we all want him to be right? The question with this team and the Carolina Panthers going forward is this.

Have they learned their lesson????????

You're probably wondering what lesson right?

We had a WR in Steve Smith for 98% of his career that was the best "undersized" WR that this league had ever seen!!What did the Carolina Panthers fail to do? They failed to get the man any help whatsoever! We has Moose and let him walk to Chicago.

If KB is what we think he will be, we will need to draft a bone fide #2 to help him and Cam get to that next level. IF* they do that, then they have learned their lesson. If they don't, well then, what's the difference going to be between the Smitty days and KB days?

I would like to hope that the franchise and a different FO will look at history and decide not to go that route.

 

 I think there's a fundamental difference between what Smitty brought to his game and what KB brings. Namely, size. As fiery as Smitty is, not even he could play contrary to the laws of physics (although sometimes it seemed that was EXACTLY what he did). I think KB has a hunger very similar to Smitty's if not his fiery demeanor. I also think his great size, reach, and eye for the ball puts him ahead of the curve, and will serve him in good stead for the long haul. Given that, it's not necessarily true that the Panthers need to draft a Top 10 receiver to compliment him . A serviceable journeyman or an up and coming youngster could fit the bill quite nicely, and I am not convinced we don't already have that on the roster.

[PantherBoy95]

I feel you're wearing your homer glasses. I hope just as much if not more than anyone that WR becomes a strength of the team. However anyone that believes that receivers that were basically #3's and previously our Practice Squad players should be used to build a championship caliber team is delusional.  I hope they show more than their worth, just as it happened with Ginn last year.  However, let's not pretend we had some elite group that everyone would die for coming into training camp.  I believe in Gettleman but this is one of the moves he's made that had me scratching my head, but that's why the games are played.

[PantherBoy95]

The Seahawks basically did it last year though, if we could get the running game back (geez this is a trend every year now), along with pass protection then the Receivers will no question be fine.

[PandaPancake]

So, we should resign lafell when the patriots cut him?

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[UpstatePanther]

Believe it or not (and you can mark this down): I think the Panthers passing Cam will lead their run game (as it did the first 8 games of Cam's rookie season, till they were able to run first, more the second half).

 

It's gonna be too tempting (both in actuality, and the fact teams are going to be set up against the sucky run anyway) for the OC to resist.

 

I feel the threat of Benjamin (and what he'll do, and/or the double teams he'll draw, and who he leaves open) is going to make it easier for the Panthers to pass the ball, than run it. Unless the Pass protection just sucks, the Panthers appear to have better performers in the passing game (Cam, Benji, Olsen, Dickson, Cotchery), than any of the RB's, with probably the exception of Tolbert.

 

Expect 4000 + yards for Cam this season, again.

 

i'll take it. keep pounding!

[The Huddler]

My fear is what we see/saw is the same as what we're gonna get.

Everyone acts like we had some kind of fearsome running game last year, when we didn't. What I saw last night wasn't unusual from what I've been seeing since Mike Shula took over at OC.

But you're 100% right that it damn well NEEDS to improve.

Yeah wtf shula?! why can't you move defenders out of the way and make running lanes!

Sounds like a personell problem to me.

[FootballMaestro]

 I think there's a fundamental difference between what Smitty brought to his game and what KB brings. Namely, size. As fiery as Smitty is, not even he could play contrary to the laws of physics (although sometimes it seemed that was EXACTLY what he did). I think KB has a hunger very similar to Smitty's if not his fiery demeanor. I also think his great size, reach, and eye for the ball puts him ahead of the curve, and will serve him in good stead for the long haul. Given that, it's not necessarily true that the Panthers need to draft a Top 10 receiver to compliment him . A serviceable journeyman or an up and coming youngster could fit the bill quite nicely, and I am not convinced we don't already have that on the roster.

 

Good Points.

 

You don't want to speak too soon. But Benji just looks like a thoroughbred. Flat out!

 

He has such incredible size, desire and ball instincts (it appears) he can just be a horse (pun or no pun intended) which the entire offense is built around. It just makes everything easier for everyone else when you got a guy like that.

 

We'll see?

 

[Chief Keek]

Here's what it all boils down to. Let's assume that KB is going to be exactly what he appears to be this far. Let's assume that he's Calvin Johnson 2.0 or Andre Johnson 2.0. That's what we all want him to be right? The question with this team and the Carolina Panthers going forward is this.

Have they learned their lesson????????

You're probably wondering what lesson right?

We had a WR in Steve Smith for 98% of his career that was the best "undersized" WR that this league had ever seen!!What did the Carolina Panthers fail to do? They failed to get the man any help whatsoever! We has Moose and let him walk to Chicago.

If KB is what we think he will be, we will need to draft a bone fide #2 to help him and Cam get to that next level. IF* they do that, then they have learned their lesson. If they don't, well then, what's the difference going to be between the Smitty days and KB days?

I would like to hope that the franchise and a different FO will look at history and decide not to go that route.

 

You must've forgot who the GM is now.

 

[LUUUUUKE]

So basically, you're exactly like the national media, implying that Cotchery and Avant are a couple of bums despite having decent careers before they got here? No hope in King or Bersin ever being good?

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I'm nothing like the National media actually. I hope that some of our receivers shake out, but that doesn't negate the fact that we need another KB or Smiity to compliment the #1 with a #2.

I think our WR corps is gonna surprise the the League this year. I don't really see you you drew that comparison off of what I said.

[gettlemanjack]

We have been pounded over the head again and again and again by ESPN and all Big Sports Media about how "CAM HAS NO ONE TO THROW TO! GETTLEMAN ISN'T GIVING CAM THE TOOLS HE NEEDS TO SUCCEED! THE PANTHERS ARE GOING FROM FIRST TO WORST THIS YEAR WITH NO STEVE SMITH LOLOLOLOMGHAHAHA"

ESPN's preseason power ratings have us right in the mix for a wild card spot in the playoffs. Gotta figure at least one team they rank ahead of us will falter (Cards with Palmer? Eagles with Foles and no DeSean Jackson?) and consider last time 3 teams from same division made playoffs was 2007

ESPN's preseason rankings for NFC

1. Seahawks (13-3) - NFC West

2. 49ers (12-4) - NFC West

3. Saints (11-5) - NFC South

4. Packers (6-3 with Rodgers) - NFC North

5. Cards (10-6) - NFC West

6. Eagles (10-6) - NFC East

7. Panthers (12-4) - NFC South

note: a wild card team went on to win 5 of last 9 Super Bowls, including 3 of last 4 (2010 Packers, 2011 Giants, 2012 Ravens)

[Ruff]

Hurney would have taken Moses, OT, Virgina--or Cyrus, OT, Bama.

Neither of those players are a RB.

[PandaPancake]

How can the saints take the south but we have a better record?

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