While Kelvin Benjamin has been anointed a "legitimate No. 1" after 1 preseason catch...

[CPantherKing]

It appears that Steve Smith might still be able to play...

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/12123/breaking-down-ravens-2014-camp?ex_cid=espnapi_public

 

And it doesn't appear that Brandon Lafail is doing too badly either.

 

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/08/13/brandon-lafell-finding-route-success-with-patriots/kZoiq7k9ZI0rSCiPQFMe0L/story.html

 

Ted Ginn has battled injuries in Phoenix, but everyone knows what you are getting with him--- a pure speed guy---a burner with limitations, but a legit deep threat who can stretch the defense.

 

Benjamin is going to have to be very, very, very productive as a rookie in order for the new group of wideouts to be better than last years group of solid, if unspectacular players.

 

It might be sobering to remember that only 7 rookie receivers in the last 20 years have gone for more than 1000 yards in their first NFL campaign. And none of them are in Benjamin's mold as a player.

 

Smith will be a great #2 or slot for a few years. He will also slow down as the season goes on so his snaps need to be limited. Do I wish we kept him? Yes. Do I think it was stupid to pay him to leave? Yes. I think the front office screwed up in handling the situation and it cost the team. However, he was not a #1, and knowing he was on his way out he needed to step back and let the youth develop.

 

Brandon LaFail may not be doing too badly, but he is doing badly. Keep in mind he went from competing against the #1s to competing against the #2s and #3s and he still does not stand out. And his hands are still made of stone.

 

Ted Ginn was an excellent return man and that is where I hope he is not missed. You can bring in any speedster to do what Ginn did. If all you need is what Ginn brought, then sign a track athlete, have him master 2 or 3 routes on the route tree, and make him sit on the jugs machine every practice. He was inconsistent in the passing game. Both he and LaFail continued to run the wrong routes all the way into the postseason.

 

This illustrates the issues with LaFail and Ginn. (Olsen was correcting Ginn after the play)...

 

 

A pass intended for Olsen. Ginn gets jammed and fails to clear out up the seam or over the middle with his speed. LaFail rounds off his crossing route shallow and then one hand pops the ball up to the defense which he has done several times. Because of their failure as receivers they crowd the area of the pass and LaFail becomes a 49ers defender allowing Willis to intercept the ball. Maybe convert LaFail to safety or corner. He will do a lot better. He is great at getting one hand on the ball.

 

Benjamin will not have to be "very very very productive" to replace this group when you actually look at what they produced on the field. Remember Olsen was the Panthers #1 producer in the air last season, and he remains on the team. If you factor in the production of Cotchery and Avant in place of Lafell and Ginn, then Benjamin needs to produce 65 receptions for 879 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season. I guarantee you he puts up more than 2 touchdowns by far.

 

 

You think too highly of the Panthers receivers last season. We had a QB who broke rookie records, and people doubted Cam. Benjamin puts up 102 receptions for 1500 yards and 18 touchdowns and he will break rookie records too. Is that tough? Yes. Is it impossible? No. If Benjamin averages 6.4 receptions, 93.8 yards, and 1.1 touchdowns per game He takes home the rookie records. Benjamin, unlike other rookie receivers, will be placed in that position to achieve those numbers.

 

What is sobering is that the coaches know Benjamin is the #1 receiver entering the season as a rookie. Most rookies that start at receiver are in the #2 spot. What kind of production came from rookie receivers who were put into the #1 role? It is rare that you see coaches place a rookie receiver into the #1 role.

 

Since 2003:

 

All of the rookie receivers placed into the #1 receiver position with a franchise QB have succeeded over the past 20 seasons. Of the 66 rookie receivers who have started 10 or more games in the #1 or #2 spot in the past 20 seasons more than 50% of them racked up 750+ yards on the season (More than Smith, LaFail, and Ginn last season). There have been 11 rookie receivers to start 16 games, and 6 were #1 receivers. Of those 6 receivers 5 went for 950+ yards on the season. Peter Warrick was the only one not to top 950+ yards during a rookie season that had the train wreck known as Akili Smith throwing to him.

 

So, when coaches anoint a rookie receiver, who is a match-up nightmare for defenses, as the #1 WR with a Pro Bowl franchise QB at the helm and a top pass catching TE to pair with him. I am not the least bit worried of the outcome on Sundays. The odds are in the Panthers favor.

[jayflip]

Hodor?

Reppin' Huddle West

[CharlottePanther]

So someone explain this logic to me. "Experts" say that our WR corps has seen a huge downgrade from last year, do they not realize that Cotchery had more TDs last season than our no 1 and no 2 WRs COMBINED? And that was on a 7-9 Steelers team

[Mr. Scot]

To be fair all those articles are citing his progression over just the last few days.

And all but one were written by Boston sources.

For perspective, a while back there was a story about a longtime Boston sports columnist losing his gig essentially for not doing a good enough job of kissing Belichick's ass.

[Happy Panther]

To be fair all those articles are citing his progression over just the last few days.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

Sure.

 

But I haven't seen any reports saying Newton made him look better than he is.

 

Post links if you have them.

[Happy Panther]

So someone explain this logic to me. "Experts" say that our WR corps has seen a huge downgrade from last year, do they not realize that Cotchery had more TDs last season than our no 1 and no 2 WRs COMBINED? And that was on a 7-9 Steelers team

 

It's not a downgrade I think the WR production will depend on Shula as well as how KB does and how the chemistry develops (which seems good so far but I don't trust camp reports.)

 

Last year will likely be viewed as a statistical anomaly for cotchery.The previous 5 years were much less productive and teams were not exactly falling over themselves to sign him. At least the Steelers were not interested in matching $2.25M guaranteed for a prolific touchdown catcher. And remember the Steelers pass more than we do at this point so there is no way he is going to match those numbers here.

 

Having said that if Benjamin breaks out then Cotchery could be the perfect #2. Veteran guy with good hands etc...and under contract cheap for 5 years or so.

 

Avant I have no idea. Looks like a perfect #3.

[mbarbour21]

Plus, our TEs not named Olsen will also contribute receiving as well. We didnt have that last year.

[Rockahype]

But I haven't seen any reports saying Newton made him look better than he is.

And all but one were written by Boston sources.

For perspective, a while back there was a story about a longtime Boston sports columnist losing his gig essentially for not doing a good enough job of kissing Belichick's ass.

This.

Brady could be tossing balls at a pair of fuzzy Ugg boots and the Boston Herald would make it a story.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[Happy Panther]

This.

Brady could be tossing balls at a pair of fuzzy Ugg boots and the Boston Herald would make it a story.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

lol

 

I'm not arguing the validity of the links. I didn't believe Armanti was kicking ass in camp last year either.

 

I'm saying I haven't seen anything similar to the "reports" you're referencing.

[CPF4LIFE]

What I find interesting is that everyone is saying how bad the Panthers offense was in 2013.  However, this team went 12-4 and won the NFC South.  The point is when you have a strong/dominating defense, you don't have to have overpowering offense to win in the NFL.  Having a great offense may make the game more fun to watch, but the Panthers won 12 games last year with an 'anemic offense'.   

 

Exactly...Seahawks offense wasnt that much better but you dont hear anything about them. They won a superbowl off defense but we are gonna be worse because thats "all we have". Never paid that logic any attention.

[Rockahype]

lol

I'm not arguing the validity of the links. I didn't believe Armanti was kicking ass in camp last year either.

I'm saying I haven't seen anything similar to the "reports" you're referencing.

I know I don't want Lafell catching passes from Brady to end up being credited to anything more than his personal progression. Cam and the Panthers gave him plenty of opportunities and it just didn't work out.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[ickmule]

And I ask, who gives a $hit?

Sent from my VZW iPhone 5 using CarolinaHuddle

[Cj72]

I saw all I needed to know about lafell last year when smith was out. Which was absolutely NOTHING!

Sent from my SCH-R950 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[heelinfine]

Smith will be a great #2 or slot for a few years. He will also slow down as the season goes on so his snaps need to be limited. Do I wish we kept him? Yes. Do I think it was stupid to pay him to leave? Yes. I think the front office screwed up in handling the situation and it cost the team. However, he was not a #1, and knowing he was on his way out he needed to step back and let the youth develop.

Brandon LaFail may not be doing too badly, but he is doing badly. Keep in mind he went from competing against the #1s to competing against the #2s and #3s and he still does not stand out. And his hands are still made of stone.

Ted Ginn was an excellent return man and that is where I hope he is not missed. You can bring in any speedster to do what Ginn did. If all you need is what Ginn brought, then sign a track athlete, have him master 2 or 3 routes on the route tree, and make him sit on the jugs machine every practice. He was inconsistent in the passing game. Both he and LaFail continued to run the wrong routes all the way into the postseason.

This illustrates the issues with LaFail and Ginn. (Olsen was correcting Ginn after the play)...

A pass intended for Olsen. Ginn gets jammed and fails to clear out up the seam or over the middle with his speed. LaFail rounds off his crossing route shallow and then one hand pops the ball up to the defense which he has done several times. Because of their failure as receivers they crowd the area of the pass and LaFail becomes a 49ers defender allowing Willis to intercept the ball. Maybe convert LaFail to safety or corner. He will do a lot better. He is great at getting one hand on the ball.

Benjamin will not have to be "very very very productive" to replace this group when you actually look at what they produced on the field. Remember Olsen was the Panthers #1 producer in the air last season, and he remains on the team. If you factor in the production of Cotchery and Avant in place of Lafell and Ginn, then Benjamin needs to produce 65 receptions for 879 yards and 2 touchdowns on the season. I guarantee you he puts up more than 2 touchdowns by far.

You think too highly of the Panthers receivers last season. We had a QB who broke rookie records, and people doubted Cam. Benjamin puts up 102 receptions for 1500 yards and 18 touchdowns and he will break rookie records too. Is that tough? Yes. Is it impossible? No. If Benjamin averages 6.4 receptions, 93.8 yards, and 1.1 touchdowns per game He takes home the rookie records. Benjamin, unlike other rookie receivers, will be placed in that position to achieve those numbers.

What is sobering is that the coaches know Benjamin is the #1 receiver entering the season as a rookie. Most rookies that start at receiver are in the #2 spot. What kind of production came from rookie receivers who were put into the #1 role? It is rare that you see coaches place a rookie receiver into the #1 role.

Since 2003:

All of the rookie receivers placed into the #1 receiver position with a franchise QB have succeeded over the past 20 seasons. Of the 66 rookie receivers who have started 10 or more games in the #1 or #2 spot in the past 20 seasons more than 50% of them racked up 750+ yards on the season (More than Smith, LaFail, and Ginn last season). There have been 11 rookie receivers to start 16 games, and 6 were #1 receivers. Of those 6 receivers 5 went for 950+ yards on the season. Peter Warrick was the only one not to top 950+ yards during a rookie season that had the train wreck known as Akili Smith throwing to him.

So, when coaches anoint a rookie receiver, who is a match-up nightmare for

defenses, as the #1 WR with a Pro Bowl franchise QB at the helm and a top

pass catching TE to pair with him. I am not the least bit worried of the

outcome on Sundays. The odds are in the Panthers favor.

Bravo. Awesome post.