RR not ruling out calling up Hill

[joeyxfresco]

Per ESPN

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – When will wide receiver Stephen Hill be called up from the Carolina Panthers practice squad?

That has been one of the more asked questions in Charlotte since the Panthers signed the second-round pick in September after he was released by the New York Jets following a two-year stint. Well, it could be for Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game at Seattle.

The Panthers are looking for more speed with undrafted rookie Philly Brown unable to practice on Tuesday and Wednesday because of a shoulder injury suffered in Saturday’s playoff victory over Arizona.

Coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday the team “potentially could" pull up a player from the practice squad. When asked if that player would be Hill, he said yes.

Hill is fast. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds at the 2012 NFL combine.

That doesn’t mean he’ll be called up. The Panthers also are looking at third-string quarterback Joe Webb, who has moved back to wide receiver this week.

Webb showed his speed running down Atlanta kick returner Devin Hester in the regular-season finale.

The Panthers also are looking at Brenton Bersin for Brown’s role, although Bersin doesn’t have elite speed. They also could try to find way to get first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin deep.

But Hill is intriguing. He has 45 NFL catches for four touchdowns. There were times during his tenure that he showed flashes, but his reputation for dropping passes also made headlines.

Will Hill finally be called up?

Stay tuned.

I personally would love to see Hill get called up and see limited snaps.

[teeray]

In theory it is not a bad idea if Philly can't go.

Need at least one speed guy on the field

[thunderraiden]

I can see it now "Stephen Hill signed by Raiders to 30 million deal after he wins Super Bowl MVP with game winning catch!"

[CPantherKing]

Bringing up Hill would be a shock for any defense we face. The panthers of course could practice with Hill in a 3rd WR roll and then surprise their opponent.

 

I support this. Even if you use him to just stretch the field on go routes, fade routes, and some deep posts. Hill going deep on one side would pull the CB. Kelvin Benjamin going deep on the other side would pull Sherman and Thomas. These 2 players alone would negate the Seattle secondary and open the field for RBs in the flat, Olsen against the LBs, Cotchery on crossing routes, and of course Cam Newton would have a ton more room to run if they give him a gap.

 

And while people love Phllly, let's be honest, a DC is going to fear Stephen Hill going deep even with the dropsies over Philly Brown.

[Dexterity]

Why the fascination with Hill? We saw what he brings to the table last season with Ginn. He'll blow by everyone and drop a perfect 40 yard bomb from Cam. Again. And again. And again.

[top dawg]

I won't believe it until I see it.  Hill and Benjamin is scary in a good way and a bad way.  I reserve the right to dream about the good way.  Super Bowl!

[TheRumGone]

Yall know philly does more than just run straight really fast right?

[teeray]

Yall know philly does more than just run straight really fast right?

Of course, but we need a guy to respect over the top to open up stuff underneath.

If Philly can go I could give two poos about Hill. But if he is out he could be an asset even if it is just the threat of him downfield

[crowntownpanther]

Why the fascination with Hill? We saw what he brings to the table last season with Ginn. He'll blow by everyone and drop a perfect 40 yard bomb from Cam. Again. And again. And again.

But could his dropsies really be too much worse than Our other wideouts? I'm split. Bersin, while I don't trust him in ST, has been decent in third and mid-long as a possession receiver. However, Hill gives us a vertical option that we lack without philly out there. Maybe hill comes out with something to prove and plays great. I don't know that we bring up a WR over a DT in the first place though unless philly is looking extremely doubtful through our DEEP playoff run.

By deep I mean SB.

[WesleyM]

I wish they would call him up if for nothing else than to end some peoples infatuation with him. Either he gets it or he doesnt then

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

There has to be another reason Hill isn't on the roster other than his drops.

Our entire wide receiving corp has struggled with drops, so I refuse to believe that is the primary reason for his sustained position on the practice squad.

Is Hill running the wrong routes in practice, is he a bad blocker, does he not understand the playbook, is there no chemistry with him and Cam?

I haven't the slightest idea, but I refuse to believe that drops are keeping him off the active roster after what we've seen from our wide outs this year.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Hill's big play ability is what makes him so attractive in a game like this. These games against Seattle always come down to big plays and we never seem to be able to make quite enough of them.

If his drops are really the only thing keeping him off the roster, then I'm fine with biting the bullet and using him as a deep threat.

Sure, he might drop the ball; but Bersin wouldn't even be able to be in position to make the play anyway (not fast enough). So really I see no downside to giving him a shot if Philly can't go. Hill at least gives us the chance to stretch the field, and sometimes a chance is all you need.

[PhillyB]

hill running deep routes forces a safety to commit over the top. this can only help open things up underneath. and who knows, maybe cam will take a chance and chuck it deep, and maybe hill will catch it.

 

house money.

[Ivan The Awesome]

I love the Idea of Hill. Unfortunately his drops are what make me cringe. KB is already Droptimus Prime, we don't need two players that drop easy passes. That would kill this offense completely.