Analyst: Panthers WRs Kelvin Benjamin, Devin Funchess are ‘bigs who play small,

[Daddy_Uncle]

I have a strong feeling both these guys will come out and ball next season

[Snake]

Physicality is not the problem its route running. Both can't get separation and that's feness not physical.

[AU-panther]

Personally I think there is a very good chance we pick a WR in the first 3-4 rounds.  A lot of people are talking like it would be a luxury pick but in reality our second leading receiver (Ginn) is a FA and even if he does resign he is getting older.

Luckily I don't think we are desperate for a #1 type receiver (although they are always nice) so we don't have to chase one in the first round.  We need a smaller, speed type of player that can play the slot also.  If they could return punts that would be great also. 

Some possible options could be:

John Ross - 1st, if we traded back

Curtis Samuel - 2nd

Zee Jones - maybe 3rd, his senior bowl has boosted his stock a lot so he might go higher

Taywan Taylor - maybe 3rd

[Fox007]

Funchess is still really young and can come around...it can take WRs awhile...not ready to call it yet he's not Dwayne Jarrett where we were looking for even a flash or a damn catch here or there.

FunFun has shown up and caught TDs and big plays just not on a consistent basis. I think DJ scarred our team in terms of big WRs....plus the fact that our best WR and HoF franchise player was a 5'9 WR....we tend to scoff at any sort of Tall WR who doesn't dominate and intimidate.

We were both spoiled and traumatized by our vastly different WRs.

Smitty was special that's why I never took him for granted...it's the type of player loss that literally can't be replaced for fans. Especially franchise with 0 history...we're not talking about decent to good Laker players who are forgettable compared to the legends.

Smitty is THE Panther legend.

[JARROD]

I think he was favoring the knee


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[catnip]

What do you think about trying either Bersin, Funchess, or Benjamin at tight end ?  Dickson is not the answer and these three have the size .  We need to bring in a FA WR or one in the draft .  Something just did not work this year. Maybe a new coach has the answer .  Ginn is a free agent and Byrd and Brown didn't see much playing time . What say you ?

 

[Icege]

3 hours ago, 15 said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welp, I'm erect now.

[dardarroarroar]

What do you think about trying either Bersin, Funchess, or Benjamin at tight end ?  Dickson is not the answer and these three have the size .  We need to bring in a FA WR or one in the draft .  Something just did not work this year. Maybe a new coach has the answer .  Ginn is a free agent and Byrd and Brown didn't see much playing time . What say you ?

 

I honestly don't know about turning Benjamin Funchess or Bersin into a tight end. I don't really have a strong opinion on it, it requires a lot of effort and Ive called into question Benjamin's effort all the damn time so I don't know. And Funchess isn't the best at using his body it's like he doesn't know that he's almost 6'5. And it's not necessarily about size it's about who can get the job done, but I understand where you're coming from. I think that this year was just a down year for everyone BUT even on our down year we were only a couple Field goals away from being in the playoffs. And I don't want to get rid of gin just yet I think he fits here well & he's familiar with Cam and this is the place where he's the most productive. I THINK THE MORE WE SPREAD THE BALL OUT The better but that also goes without saying that we need a more of variety to our wide receiver group. Ginn is in his 30s and he still faster than a lot of them. So if we cut him who is going to replace him, It goes back to us cutting people without replacing them properly and I get what you're saying with Byrd but even still then it'll help to have a veterans presence alongside the newcomer. But this is ALL just jumbled up ramblings I don't want to say anything or predict or talk about anything until the draft AND free agency is over and we're at camp that's when I can gauge things a little bit better because this is actually the team that we're working with, this is the roster that we are working with so I can get a better feel for how the 2017 season is going to be. and that's all that really matters to me right now.


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[ThatSeattleBoy]

Rodgers would have these bums gone.

people where talking about getting him at 21 in 2014 and I said dude was soft in FS.

He was great redzone guy for Winston nothing else really imo

[iamhubby1]

 

5 hours ago, *FreeFua* said:

A couple years later and we still haven't bothered to draft that quicker WR. Nowwww Gettleman is talking about guys like Jones and Switzer. This guy is always playing catch up.

I believe in Damiere Byrd but it doesn't look like he'll ever get a fair shot with this coaching staff. 

 

Personally, I believe that Byrd getting playing time at the end of the year speaks volumes about how the team views him. They have basically kept him around for two years. And he showed the stage was not too big for him. I truly believe he will get a shot during OTAs, and TC to show if he truly belongs. At least I am hoping so.

 

If Byrd can push Ginn Jr. during TC, that could mean a lot towards the kid actually getting playing time.

 

Also, Teddy is a FA. If we don't resign him. Does that open the door for Bryd? Or is it someone else? Personally, I hope Teddy stays one more year. Just as insurance, and maybe to mentor the returner. If that is even possible.

[Matthias]

The question here, is KB or Funch number 1 or even number 2 receiver material?  I'm not sure they are.  It's one thing to have a slump for whatever reason, but these guys just didn't fit the mold at all this year.  Is it a question of youth?  Perhaps, but I don't recall Julio Jones ever having a slump during his early years.

[panthers55]

I don't agree that KB or Funchess are issues. KB had a great rookie campaign and this year was about recovering from the ACL. Plain and simple. Funchess is getting better as he learns to play in the NFL. Let's be real here. Both KB and Funchess were raw when they got here. They are just coming into their own. This is what you get when you draft physical specimens more than league ready guys with lower ceilings. 

[iamhubby1]

Here's my train of thought. Teams used the man blitz against us a whole lot this year. And IMO, that is because they were not afraid of our WRs, nor of Cam running.

 

To get teams back to those zone blitzes that Cam eats up. We need to strengthen our WR Corp.. KB, Funch, and Ginn Jr. need another threat,and, and this is my favorite option. Get a second TE that is an actual threat to catch the ball.

 

That second TE can do 2 things. Force another LB to cover, taking away his blitzing abiltity, and we all love it when a LB tries to cover a good TE. Which pretty much forces teams to leave a S over the top. Which could in theory, negate them playing too much man.

 

Also, having that second guy with speed would make teams back up. They cannot double KB with a S, if that S is playing back to protect against Byrd, and Teddy.

 

Imagine a 2 TE set with KB, Byrd, and Teddy. Get Stewy involved in the passing game, and teams won't know if we are running, or passing. Again, forcing them to play a more conventional Defense.

 

And we can do all this with our present roster. If we add a TE that is an actual threat to catch the ball.

 

Speaking of KB. Besides coming back from an ACL, he was also dealing with shoulder issues. And he still darn near put up a 1,000yds during a crappy season. If he comes back anywhere near what he was the last 2 games. He gon be better.

[Saca312]

Both of these guys had sophomore slumps.

I can tell you that won't last long.

What I loved about KB is how he finished out strong. He had a game against Tampa, and played real well. Reminded me of his dominance against the Broncos earlier on.

Kelvin finished a few yards shy from a 2nd 1000 yard season. Funchess was getting open a lot as well throughout the season.

I think with this long offseason, and work, we'll be rounded up at WR for a while. Get ourselves a slot receiver as well and we're set.