"We could have used him better"

[tiger7_88]

http://www.espn.com/blog/carolina-panthers/post/_/id/25735/ron-rivera-on-panthers-receiver-devin-funchess-we-could-have-used-him-better

Quote

 

The line was tossed into the end of a lengthy interview with Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera so subtly that it almost was lost.

But it spoke volumes.

“We could’ve used him better," Rivera said last week about third-year wide receiver Devin Funchess.

 

Frankly, the offense over the past 4 years could have used a LOT of players better (Funchess, Cam) and some players a LOT less (Tolbert).

Still nervous about our coming "evolution" on offense, but also excited at the same time.

[panthers55]

Hindsight is always 20-20. On the other hand if you don't learn from your mistakes you are bound to repeat them......

[Hogmolliesmaht]

Actually, this has already been discussed in another thread. FTR, I wanted to see Funchess get more touches too but, like it or not, everything works off of the running game in this offense and it just wasn't there last season.

[L-TownCat]

Without play action, our receivers have the wrong physical attributes to create separation.  PA is the best way to keep a DB looking into the backfield.

If they don't respect the run, they can turn their backs to the line and focus on the receiver.  It's all 101 stuff but somehow we make it look harder than it should be.

[UpstatePanther]

31 minutes ago, L-TownCat said:

Without play action, our receivers have the wrong physical attributes to create separation.  PA is the best way to keep a DB looking into the backfield.

If they don't respect the run, they can turn their backs to the line and focus on the receiver.  It's all 101 stuff but somehow we make it look harder than it should be.

So in other words... we were trying to play 1970s football without actually playing 1970s football...

[GoobyPls]

By use him better means using him less, he's not good

[dpm0409]

9 minutes ago, GoobyPls said:

By use him better means using him less, he's not good

Regardless if true or not (I believe the verdict is still out) this nearly made me spit my coffee out, lol

[Ricky Spanish]

1 hour ago, L-TownCat said:

Without play action, our receivers have the wrong physical attributes to create separation.  PA is the best way to keep a DB looking into the backfield.

If they don't respect the run, they can turn their backs to the line and focus on the receiver.  It's all 101 stuff but somehow we make it look harder than it should be.

You are right, but at the same time the line wasn't good enough to maintain blocks for that long. Unfortunately, instead of running quicker routes, we had our big slow guys running deep downfield all game instead of allowing them to body out smaller corners. 

I really hope that Shula gets his poo together this year. With Samuels and McCaffery being so versatile, there's no reason EVERYONE on offense shouldn't be able to benefit from the potential headaches those two players create

[L-TownCat]

10 minutes ago, Cracka McNasty said:

You are right, but at the same time the line wasn't good enough to maintain blocks for that long. Unfortunately, instead of running quicker routes, we had our big slow guys running deep downfield all game instead of allowing them to body out smaller corners. 

I really hope that Shula gets his poo together this year. With Samuels and McCaffery being so versatile, there's no reason EVERYONE on offense shouldn't be able to benefit from the potential headaches those two players create

I completely agree with the poor line.  Also agree with strange playcalls.  The WRs are still gonna need help creating separation.  I'm with you, no excuses this year.  Get yer poo straight Shula!!

[SetfreexX]

I just wonder that we didn't call the quicker routes because the staff KNEW the current group of receivers weren't able to create that type of quick separation.....

Or....

Were defenses sitting on the quicker routes knowing that our O-Line couldn't protect long enough for those routes to clear the coverage. 

I know a lot here want to blame Shula but aside from the OC there are 11 men that have to execute, and let's be frank, five of the most important positions (the OL) were not able to do so. We had a Remmers at LT who I believe was originally an UDFA before we signed him, Norwell who played as well as always, we were down to a 3rd string UDFA C in Larsen who played admirably given the circumstances. Then RG/RT was a rotating door with Turner, Scott, and Williams. 

So to me it's all hand in hand, receivers can't get separation because defenses sat on the shallow routes when they were run. We couldn't run the ball effectively so when we did go play action teams weren't threatened by the run and it never opened up. Beyond that and for his health sake we didn't rush Cam Newton as often either which is also a key cog in the run game we had built the offense around. However that too could be attributed to the injuries on the OL. 

[Hogmolliesmaht]

Everybody keeps saying that need to call quicker routes, but there is almost always a check down option for Cam and he can audible if he wants to. To put this all on the OC is BS.

[ncmonzta]

I always thought Funchess ran routes pretty good. He really didn't get as many touches as he should. He did play TE so I don't understand why they wouldn't draw up some shorter routes for him. But then again, Shula would also send Olsen on a 500 yard go route

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[Mojo]

People on this site were banging that drum all season.  Ron needs to get with the program.  He's always been slow though so it's not a shock.

[SetfreexX]

For those ragging on Funchess' speed, he's not slow just like Jamal Adams, who ran a bad 40 at the combine, and recovered at the pro-day. Devin did the same, IMO we didn't use Funchess enough, we spent too much time in 12 personnel (2 TE's), we should've done more from 11 in my opinion forcing a defense to match the receivers, and then we can determine run or pass based on what the defense puts on the field. 

Benjamin to  Funchess to one side, Olsen off the RT's hip, and Ginn isolated (last season) I think was our best offensive grouping over having Ed Dickson replacing a receiver.

I think this is the ''evolution'' we will see with the addition of Samuel becoming the new slot receiver, and I think he and Funchess will rotate inside out given the situations. 

Most NFL teams run 11 personnel beyond any other for us 11 was second to our 12 personnel package.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/devin-funchess?id=2552458

PRO DAY RESULTS

 
40-yard dash: 4.47 and 4.53 seconds 
20-yard short shuttle: 4.48 seconds 
3-cone drill: 6.98 seconds