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WR -- A comfortable situation? finally??

davos

By davos,
in Carolina Panthers

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davos Grand Master

davos

Posted
Posted

I want to slightly make you mad and then make you super hyped:

This franchise has seen guys come and go such as Philly, LaFell, Gettis, Legadu, Armanti, Arijutu, Keyshawn, DJ Hackett, Jarrett, Colbert, Drew Carter, Rod Gardner..the list goes on

They aren't all bad receivers (trying to be fair), LaFell is capable and Key was, well Key, but we finally seem in a light in which we haven't been since 2003 IMO.  The bolded are pretty much the guys who made up our production outside of 3 guys: Smitty, Moose, and Proehl.  

Yep, and since that magical run, Smitty, Moose, and Proehl never played in the same year again at full health. We haven't had a three headed dragon since 03. 

Now, yes, we may just have journeymen in Charles Johnson and Russell Shepard, we can't overhype Samuel, can't expect Funchess to turn it around, and KB needs to lose weight, etc. but let's see:

Top 4

Kelvin Benjamin - We know what we're getting with him as a floor which is a solid starting receiver.  If he reverses what's spoke of him and pushes, he could be an all-pro  

Curtis Samuel - He's THE hype of the offseason even over CMC. The OL improved which if they can carve running lanes for Stewart and McCaffrey can open the field for Samuel.  I can see him having a big impact.  800-6  

Devin Funchess - He is a guy who been given flack.  But I've also seen people defend him here and there and believe there's merit to it.  We knew how young and raw he was when we got him.  He was also transitioning from TE to WR.  He passed our staff's assessments warranting a trade up which we can't forget.  I think people are missing the potential with him and this year should have the writing on the wall for him: produce or step aside.  I see him motivated and having something to prove.  

Russell Shepard -  With Shepard, we beat out a handful of other teams (including his former in our division) to grab him and gave out a nice little 2-year contract.  People are overlooking his cementation in the group.  I think he has a mid-career Jason Avant type vibe to him.  Early word from that Igo dude can support this.  

--

So here's the break in my opinion.  Funchess has the upside to balance out a solid guy in Shepard.  *Knock on wood to the max* but I think Samuel is a really exciting prospect.  Considering Smitty was a 3rd rounder, Jarrett's question marks even as a 2nd round pick, and KB's style, this is the most exciting guy (minus Cam) we've drafted...maybe ever on offense.  Fred Lane? Biakabutuka? The man who will not be named? Foster?  KB?  Seriously, there's a reason to be hyped.      

So now the rest...vying & Interesting:

Charles Johnson - It seems he was a fan favorite for the Vikings fans until Diggs exploded on the scene and CJ got injured then didn't seem to do much.  He was the one they were thinking could be their starter after 2014. 

Damiere Byrd - This year could be the year for Byrd for the active.  He's been discussed a good amount around these parts. 

Clay - I don't know much about him, quiet signing but was active for the Ravens last season

Fred Ross - A UDFA who I'm going to keep an eye on.  He could just come and go like a Biddle in the wind, but I like the aggressiveness and fight for the ball I've seen in his game.  

Garrett - A guy I was liking last year from my limited view.  I don't see why his early upside can't be like Tajae Sharpe in TN.

Austin Duke - UNCC kid that sounds like he's making practice noise 

Bersin - It wasn't long ago when he was basically our 3rd/4th option at receiver.  This alone should make us relieved.

--

So, we finally have a receiving situation we should be damn excited for.

If Funchess and Samuel can both fire it up and Shepard can be a solid vet that suffices (or do even more if asked), that could make this receiving group finally a multi-headed dragon.  We already have Olsen and CMC to help.  Haven't had a true Targaryen invasion since Proehl, Moose, Smitty IMO.  

The best we can speak of since is like Smitty-LaFell-Ginn and that was one season in Smitty's twilight...and not even that great of a year, just decent talent there.  

 

There's reason to finally feel ok here in my view.  Yay. Team.

 

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LinvilleGorge Grand Master

LinvilleGorge

Posted
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Not sure I'd use the word "comfortable" right now. Maybe "potential".

Right now, KB is our only proven NFL WR. Funchess hasn't amounted to much so far, Shepard is a career special teamer, we took a one year flier on Johnson, Samuel is a rookie, the rest of the crew is a bunch of JAGs.

Yeah, definitely nothing comforting about that. I think it could potentially be the best WR corps we've had during Cam's career. That's partly due to the potential of this group and partly due to the dumpster fire our WR corps has been during Cam's career.

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davos Grand Master

davos

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Just now, LinvilleGorge said:

Not sure I'd use the word "comfortable" right now. Maybe "potential".

Right now, KB is our only proven NFL WR. Funchess hasn't amounted to much so far, Shepard is a career special teamer, we took a one year flier on Johnson, Samuel is a rookie, the rest of the crew is a bunch of JAGs.

Yeah, definitely nothing comforting about that. I think it could potentially be the best WR corps we've had during Cam's career. That's partly due to the potential of this group and partly due to the dumpster fire our WR corps has been during Cam's career.

Like I mentioned, relative to our history, this is comforting (That list is pretty full going back to 03 for "impactful" WRs % wise of offensive receiving yards/receptions/targets etc.)

Considering what Cam and Shula could do with Ginn-Cotchery-Avant-Bersin-Brown and our OL is improved from the Bell/Chandler/Williams adventures, man it's just not peeving me off anymore.  We have legit potential in my view.  

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LinvilleGorge Grand Master

LinvilleGorge

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4 minutes ago, davos said:

Like I mentioned, relative to our history, this is comforting (That list is pretty full going back to 03 for "impactful" WRs % wise of offensive receiving yards/receptions/targets etc.)

Considering what Cam and Shula could do with Ginn-Cotchery-Avant-Bersin-Brown and our OL is improved from the Bell/Chandler/Williams adventures, man it's just not peeving me off anymore.  We have legit potential in my view.  

We already knew Ginn was a decent producer in our offense. Yeah, he had the dropsies, but he'd already put up 500+ yards as a deep threat in our offense. Avant had been a career solid #3 WR. He was averaging well over 500 yards per season in the 5 years leading up to him signing here. Cotchery had been a good #2 WR in his career and had a decent bounce-back season with over 600 yards right before signing with us after several disappointing seasons prior to that.

In short, that WR crew wasn't exciting but those guys had proven NFL production. I think this current group has more potential, but we definitely need guys to step into roles that they haven't shown that they can handle.

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dpm0409 Enthusiast

dpm0409

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17 minutes ago, uncfan888 said:

do you believe the stupid poo you type?

 

7 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

We're the equivalent of the current Jets according to him.

I know both of you are familiar with who the negative posters around here are, haha, would expect nothing less from him.

I honestly think some folks will be sour no matter what

 

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