Kelvin Benjamin Is Coming Into This Season Motivated And Ready

[Saca312]

I used to be a Kelvin Benjamin supporter. After a dismal 2016 season, I cited his knee issues as a primary reason for his downfall. I thought that he'd enter this offseason invigorated and ready to prove everyone wrong.

However, when reports came out Kelvin Benjamin was overweight - like 270 lbs overweight - I started having concerns. 

Then, after training camp, I was a doubter. He didn't look like he was doing much, and looked lazy. I concluded that Kelvin Benjamin would never get any better. I thought he was done, paving the way for Funchess to be the guy we were all hoping Kelvin would be.

That changed this preseason.

Benjamin did everything I thought he couldn't do. He beat press coverage and his man at the line of scrimmage on multiple occasions. He played like a big man. He earned each and every yard.

Coming into the season, I'm actually optimistic that Kelvin Benjamin can be our WR1. If he keeps his performance up, he has every reason to be a dominant player on the field. 

After reading this article, it's hard not to root for him.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article171399897.html

Perhaps one of the most telling quotes is here:

Quote

Benjamin said on Instagram he was in a “dark place” following the death of his mother in July.

What this indicates is that Kelvin Benjamin has been worrying about his mother all offseason. That is likely one of the contributing factors for him being overweight in early practices. He likely had his mom on his mind the whole time, with his spirit not in the right place.

Her death was the climax of his worst fears.

There's no doubt that Kelvin Benjamin was affected negatively by this event. However, the way he handled her death soon afterwards was awe-inspiring.

Quote

And though he’s still dealing with the loss of the woman he called his everything, Benjamin is moving forward and looking and sounding very much a motivated, in-shape receiver on the verge of a big season.

Asked if he planned to dedicate the season to his mother, Benjamin said: “I’m dedicating every snap, every play – every time I step on the field is for my mom.”

Kelvin Benjamin came back this preseason showing a far different WR than we've ever seen nearly his whole career. Not only did he look better than rookie season form, he looked like someone playing with a purpose. 

He looked like someone playing with a chip on his shoulder. After witnessing many people making fun of him over his weight during the off-season, he has every reason to get out there and prove them wrong:

Quote

“From losing my mom (and) starting in OTAs with the weight problems and with all that – the bullying on social media. But I’m built for it,” he said. “I’ve always been going against something like that. But I’m grinding. My mom raised me right.”

Even Cam Newton is optimistic about one of his favorite receivers:

Quote

“For him to be as functional as he is ... he shows a lot of strength mentally to come back from what he’s done and what has happened in his life,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “He’s come back in great shape, playing with a chip on his shoulder and just playing with a purpose and that’s all you can ask.”

...

Newton predicts 2017 will be the best year for Benjamin, whom he calls “Benji.”

“I’m not just saying that to blow smoke,” Newton said. “Everything that he’s done for everything, he’s positioned himself to make that come into fruition.”

Kelvin Benjamin enters the 2017 season with a chip on his shoulder. He feels better and ready to breakout. With his mom as his motivating factor, there's no doubt he'll fulfill my early March prediction of coming back ready to prove the world wrong.

[pantherj]

KB definitely looks much improved from last season. Please let this carry over into the regular season. 

[csx]

Optimism is nice to see again.

[JawnyBlaze]

I agree. I was very down on him last year because he look legitimately lazy and unmotivated. He certainly seems to have turned it around and I'm projecting 1300 yards and 10 tds from him. That's my bold prediction for the year. 

[ForJimmy]

He is going to have an incredible year and there will be eggplants my friends, lots of eggplants...

[Burnout189]

I think a lot of the people on this message board, including myself, had some serious doubts about KB before the pre-season. But it looks like he really ready to breakout this year and prove all the doubters wrong.

[Cats Pride]

Definitely could be a break out season for KB or I guess some would say comeback player of the year. He did look good in the Pre Season. I tried to get him on my Fantasy team but he was snagged 1 pick before I was going to pick him. Ugh.

[jumpman910]

I still don't know how any of y'all had Funchess's leap frogging KB. Hell even a sore knee/lack of focus at times KB gave us 900+ and 7 TDs with a 1.7 drop %.

Personally I  was NEVER concerned about him or his fuging weight in June.... Weight issues in August would be concerning but not June. 

[arbnranger]

@Saca312 Good post as usual man. 

Although I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe he will ever be All Pro, I think he can be really valuable. If he performs to his potential, he can be a dangerous target in crucial 3rd down/red zone opportunities. 

My optimistic side sees him having his best year. Hell, in the future, he may even be able to build on that and keep growing. First things first... show us. Make teams game plan for you and perform in those situations. 

I got good vibes at the moment. 

[UpstatePanther]

I honestly cant think of how the NFL is going to defend this offense this season. I hope he doesn't prove me wrong, but i doubt crayon-eating Mike Shula could fug this offense up with it's talent level. Srsly how do you beat an offense that features Cam Newton, Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olsen, Jonathan Stewart, Christian McCaffrey, and a few role receivers with huge upside, with an offensive line that seems to be holding its own?! 

We need to win it all this year. for the team, for the fans, for Benji's mom, for the organization, for the Carolinas. im trying so hard to temper my expectations, but if we beat NE (hell if we lose a  hard fought, competitive-till-the-end game against them) in week 4 i wont be able to contain my enthusiasm. This offense is stacked. This defense is stacked. WE READY.

Go win that fugging Super Bowl boys!

[LinvilleGorge]

I really hope this is the year KB puts it all together. I truly think that if he commits himself to putting forth consistently high effort he can be an elite NFL WR.

[pantherclaw]

I think a lot of people forgot how hard KB played at the college level. He literally willed his team to a championship. 

We got to see a lot of that play his rookie season.  

His sophmore season was taken away from him by injury. 

So while many expected big things of him last season, the reality is those expectations were to high for a player coming back from a major knee injury, and what was basically his sophmore year on the field in the NFL. 

That is a lot to over come. 

Losing his mother, i can only imagine how difficult that is, especially at his age.

The silver lining that comes from it, is that he is completely refocused on his game....and that, my fellow fanatics, makes KB a very dangerous receiver this season.

[sharkkiller]

270 lbs overweight? Holy crap.

[sharkkiller]

1 minute ago, sharkkiller said:

270 lbs overweight? Holy crap.

Can't edit the post for some reason, but here is KB apparently trying to get back in shape: