Per Denver Post

[pantherclaw]

There is a lot of talent in this draft. I'm sure we'll be able to find a receiver or 2.

Will they need to come in and set the league on fire? Hell no they don't.

They just need to take advantage of the single coverage they will often see.

Steve Smith, is still our #1. Regardless what he says, Steve Smith is the ultimate competitor, he will always give his best, and cause of that...the defenses will continue to see him as the #1 receiver on the team, regardless of where he lines up.

We don't need an elite passing attack. We just need receivers who will be able to help balance out our attack, regardless we'll always be a run first team.

If people recall back to '03, going into the playoffs, we were the most balanced offense in the league . . and we had the most deep passes of any team in the league. From a run first team! From a JOHN FOX team. That can happened again without having BM.

[Woodie]

i just think with the current trend towards wr that we should make our offense more flexible. if you stop the run game you stop the panthers plain and simple. it may be hard to stop but it is still possible. teams like minnesota and others who are great runstoppers can just about shut our run game down. i would like a team that can be good in both aspects, not just threatening with the pass. it is harder to stop a team with a elite passing game than it is to stop a team with a elite running game. that is why the teams with the best offenses have a elite passing game and usually dont have a elite running game. i would like a top 10-15 passing game and a top 1-5 running game. that would be a awesome offense.

I'd counter this by saying that this current trend towards the passing game actually makes our dominant running attack that much more dangerous. Teams are loading up on fast quick defenders, who are also primarily pass rushers. Not many teams are capable of handling our massive OL and stable of backs. So while I do agree that we need to become more flexible (by better utilizing the TE's and RB's in the passing game), I don't think we need our receiving unit to equate to what we have in our running game. With current trends, we now have an advantage over most teams, so I think our best policy would be to continue using the running game to exploit those trends.

Also, IMO, most of our recent problems in the passing game have had more to do with Jake (and his arm troubles) than the WR's. And that just by making the switch to Moore, our passing attack should significantly improve and be good enough to keep teams honest. I really do think he is capable of playing efficiently and getting the ball to the playmakers when teams stack the box in an effort to stop the run. So all we really need is another threat (which I think a rookie is more than capable of) at WR, not someone to be Smitty's equal.

[Woodie]

My concern wouldn't have anything to do with "did the receivers we draft pan out"..

or why haven't we gone for more receivers so that maybe 1 pans out..

it's really about for years now there has been a gaping hole that hasn't been filled..

regardless of whether the few didn't pan out or whether we should have tried more often.. the fact still remains, 8 years later.. Fox has not drafted/brought in a solid receiver where there has been a HUGE hole for years..

Yes we had Moose, but you don't wait for players to leave, retire, die before you plan ahead..

it has held us back from winning big games.. yet, nothing has ever been done about it.

just frustrating.. since it's a wide range issue now, I'm voicing what I've been saying for years.. so can Fox develop a WR? what pisses me off based on the track record, I'm not so sure he gives a damn.. lol (until someone important tells him how to do his job, *ahem* Smitty *ahem*)

and when we start trying to find a #2 receiver in our TE's and RB's, let's just go ahead and move on..

To replace a #2 WR in our TE's and RB's, means we are only ignoring the problem. Not helping.

We have TEs and RBs who can catch.. that isn't our problem. We have 11 players on the field. 1 WR and 3 or 4 TE's/RBs? or 2 WR and 2 TE's and 1 RB?

see my point? to act like TE and RB is going to replace the #2 isn't an idea I like. That covers up the problem, it doesn't solve it.

Bring in a #2 and then we have TEs, RBs, and a 2nd receiver to spread the field..

I hear what your saying about the WR. And to a point I agree. But I think one problem we have had is that there have usually been more immediate needs than receiver, so with our early picks, we usually looked to fill those needs first. But, when they did try to find a receiver, unfortunately, they chose the wrong guy (was the problem scouting, Hurney/Fox, or something else entirely, I can't say). But I do think they have recognized the need, and tried to fill it.

Just imagine if DJ Hackett played for us as well as he did for Seattle (when he was healthy), or if Jarrett came in with a hunger and determination to excel instead of a sense of entitlement, then this would be a moot point. Heck, if Colbert could have even given us the production he did in his rookie year, WR would be a much lesser need right now. So I don't think the problem is that they didn't do enough, just that they didn't make the right decisions...and hopefully with a better scouting staff and new WR coach, we will get this one right.

I do want to make the point, though, that I was not trying to say we can use the TE's or RB's as the #2 receiver, but that along with Smitty and a decent #2, they can greatly enhance our passing game if we choose to use them. To be honest, I think if we can add a decent #2 (ideally someone with speed), we have the makings of an outstanding passing attack (although it would still be secondary to our running game). The only question is whether or not Fox will trust Davidson to devise a more creative gameplan, and would he trust Moore to carry it out. But, IMO, the pieces are there.

To be clear, the only thing I am not sold on is picking up a superstar WR like Marshall since I don't see enough balls in our offense to make both him and Smitty happy (which I think would eventually boil over into some drama we don't want). I also think his cost would greatly hurt our ability to re-sign some of our core guys that will be looking for their own payday within the next year or so. But I absolutely do think we need to take a WR early, and I honestly believe there are guys that will be available to us that can provide enough of a threat to free up Smitty.