Does anyone still think Wide Reciever is a big issue??

[carpanfan96]

Not really, I think Gettis has what it takes to be a # 1 in a year or two... Lafell still has plenty of time and has shown some promise... Still don't know what AE can do..

If smith stays and they get someone who can get them the ball .....then watch out...

Need Oline / Dline and most of all QB

[bleys]

we don't know the ceiling to Gettis and LaFell.. only homers are going to assume the best situation will occur that they both will be solid threats.. yes, it's definitely possible. possible being the key point I'm making..

by no means do I think the WR is settled, even with Smitty.. matter of fact, I think Smitty needs taken out of the equation of this question itself.. He shouldn't be viewed as our #1 because who knows how long he'll stay in the league.. the objective is to replenish the roster with young players and overlap the time it takes them to step up with the older veterans..

to think Smitty makes everything okay for years to come is the furthest from the case.. If Gettis and LaFell are solid contributors, you still need another receiver.. having 2 WRs even in a run first offense is to settle for mediocrity when you can add more threats for a defense to worry about.. and AE is not even in the equation at the moment.. to plan a future #3 WR around AE at this point is a complete gamble..

You can use Goodson there, but if he has to be the main RB due to injuries, you can't rely on him as a slot.. and we have yet to see if he could be a legit WR anyhow..

[SorthNarolina]

LaFell/Gettis having successful careers here isn't a guarantee so I'm still concerned but it's not as hopeless as it used to be.

Edwards needs to step up soon though.

[theyhateme45]

If we just want average, or below average WR core than no it's not a problem. But if we want our offense to become more than just average than yes.

[Anybodyhome]

Too late

Now this is my question to those who want us to draft A.J. Green or scoop up a quality receiver in FA. If we go that route, how does AE see the field next year?

AE will see the field like the rest of us- from his living room couch.

But seriously, if Moose, Proehl and Smith were back on the field this season it would have made little difference to the coach who will run into 8-man boxes all day long because that's how he thinks the game should be played, not how it should be won.

The deadly combination of a head coach who refuses to throw the ball and QB who can't throw the ball are what killed this offense, not the WRs.

[bleys]

AE will see the field like the rest of us- from his living room couch.

But seriously, if Moose, Proehl and Smith were back on the field this season it would have made little difference to the coach who will run into 8-man boxes all day long because that's how he thinks the game should be played, not how it should be won.

The deadly combination of a head coach who refuses to throw the ball and QB who can't throw the ball are what killed this offense, not the WRs.

I think that's definitely true.. but we still need to address WR..

[Matthias]

Okay, I just had a mad scientist thought just now. You know how some of us were thinking about bringing in Albert Haynesworth for cheap money. Well, what would you think if Carolina brought T.O. in for a year to play with Smitty? At the very least, it would be interesting to see what would happen between him and Smitty. (Another broken nose in training camp?)

[communist]

If Steve Smith leaves- definitely. If he stays and we actually get a quarterback who can throw to him, then we should be fine next year.

are u kidding me? i've just seen a pass by clausen which went right through smith's hands...

[House]

are u kidding me? i've just seen a pass by clausen which went right through smith's hands...

That was Clausen's fault for throwing it so close to him. He should have overthrown him by about 34 yards so that there would be no way to blame SS.

[Pantherman]

Honestly right now it is hard to tell wheather we have a good WR core or not. We don't even have a good oline that can protect our QB long enough to find a open WR. But on the other hand we don't really have a threat of WR right now neither. Hell the Lions are like 3-11 right now but still their WRs get open and can catch with ease no matter wheather their starting QB is out their or their 3rd string is out there on the field. When a team that is 3-11 can have 3rd string QB that come out and throw 2 WRs on a team like the lions. Then there is something wrong with our WR core or the coaching staff one. As of right now it is very hard to tell until we get a new HC and a new Coaching staff in here. Time will tell.

[MWCarolina]

a good QB can make medicore WRs look good and good WRs look great.

the receiving corps we have (WRs. TEs, and RBs) are good enough to get the job done. we just need a QB and a better OC that can take them to the next level. thats what is holding them back.

yeah and the offensive line is playing GREAT. i like to see how well Luck (who i think can be great if helped) or Newton (will struggle if he starts on any team next year) will do when they are on their back. The line needs MAJOR work.

[MWCarolina]

As of right now it is very hard to tell until we get a new HC and a new Coaching staff in here. Time will tell.

i agree, it's VERY hard to tell, what if the problem IS the recievers and we figure it out too late????? that's what i think will happen. I think we do draft a quarterback (most likely Luck if he comes out, but if he stays in school, they draft a guy i think wont do well in Newton) and i see Luck doing ok, but only winning 4 games while Newton would likely win 3 or 2 games.

[Matthias]

Alright, I've been giving this some serious thought. We may lose Steve Smith if we don't do something drastic in the free agency period. Steve Smith is still a top wideout in this league, and if we lose him, we have to start completely over at the wide receiver position. Lafell and Gettis aren't quite ready to be a number 1 or 2 receiver yet, so they need another year of development, this time with a good team.

So once again, the Panthers should strongly consider bringing in T.O. if he's healthy. T.O. is comfortable with signing one year contracts, and he has shown he still can play at a good level. If all goes well, we will have a duo at wideout just as we have our duo now at running back. If we can lure Nnamdi Asomugha out of Oakland, we would then have a duo at cornerback. Bring in a couple of more vets (QB, Mankins at G, DT), and we won't have to worry about T.O. breaking up the locker room. Here's my starting line up for the Panthers in 2011:

QB Andrew Luck

RB DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart

FB Tony Fiammetta

WR Steve Smith

WR Terrell Owens

TE Marcedes Lewis (If he enters free agency)

T Jordan Gross

G Travelle Wharton

C Ryan Kalil

G Logan Mankins

T Jeff Otah

DE ?/Greg Hardy if improved

DT ?

DT ? Vet

DE Charles Johnson

OLB James Anderson

MLB Jon Beason

OLB Thomas Davis

CB Nnamdi Asomugha

FS Myron Rolle (This kid has major potential. Hurney needs to get him now.)

SS Charles Godfrey

CB Chris Gamble

Ultimately with veteran stars like Smitty, Beason, Thomas Davis, Asomugha, and Dwill, they will keep T.O. from getting a big head. Plus Luck would have top talent around him to work with. Another plus is if we get Myron Rolle, Luck will have someone he can play chess with. (Those smart kids) So this plan would be crazy enough to work and keep Smitty on board till the day he retires.

[The_Cannon]

You would honestly rather have Myron Rolle than Sherrod Martin at saftey? I can almost get behind bring in TO but I can not support replacing Martin who has been a productive member of the Defense with Rolle who struggles to make a NFL roster (if he's even still on one) let that kid go and be a brain surgeon.