Why You Should Be Happy With Tolbert Signing

[gotsmart?]

I like this pick up a lot. He is a good powerful runner with good hands and will be a great player to have in the redzone. We relied too much on Newton's legs in the redzone last season, and I think that Tolbert will add some more versatility out of the backfield. Wether it comes from running up the middle or PA pass to him as FB.

As long as Chud utilizes him right, which I assume he will, this could be a massive addition our offense in terms of consistency. We won't be more explosive, but definitely more reliable.

[panthers55]

At this point, we have 6 receivers on the roster which includes Smith, LaFell, Gettis, Adams, Pilares, and Edwards. Add 2 tight ends and 3 running backs who all can catch the ball. How many spots do we have left and how many catches would they get?? At this point if Smith went down with a season ending injury it would hurt us, but how many teams wouldn't it hurt?? We are not built like Green Bay or New Orleans with primarily a passing attack which is why we don't have 8 receivers on the roster.

Who can we get who is cheap in free agency or who we can at round 3 or lower who is better than we have right now?? I am not saying you can't find them, I am asking who??? I have no problem drafting a guy but if they are likely to get cut or demoted to the practice squad only to get picked up by someone else, then it is essentially a wasted pick.

[CRA]

At this point, we have 6 receivers on the roster which includes Smith, LaFell, Gettis, Adams, Pilares, and Edwards. Add 2 tight ends and 3 running backs who all can catch the ball. How many spots do we have left and how many catches would they get?? At this point if Smith went down with a season ending injury it would hurt us, but how many teams wouldn't it hurt?? We are not built like Green Bay or New Orleans with primarily a passing attack which is why we don't have 8 receivers on the roster.

Who can we get who is cheap in free agency or who we can at round 3 or lower who is better than we have right now?? I am not saying you can't find them, I am asking who??? I have no problem drafting a guy but if they are likely to get cut or demoted to the practice squad only to get picked up by someone else, then it is essentially a wasted pick.

yeah, we have a whole bunch of recieving options....if we lose any of them this offense won't skip a beat.

with one exception.

Steve Smith.

We don't need tons of WRs. We need a future Steve Smith. No, not a clone player but someone who can be a true #1 WR in a year or two. I don't give a poo about #2 and #3 WRs.

I am not unhappy w/ the Tolbert. It is a subtle tweak. What this team NEEDS to do is find Cam Newton's #1 WR who he is going to spend his career with. That guy should be developing with Cam NOW.

I like Tolbert. I see why we signed him. No offensive player is going to get me excited though until we start addressing the #1 WR.

[Louie]

I am not unhappy w/ the Tolbert. It is a subtle tweak. What this team NEEDS to do is find Cam Newton's #1 WR who he is going to spend his career with. That guy should be developing with Cam NOW.

I like Tolbert. I see why we signed him. No offensive player is going to get me excited though until we start addressing the #1 WR.

I agree with this 100%. We do need a good, young receiver that is a legitimate #1 WR to pair with Cam. As great as Smitty is, he won't be here Cam's whole career and if he goes down, we will be fugged.

[panthers55]

yeah, we have a whole bunch of recieving options....if we lose any of them this offense won't skip a beat.

with one exception.

Steve Smith.

We don't need tons of WRs. We need a future Steve Smith. No, not a clone player but someone who can be a true #1 WR in a year or two. I don't give a poo about #2 and #3 WRs.

I am not unhappy w/ the Tolbert. It is a subtle tweak. What this team NEEDS to do is find Cam Newton's #1 WR who he is going to spend his career with. That guy should be developing with Cam NOW.

You don't replace Steve Smith, you replace his production. And you can't bring in one guy to do it unless you get real lucky or invest a top 10 pick. You struggle to invest a first or second rounder while Smith is still so productive and says he wants to play through 2015 or 2016. I think you see what happens this year with Gettis and LaFell and give Edwards and Pilares touches as receivers. You spent the majority of picks on the defense. Then next year you look to bring in depth and build for the future and look to replace Smith. Throwing a 4th or 5th rounder now won't likely get it done and there are too many holes elsewhere to use a high pick. Rome wasn't built in a day and the team won't be fixed overnight. This will take time and right now it not the time to worry about Smith. If he goes down suddenly I could be wrong but assuming that doesn't happen, we have much more pressing needs.

[Kurb]

90% of NFL offenses would sputter if they lost a Steve Smith. He is a top 10 wideout in the NFL. That said, our Offense is much more versatile than in years past so the hurt wouldn't be near as bad as in the past when he was the only passing option.

[rayzor]

i guess the obvious conclusion is that if we haven't picked smitty's "replacement" by now and that we have addressed other positions that must mean that we aren't interested in replacing him.

[Kurb]

I'm guessing they are waiting till a certain date to give him an extension. Perhaps to give cap relief for the coming season IE: Help keeping Stewart.

[panthers55]

I'm guessing they are waiting till a certain date to give him an extension. Perhaps to give cap relief for the coming season IE: Help keeping Stewart.

Hard to have any negotiating leverage when he put up the numbers he did last year. If he does it again he will worth quite a bit even at his age. Maybe after extending Beason and having him go down like he did, they are figuring they need to wait until after the season. After all what do you gain by signing him now after the year he had last year?? If he tails off somewhat with Gettis in the mix, it might give you some leverage.

[CRA]

You don't replace Steve Smith, you replace his production. And you can't bring in one guy to do it unless you get real lucky or invest a top 10 pick. You struggle to invest a first or second rounder while Smith is still so productive and says he wants to play through 2015 or 2016. I think you see what happens this year with Gettis and LaFell and give Edwards and Pilares touches as receivers. You spent the majority of picks on the defense. Then next year you look to bring in depth and build for the future and look to replace Smith. Throwing a 4th or 5th rounder now won't likely get it done and there are too many holes elsewhere to use a high pick. Rome wasn't built in a day and the team won't be fixed overnight. This will take time and right now it not the time to worry about Smith. If he goes down suddenly I could be wrong but assuming that doesn't happen, we have much more pressing needs.

I am not saying they draft or replace Steve Smith today.

All I am saying, is that no move on offense will excite me or make me happy now that Cam is here....except for when we find his #1 WR.

It is more of a general statement. I think CB for example is a more pressing need today.....it is just an example of another thing this front office has ignored. Steve Smith has even spoken on the issue before. Smitty is at least prepared and knows if things go well he will turn into a Donald Driver type player......

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Still too many bro. 3 WR's, 1 TE, 2 RB's, 5 OL, + 1 QB.

You'd have to leave Olsen out for three wide sets, or run two wides with 1 TE in your scenario.

maybe they won't notice

[Peppers90 NC]

Dlo and stew counted as one spot, as notated by the backslash(/). Thanks for helping out though!

you still need more help, thanks for adding nothing though!

[Kurb]

Hard to have any negotiating leverage when he put up the numbers he did last year. If he does it again he will worth quite a bit even at his age. Maybe after extending Beason and having him go down like he did, they are figuring they need to wait until after the season. After all what do you gain by signing him now after the year he had last year?? If he tails off somewhat with Gettis in the mix, it might give you some leverage.

I don't think he wants a ton. We have given him 2 bit time deals. I have been wrong about such before tho.

[CRA]

I don't think he wants a ton. We have given him 2 bit time deals. I have been wrong about such before tho.

I know it is blasphamey around here but Smitty ain't worth a ton going forward. I realize on this board DeAngeo will pwn people in his mid 30s and Steve Smith will be snataching balls out of double coverage at 40 per some.....

3 yr deal worth about 17.5 sounds about right. Reggie Wayne type money. Probably can afford to make it a little nicer deal....but not a huge difference.