Steve Smith needs 105 yards

[iampantherman]

If Smitty can stay healthy and productive over the next 4 or so years, it's not impossible that he could make a climb to top 5. (or top 2- Wishing upon a star :P ) I keep watching the list, thinking about where he may end up. Of course in the new NFL a top 5 Smitty will be a marginal top 50 yardage total in not too long.

[panthers55]

Amazing....even after how poorly the staff used him early on in the season. Playing loyalty/favoritism towards Beason

He was a rookie and not ready to run the offense day 1. He learned lot from Beason and grew into the position. I just don't get the constant bashing of the coaching staff on everything. Yes they made mistakes but they have done some things right.

[panthers04100]

it'd be nice to see him grab a few more TDs on the way. 3 would be his lowest number as a starting WR (excluding 2004)

2010 he had 2 although that season shouldn't count either.

[Rubi]

He was a rookie and not ready to run the offense day 1. He learned lot from Beason and grew into the position. I just don't get the constant bashing of the coaching staff on everything. Yes they made mistakes but they have done some things right.

1- he runs the defense

2- he was ready from day 1. You could see it in the first preseason game vs Houston what he was capable of. Also set NCAA records for tackles and one of the smartest players in the draft

3- Beason was not healthy. Depth chart is a coaching decision

I bash this staff because they ran a gimmick offense that ruined this season

[panthers55]

1- he runs the defense

2- he was ready from day 1. You could see it in the first preseason game vs Houston what he was capable of. Also set NCAA records for tackles and one of the smartest players in the draft

3- Beason was not healthy. Depth chart is a coaching decision

I bash this staff because they ran a gimmick offense that ruined this season

Kuechly didn't know all of the defensive packages in preseason. Just because you can tackle someone and have a good feel for where the ball is going doesn't mean you understand all the intricacies of the defense and know where all of your folks should be lined up on every play and can call audibles like he did against Atlanta the second time.

Beason was as healthy as he going to be. The idea was to use him as the field general and see what he had.

As for the staff, what does the fact that Chud gimmicked the offense too much have to do with the defense and not putting Kuechly in the middle until he was ready. You are way over the top.

[hepcat]

If he had Cam as his QB his entire career...he'd be walking into the HOF no problem. He'd probably have a ring as well. But...as much as he deserves it I'm not sure he'll end up in Canton unless he wins the big one.

That is one dude I'm gunna really miss on the team once he hangs it up.

[Rubi]

Kuechly didn't know all of the defensive packages in preseason. Just because you can tackle someone and have a good feel for where the ball is going doesn't mean you understand all the intricacies of the defense and know where all of your folks should be lined up on every play and can call audibles like he did against Atlanta the second time.

Beason was as healthy as he going to be. The idea was to use him as the field general and see what he had.

As for the staff, what does the fact that Chud gimmicked the offense too much have to do with the defense and not putting Kuechly in the middle until he was ready. You are way over the top.

Natural position was MLB. He didn't have a bad wheel or an injured shoulder. Beason played hurt in the middle of the field. Pretty important part of the defense. Give me a talented rookie who's healthy to cover the middle. It's funny you say he didn't know all the fine little details yet he shows up around the ball 90% of the time and he leads the NFL in tackles with 100 less plays then the guy 2nd to him...it's called instincts...and they do transfer over to calling the defensive audibles...

The example I used was to show the ineptitude of this staff over the course of the season. Same could be said for sticking with Beason while he continued to be liability in the middle of the field.

If you don't like my opinion then sorry about it. And it's not hind sight because I said kuechly should've been in the middle from day 1 and I was on the Luke band wagon before the draft.

Loyalty has crippled this team too many times. I like the fact Rivera is finally evaluating this team and giving other guys a chance. Probably a little too late

[Razeyfingers]

Steve Smith always seems to have monster games when he is closing in on records or accomplishments

no he just seems to have big games. . but yes he has big games then too.

[panthers55]

Natural position was MLB. He didn't have a bad wheel or an injured shoulder. Beason played hurt in the middle of the field. Pretty important part of the defense. Give me a talented rookie who's healthy to cover the middle. It's funny you say he didn't know all the fine little details yet he shows up around the ball 90% of the time and he leads the NFL in tackles with 100 less plays then the guy 2nd to him...it's called instincts...and they do transfer over to calling the defensive audibles...

The example I used was to show the ineptitude of this staff over the course of the season. Same could be said for sticking with Beason while he continued to be liability in the middle of the field.

If you don't like my opinion then sorry about it. And it's not hind sight because I said kuechly should've been in the middle from day 1 and I was on the Luke band wagon before the draft.

Loyalty has crippled this team too many times. I like the fact Rivera is finally evaluating this team and giving other guys a chance. Probably a little too late

Because he is a middle linebacker in college and knows how to play the defense for Boston College does nothing to show he can play in our defense in the NFL. They are not similar systems. As for the bad wheel or shoulder, Beason hurt them during the season and Kuechly came in at that point. He was not hurt at the beginning of the year and his health was related to the Achilles not the rotator cuff.

And instincts are what players need in order for them to be around the ball not for them to know that they need to call off the blitz and play zone under instead of man. They are 2 completely different things and while instincts are natural, learning the defense and where everyone should be on every play has to be learned over time.

As for loyalty you are confusing Fox and what he did with Rivera who had little loyalty for anyone which is why he got rid of Brown last year even though he was a 2nd rounder.

Seems you are trying to throw things against the wall to see if you can something to stick. There is lots to dislike about Rivera but your examples just don't ring true.

[Rubi]

Because he is a middle linebacker in college and knows how to play the defense for Boston College does nothing to show he can play in our defense in the NFL. They are not similar systems. As for the bad wheel or shoulder, Beason hurt them during the season and Kuechly came in at that point. He was not hurt at the beginning of the year and his health was related to the Achilles not the rotator cuff.

And instincts are what players need in order for them to be around the ball not for them to know that they need to call off the blitz and play zone under instead of man. They are 2 completely different things and while instincts are natural, learning the defense and where everyone should be on every play has to be learned over time.

As for loyalty you are confusing Fox and what he did with Rivera who had little loyalty for anyone which is why he got rid of Brown last year even though he was a 2nd rounder.

Seems you are trying to throw things against the wall to see if you can something to stick. There is lots to dislike about Rivera but your examples just don't ring true.

Beason was hurt even during preseason. He was coming off a terrible Achilles injury and sometimes when guys don't fully recover they experience other injuries such as a knee on the same leg...the shoulder...who knows what happened...either way....his body wasn't ready. As for the Boston college comment...yea he played middle there...he set NCAA records for tackles. It's his natural position. Of course it would translate. And what do you think happens when guys audible? They see something and a light goes off and they change the play...it's called using your gut...aka instincts lol??? The league is different now....rookies are thrown into the fire right away....and the loyalty issue...no where did I mention Fox...so that point doesn't make sense.

Loyalty is when you award guys outrageous contracts when they have underperformed, have done nothing but lose, or come off horrific injuries but pay em anyway...

Good try though

[Rubi]

Panthers55....you started off saying Kuechly shouldn't run the offense....you can't even typo that...defense / offense...even if you tried hahah whatever get outta here meat

[Mage]

I really hope he does it this week and if he doesn't, I'll be honest, I'd rather we see a bunch of other receivers step up in the final week @ Saints rather than Smith break it there. I just want to see it accomplished at home. But I think he's capable, especially against this Raiders secondary.

[panthers55]

Beason was hurt even during preseason. He was coming off a terrible Achilles injury and sometimes when guys don't fully recover they experience other injuries such as a knee on the same leg...the shoulder...who knows what happened...either way....his body wasn't ready. As for the Boston college comment...yea he played middle there...he set NCAA records for tackles. It's his natural position. Of course it would translate. And what do you think happens when guys audible? They see something and a light goes off and they change the play...it's called using your gut...aka instincts lol??? The league is different now....rookies are thrown into the fire right away....and the loyalty issue...no where did I mention Fox...so that point doesn't make sense.

Loyalty is when you award guys outrageous contracts when they have underperformed, have done nothing but lose, or come off horrific injuries but pay em anyway...

Good try though

First of all I was a huge supporter of Kuechly and mentioned him on the huddle as my choice long before most of you even heard about him so spare me the details about Luke. I was the one telling all of you about him and am well aware of his abilities and limitations. And clearly you have no clue about the difference between our defense and the one he played in at Boston college or you wouldn't persist that he could walk into this defense and not have a pretty steep learning curve. And no you don't audiblize because you get a gut feeling, you audibalize because you watched film all week and studied the tendencies of the other team and worked on how to counter various formations based on down and distance. The instinct then comes in when you react to the play and flow to the ball. The difference is worrying about where you need to be versus where the other 7 guys on the front seven are going to be. By closing off options by the defense you play you try and force the offense to react to you not react to them which is the opposite of being instinctual. If you don't understand that basis concept we likely can't have a conversation.

Loyalty is where you pay your players and show the team that instead of throwing players under the bus when they get hurt you will stick with them like we did with Davis. And it paid off huge dividends. The issue with players like Williams and Stewart was not that we paid them so much but that we paid them and then didn't build the offense around them. Otherwise it became wasted money.

[panthers55]

Panthers55....you started off saying Kuechly shouldn't run the offense....you can't even typo that...defense / offense...even if you tried hahah whatever get outta here meat

I haven't heard a conversation like this since I talked with my middle schooler an hour ago. Try elevating yourself to at least adult status.......