Is a lack of receivers really the problem?

[top dawg]

Lack of offensive play-makers at the wide-out position is probably 89 percent of the problem. 

[Snake]

Yes and no. I was watching replay and focusing on the WRs. What I saw was a combo of bad hands, poor line play, and Cam not resetting his feet.

[ok2h8pep]

Seems like the Panthers hardly ever have a check down due to the porous line meaning the running back has to stay in to protect CAM.  Just a casual observation but it seems like we have to use six to block four more than other teams.  That means that CAM doesn't have a short option unless it's by design for a TE or WR.  So I guess I fall into the category of 'fix the O-line' first before worrying about receivers.  That said, it gets repeated often that it is easier to find quality O-line in later rounds versus receivers although I've never seen any empirical data to back that up. 

[ok2h8pep]

Lack of offensive play-makers at the wide-out position is probably 89 percent of the problem. 

I see what you did there.  Unfortunately in this case 89% plus 11% does not add up to 100%.

[jptaylor84]

It's a combination of two things in my opinion.

The line not being healthy losing amini and kug didn't help things, gross as well as he played has lost a step and against younger talented players like aldon smith he struggled, Wharton helped him, wel they helped each other, the right side of that line is just plain horrible, I commend nate chandler but hes not a right guard and bell at right tackle we know is just bad!

Add to that a recieving bunch that is about as explosive as a dudd firework on New Year's Eve doesn't help cam out a whole lot, smitty is 34 and not going to be the same player obviously and should be in the slot these days where you wil get more production out of him! Lafell just a waste of space, he's had time to adapt step up he cannot, ranked 84th out of 94 active receivers in 2013 just won't cut it! Ginn actually did ok but is a fourth receiver at best, the receiver position has been neglected for years and to many experimental picks have been wasted on trash players! It's time to get weapons around cam because if I was him I wouldn't be hanging around a team that hasn't got my interests at heart! The colts built for luck and we should of done that for cam from day one! We have stacked up this defence for years now is the time to be forward thinking and go on the offensive so to speak and upgrade this offense with two line men and two or three receivers

[Growl]

There needs to be a sticky at the top of the first page telling anyone who thinks this offseason that the typical dribble we deal with every year here of "zomg don't need none of them fancy wideouts, games won/lost in the trenches, learn the football like me" and any other typical stupid idiosyncrasies you hear on the huddle this time of year from the same class of poster, will result in banning.

We need talented wide receivers. A few of them.

If you don't know that, then YOU are missing something which is indicative of nobody's intelligence but your own

"But dis ain't madden!"

[WOW!!]

Cam will truly never realize his true potential without weapons in the passing game. Plain and simple we have done less for our young QB compare to every team in the league. This opinion of fixing everything else and Cam will carry the offense. Has held sway for way to long now.

This is 1 of the best WR draft in years. We have to take advantage of it. We can't go into this season with sub par talent around Cam expecting him to make them superstars. Let's finally see what he can do with actually top talent at WR. I think we need to sign a FA WR and Draft 1 or 2.

[Delhommey]

Below avg wr's all trying to get open on 15 yard routes = sacks = 2013 Carolina Panthers

[Hammerin'Cameron34]

Lawl...lawl

 

Of course its the problem.

[AceBoogie]

Need both, when Cam has time nobody is open.

When somebody is open, Cam doesn't have time.

When Cam has time, and somebody is open it usually results in a positive play, or he sails it over their head.

[MHS831]

It is all connected.  We had to run the ball because we needed play action to freeze the DBs and LBs so our people could get open.  Lafell ran a 4.58 at the combine.  He is a bit slower coming out of his breaks than most WRs.  His hands are small, so he drops about every 10th pass thrown to him.  Not a good #2 WR.  Most of his big games were when the defense was focused on Smitty and Olsen and, at times, even Ginn before him.  Ginn, on the other hand, has the speed but is not comfortable running all of the route tree.  Smitty is 34 years old.  It was ugly, to be honest.

 

The OL was not bad considering what could have happened.  Gross and wharton were surprisingly solid.  Kalil had an All-Pro year; he was awesome at calling schemes, pulling, getting to the next level, and keeping Chandler aware.  However, the right side of the OL was pretty bad.  While Bell did not surrender many sacks, his angle was so deep and into the pocket, that his initial contact was often a few feet from Cam.  He did this to eliminate the chance of being duped by spin moves and stunts. figuring he could withstand a bull rush better.  But he lived in Cam's right ear, blocking his vision, and creating a lot of area for Chandler and the running backs to protect.

 

To make matters worse, our RBs did not do a very solid job in pass protection this season.  Tolbert and DWill missed a lot of blitzes. 

 

The WR problem would have been much more obvious without Cam Newton making lemonade and running for 20 yards when the WRs were covered.  Cam is not a Peyton Manning where he can read a defense and deliver a pass 2.4 seconds into the play.  Our routes need to be a bit deeper because he has trouble with LBs in pass coverage slipping underneath his vision.  That is OK, but you can't do it with a 34-year old slot WR playing #1 and a slow-footed, small handed #2.  Smitty needs to be a situational slot WR at this point in his career.   Cam needs taller, swifter targets on the outside with sure hands--Cam is not the most accurate QB. 

 

And we need a RT who can stonewall the End near the LOS and not 5 yards into the backfield.  

 

That is how I see it.

[Newtcase]

The whole team has to function, a deficiency in one area can make another look worse than it is.  It's the purest form of synergy.  Case Study: Atlanta - Julio Jones.

[philp]

all of the high octane offenses in the league have multiple receiving targets.  like others have said, we need to bring in 3 or 4 more guys, one being a TE.

[PantherPride5]

Yes, Cam needs to freaking weapons. He has none. Sorry Smitty.