Is a lack of receivers really the problem?

[Mr. Scot]

Its the same bull poo every year. "We don't need receivers" "line just needs to block" "he is to slow don't draft him" "lafell will breakout next season"

 

 

im tired of it. Not wasting time looking at threads like this anymore

 

I don't really think anyone is saying that we don't need receivers.

 

What's being argued is that we need offensive lineman just as badly, and I think that's a valid point.

[IamSoClutch]

This is going to be on long offseason. The only problem with our oline is running lanes. They give cam enough time to throw it's just no one gets open. We don't need to go all in on wr just need to get 1 wr and 1 mauling run blocking RT

[Razeyfingers]

Here is a better question to ask. What would improve the team more? WR or OL?

 

Scenario if we get 2 WRs - We have an slight improvement in offense. We probably score 3-5 pts more per game compared to last year

 

Scenario if we get 2 OLs - We have better improvement on offense. Run game avgs more yards and we see a similar benefit in the WRs we have. We score 5-7 pts more per game. 

 

What do you think?

 

 

I often wonder what would have happened to our defense if say we drafted 2 CBs last year instead of 2 DTs. I feel we go from top 3 defense to top 15 just based on the weaker pass rush. What I realize is that pass rush is the most important element in defense. You cant give the QB time to throw or he is going to hit every target. 

 

just sayin but 99% of huddlers are going to read that and go. . . . but but 6'5 receiver = unstoppable.

 

 

They dont get it my friend.

[davos]

People tend to let the height of a receiver muddle their view.  I'm not saying grab a guy under 6' but Boldin and Crabtree are 6'1.  They have big hands and huge verticals.  It varies by receiver but there are clearly "jump ball" types below 6'4.

 

And yes, receiver is our biggest need.  Smitty and McNutt are like the only ones on a freaking contract.  

 

We definitely need a strong RT at the least on the line but receiver is a glaring issue and I'd rather find Cam his compliment sooner than later.  

 

 

[h0llywood]

If Cam kept the same OL from this past season but upgraded the WR, I believe that offensive numbers become elevated. 

 

However, if you upgrade the OL but kept the same WRs, I think the numbers remain the same. You cannot teach the Lafells how to man up and elevate his game.

[Mr. Scot]

People tend to let the height of a receiver muddle their view.  I'm not saying grab a guy under 6' but Boldin and Crabtree are 6'1.  They have big hands and huge verticals.  It varies by receiver but there are clearly "jump ball" types below 6'4.

 

And yes, receiver is our biggest need.  Smitty and McNutt are like the only ones on a freaking contract.  

 

We definitely need a strong RT at the least on the line but receiver is a glaring issue and I'd rather find Cam his compliment sooner than later.  

 

Boldin is 6'1, weighs 220.

 

Crabtree is 6'1, weighs 215,

 

Marques Colston is 6'4, weighs 225.

 

Brandon Lafell is 6'2, weighs 210.

 

My thing is I don't just want tall receivers, I want big, physical receivers.

[Jbo]

If Cam kept the same OL from this past season but upgraded the WR, I believe that offensive numbers become elevated. 

 

However, if you upgrade the OL but kept the same WRs, I think the numbers remain the same. You cannot teach the Lafells how to man up and elevate his game.

 

Exactly... Looking back on the season how many times did teams stack the box on us and force us to throw it? This was a huge reason we could not run the ball. That compacted with the fact our O line was just average when playing at their best. Having a receiver or a combination of receivers that require help over the top or extra pass coverage backers would help the team tremendously, especially the run game.

 

With that said, I feel the team addresses O line before WR, unfortunately.

[Ricky Spanish]

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.

 

 

you win the thread

[carolina-chuck]

 

 

[carolina-chuck]

 

 

[carolina-chuck]

 

 

[PantherFeez]

For me it's the O-line. Limited run game this year was big (hurts trying to be balanced). And when Olsen is pulled into the back field on 3rd downs to pass protect cause the O-line can't cut it, that drives me crazy (he was our leading pass catcher). Injuries were a problem, and Silatolu will be back.. but RT is glaring and we need a future LT to be groomed by Gross for 1-2 years.

 

Yes O-line is just one of the problems, and sure upgrades at wr or any position helps. It would just be nice to see Cam being able to read the field all day behind a line like SF. That could fix some problems with his footwork and feeling rushed or pressured. He improves, the whole offense improves.

 

It wouldn't hurt my feelings at all to get the best OT on the board at 28, bpa/cb/wr in the 2nd, and another O-line hog molly in the 3rd

[carolina-chuck]

 

 

[carolina-chuck]