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Smitty meets with Gettleman today

jptaylor84

By jptaylor84,
in Carolina Panthers

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Woodie Newbie

Woodie

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I have to disagree then, I think he's close to the same player he was in 2011.

 

We got a different OC, and started running the ball more in 2013. The offense changed. This doesn't come down to will he or won't he eventually leave, we all know he will. The question is who takes over right now? The problem is he is the only receiver we have under contract.

 

If you get a chance, go back and watch some of our games this year, particularly ones later in the season.  You'll see that he doesn't get in and out of breaks like he used to, or have that burst to separate, and he definitely can't get up and ****** the ball away from a DB on jump balls like he was so adept at.  Simply, he's just not the same player anymore.  What he does have is experience and knows how to work the field.  He smarter and understands coverages better, and as a result does a better job of finding the hole. 

 

I don't question whether he can be effective, I have no doubt he can be.  And if I had my preference, he would remain a Panther.  I just don't want him as our #1 anymore.  I think he can be utilized better in other ways.  But his contract is the problem.  We simply cannot pay him as a #1 when he doesn't produce like a #1 anymore.  In a perfect world, he restructures his contract to take away the killer option and accepts a reasonable salary with incentives (real ones that if he does produce like you think he can will reward him justly). 

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TheRed Newbie

TheRed

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If you get a chance, go back and watch some of our games this year, particularly ones later in the season.  You'll see that he doesn't get in and out of breaks like he used to, or have that burst to separate, and he definitely can't get up and ****** the ball away from a DB on jump balls like he was so adept at.  Simply, he's just not the same player anymore.  What he does have is experience and knows how to work the field.  He smarter and understands coverages better, and as a result does a better job of finding the hole. 

 

I don't question whether he can be effective, I have no doubt he can be.  And if I had my preference, he would remain a Panther.  I just don't want him as our #1 anymore.  I think he can be utilized better in other ways.  But his contract is the problem.  We simply cannot pay him as a #1 when he doesn't produce like a #1 anymore.  In a perfect world, he restructures his contract to take away the killer option and accepts a reasonable salary with incentives (real ones that if he does produce like you think he can will reward him justly). 

 

I don't want him to have to shoulder the load as the #1 receiver anymore either.

 

As far as him reworking his contract, it's all speculation right now, all I've heard so far is rumors saying that he supposedly won't do that.

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lola Newbie

lola

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I don't think I will ever be ready for it. I do know, however, I AM ready for a Super Bowl.

Not sure if one has anything to do with the other, but.....

That would be so bittersweet. Winning a Super Bowl without 89. Of anyone, he deserves it the most.

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Woodie Newbie

Woodie

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I don't want him to have to shoulder the load as the #1 receiver anymore either.

 

As far as him reworking his contract, it's all speculation right now, all I've heard so far is rumors saying that he supposedly won't do that.

Regardless of what side of the fence we sit regarding Smitty, I think we can all agree that we desperately need a legitimate option on the other side.  I think he's carried that burden all by himself far too long. 

 

And you are correct, there has been nothing at all said about his contract.  But I do think it's a logical assumption considering he can still be effective, but has a big option due this year that the team has to make a decision on.  So I can't think of a reason we would even think about moving on from him except the option and future cap implications...and no, I don't think the leadership issue that has been discussed is big enough to move on from him, just a small part of the puzzle.

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CarolinaSock Explorer

CarolinaSock

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Anyone arguing about the run/pass ratio changing drastically didn't pay attention. We went from 51% passing to 49%. A difference of about 1 pass a game. If you want a scary stat, Lafell averaged over a yard more per catch than Smith. Olsen had over 120 more yards after the catch them Smith and even Lafell had 80 more yards.

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TheRed Newbie

TheRed

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Anyone arguing about the run/pass ratio changing drastically didn't pay attention. We went from 51% passing to 49%. A difference of about 1 pass a game. If you want a scary stat, Lafell averaged over a yard more per catch than Smith. Olsen had over 120 more yards after the catch them Smith and even Lafell had 80 more yards.

 

There is definitely a difference between Mike Shula's offense, and Rob Chudzinksi's. Our passing game was certainly different.

 

You also have to factor in that Steve Smith missed most of the Saints game in Charlotte, and the Falcons game in Atlanta.

 

By the way, in that Atlanta game without Steve Smith on the field, Lafell had zero yards.

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panfan32 Newbie

panfan32

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can we block billy love yet? Seriously. They way the offense was going this last season it was a spread the ball around offense. Avoiding Cam from locking in on one target as he has so many times in the past. Now if we had a REAL #2 WR, Smiths number would have been higher. But to be honest no one else other than Olsen scared any defensive Coordinator.  And as A defensive minded coach, I would tie my best cover CB and a safety or coverage LB on SS like white on rice. Lefell cant can run good routes but cant get seperation to save his life. His one big play this past season was do to blown coverage and even then Ginn had to race from the opposite side of the field to throw a key block for LeFell to go all the way.

 

Not to mention the new offensive coordinator is more of a balanced type of coach and wanted to get away from Cam throwing the ball 40+ times a game and want a run first offense.

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MadHatter Rookie

MadHatter

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can we block billy love yet? Seriously. They way the offense was going this last season it was a spread the ball around offense. Avoiding Cam from locking in on one target as he has so many times in the past. Now if we had a REAL #2 WR, Smiths number would have been higher. But to be honest no one else other than Olsen scared any defensive Coordinator.  And as A defensive minded coach, I would tie my best cover CB and a safety or coverage LB on SS like white on rice. Lefell cant can run good routes but cant get seperation to save his life. His one big play this past season was do to blown coverage and even then Ginn had to race from the opposite side of the field to throw a key block for LeFell to go all the way.

 

Not to mention the new offensive coordinator is more of a balanced type of coach and wanted to get away from Cam throwing the ball 40+ times a game and want a run first offense.

 

Tried to read and respond.....however, the grammer and sentence structure was SO bad that it made my head hurt.

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CarolinaSock Explorer

CarolinaSock

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I don't think anyone is arguing Lafell or Ginn are #1 receivers. Some are arguing that Smith still can be. Even with Smith missing 2 games he had 21 more targets and 15 more catches than Lafell to add to that yac number. Smith can still be that wiley vet ala Proehl, but his explosiveness is dissipating quickly.

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TheRed Newbie

TheRed

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I think most people will tell you that they don't want to have to rely on Steve Smith as our #1 anymore. Look at the Colts situation with Reggie Wayne, he doesn't have to do it all. They went out, and immediately got young receiving talent to surround Andrew Luck with.

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