KB's effect on the Offense

[UNCrules2187]

What kind of effect has Kelvin Benjamin had on the Panthers' offense? Brandon LaFell led the team in 2013 with six receptions on deep passes. In two pro games, Benjamin already has five receptions on deep balls, including two against Detroit this week. Newton through seven deep balls against the Lions, completing four of them for 87 yards.

 

 

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/quick-reads/2014/week-2-quick-reads

 

BUT WE HAVE NO RECEIVERS!!!

[Chaos]

A case can be made of addition by subtraction.  If you were looking at stats alone, on paper it seems we gave up a top-notch, but aging WR in Smitty, a middle of the pack guy in LaFell, the speedster Ginn, and bench warmer Dominick Hixon - who I still thank for that game winner against the Saints.

 

But in reality, having Cotchery and Avant plus a rookie in Benjamin makes it more difficult for a defense to game plan.  I'm sure the old adage was if you stop Steve Smith, you shut down our passing game.  We now have options, Cam can spread it around without catching heat over too few targets to 89.

 

Better distribution, more single coverage, throw in some Greg Olsen because he's all that and more, and we have a nice complement of pass catchers that Cam can spread the wealth to.

 

TL/DR we're better

[L-TownCat]

A case can be made of addition by subtraction.  If you were looking at stats alone, on paper it seems we gave up a top-notch, but aging WR in Smitty, a middle of the pack guy in LaFell, the speedster Ginn, and bench warmer Dominick Hixon - who I still thank for that game winner against the Saints.

 

But in reality, having Cotchery and Avant plus a rookie in Benjamin makes it more difficult for a defense to game plan.  I'm sure the old adage was if you stop Steve Smith, you shut down our passing game.  We now have options, Cam can spread it around without catching heat over too few targets to 89.

 

Better distribution, more single coverage, throw in some Greg Olsen because he's all that and more, and we have a nice complement of pass catchers that Cam can spread the wealth to.

 

TL/DR we're better

 

The only thing we subtracted was a local legend passed his physical prime.  Loved him more than most.  But this is not addition by subtraction.  Its just plain upgrading.  No if ands or buts.  The position is better now because we have better players.

[mav1234]

I think the whole "but Cam has nobody to throw to!" bit was always overdone.  Olsen was Cam's primary target last year, and he returned.  Smitty still had something to give and I wish things had worked out differently with him, but overall our WR corps is upgraded from last year, I think.

[Chaos]

The only thing we subtracted was a local legend passed his physical prime.  Loved him more than most.  But this is not addition by subtraction.  Its just plain upgrading.  No if ands or buts.  The position is better now because we have better players.

 

I get what you're saying, what I meant was we upgraded with an overall better compliment of receivers top to bottom, but so many viewed it as Steve Smith was our entire WR corps.  If Smitty was the top, and no one came in to replace him with anywhere close to his statistical accomplishments then we must have diminished in our WR position (outsider perspective).

 

I was stating that this might appear so on paper, but a top-to-bottom improvement outweighs one key guy and spare parts.  My main point was as an offense we should be better because an opposing defense can no longer just think about a double team on Smitty.

[UNCrules2187]

Yup. And while Smith is experiencing a sort of renaissance in Baltimore this season, it's naive to think he would have the same kind of production in Carolina. It's fairly obvious that getting cut lit a fire under his ass. Sometimes, when you've been doing a job for years and years, no matter how hard you work, you end up getting complacent. 

 

And combine that with the fact that the Panthers have never been able to develop a WR alongside Smith and seem to be doing that tremendously with Benji, it really was a no brainer to let him go. Sometimes the relationship just sours and it makes sense for both parties to move on.

[CRA]

Yup. And while Smith is experiencing a sort of renaissance in Baltimore this season, it's naive to think he would have the same kind of production in Carolina. It's fairly obvious that getting cut lit a fire under his ass. Sometimes, when you've been doing a job for years and years, no matter how hard you work, you end up getting complacent.

And combine that with the fact that the Panthers have never been able to develop a WR alongside Smith and seem to be doing that tremendously with Benji, it really was a no brainer to let him go. Sometimes the relationship just sours and it makes sense for both parties to move on.

I actually don't think 89 looks better this year.

Week 1 he looked like crap big picture. He had a fluke breakdown play which was how he got behind the D.

Week 2 he was targeted 346 times....and put up very average numbers

[UNCrules2187]

I actually don't think 89 looks better this year.

Week 1 he looked like crap big picture. He had a fluke breakdown play which was how he got behind the D.

Week 2 he was targeted 346 times....and put up very average numbers

 

Honestly, his catch percentage isn't really out of line with his career average. He's on pace for 200 targets, which yes, would be the most of his career by a long shot. His most targets were in 2007 with 149 (ESPN started tracking targets in 2006). I suspect 2005 he probably had more targets. 

 

He currently has a 52% catch rate through 2 games (and that includes several bad drops in Week 1). Since 2006 (again, since ESPN started tracking targets), his average catch rate is 56% (588 rec / 1,051 targets).

 

But yeah, that's why I couched it with "a sort of renaissance."  Subjectively speaking, it's obvious he's playing with more fire and purpose than he had been the past couple of seasons IMO.

[firefox1234]

What KB gives the offense more that anything is his size. When plays are breaking down or the offense needs something to jump start a drive KB will be that go to guy. Smitty was the guys for a while but he wasnt getting any younger and his size could not be overlooked even with his vast amount of skill.