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I don't feel Bene gets enough respect from the Panther faithful

Matthias

By Matthias,
in Carolina Panthers

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Matthias Proficient

Matthias

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I keep hearing how many of us want Bene to go back to being our nickel corner.  I've listened to some Charlotte sports talk, and they figure Charles Tillman will start opposite Norman, pretty much removing Bene without much thought whatsoever. (Not that I'm saying Tillman would be bad by any means.  I'm quite confident in his ability.  In fact, he is better than Bene right now.)

 

 

I think it would be a mistake to put Bene back at the nickel.  This guy is brimming on top corner ability.  It is very rare to have a guy like this at such a young age in NFL standards.  I want him to continue to progress in that.  To me, moving him back to being a part time nickel seems like we would put a lid on him.  Not that I believe his talent would regress or anything, but I just don't want to move him from that spot.  What I saw from him in his starts last year was downright incredible.  He legitimized our young secondary when Cason and White left it a gaping hole earlier in the season.  He has the skills of a true shut down corner, and I want him to continue to develop that in remaining our starter.  Now where would Tillman play if Bene is still the starter?  I've said before Tillman should take Harper's spot.  I wouldn't mind if Tillman took Boston's spot in the starting lineup because Tillman should definitely start.  Just not at the cost of Bene's spot.

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t96 Grand Master

t96

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Don't get ahead of yourself. Bene is not a true shut down corner. And it's no guarantee that he will be. The biggest reason for the secondary's success was Norman. Bene was a fantastic player across from him, but he was even better in the slot. He fits nickel perfectly and we're trying to have success on defense, not progress one player. And it's not like him playing nickel would hinder his progression. I anticipate we'll see Norman and Bene outside when we go with 3 backers and he'll kick inside in nickel packages with Tillman coming in. No reports have said he's strictly be nickel.

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Matthias Proficient

Matthias

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Don't get ahead of yourself. Bene is not a true shut down corner. And it's no guarantee that he will be. The biggest reason for the secondary's success was Norman. Bene was a fantastic player across from him, but he was even better in the slot. He fits nickel perfectly and we're trying to have success on defense, not progress one player. And it's not like him playing nickel would hinder his progression. I anticipate we'll see Norman and Bene outside when we go with 3 backers and he'll kick inside in nickel packages with Tillman coming in. No reports have said he's strictly be nickel.

 

Late last year, people stopped throwing to Norman's side because they knew he was our best corner.  Yet we still did great against the pass because Bene showed up on the other side and took offenses best hit.  I think Tillman should start because I believe he's our best defensive back right now besides Norman.  So that means either Bene will be off the field if Tillman starts at corner, or we put Tillman at safety.  I rather see Tillman at safety and keep Bene on the outside.  At least that's my hope.  A lot of people want Bene back at nickel.

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Bartin Collaborator

Bartin

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Bene moving back to nickel comes from Gettleman/Rivera and not from the fan base. People projecting Bene moving to nickel is almost solely based upon what the team wants to do. Everyone thought he did a great job on the outside at the end of last year and most don't see the need to move him back inside.

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Nick_81 Newbie

Nick_81

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Bene moving back to nickel comes from Gettleman/Rivera and not from the fan base. People projecting Bene moving to nickel is almost solely based upon what the team wants to do. Everyone thought he did a great job on the outside at the end of last year and most don't see the need to move him back inside.

I'm one of those who don't see the need to move him inside.  People can talk about his 40 time all they want, but I've seen him run step-for-step, down the sidelines, with some fast receivers.  I like him on the outside, but it all boils down to where the coaches want him.

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TheRumGone Grand Master

TheRumGone

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ill just say nickel isn't a downgrade in our system but i would like bene on the outside as well. It's just about getting the best combo. If we don't have a legit nickel corner to take bene's place then yes move him back inside to cover the slot but only if we have someone who can man the outside at a quality level.

 

its about getting the right combination of DBs. slot recievers have burned us in the past and those quick throws have been used to negate our powerful pass rush in the past. Thats why bene is so valuable. Honestly this is a good problem to have. He's versatile

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KSpan Grand Master

KSpan

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I think he'll move to nickel for that package, but stay on the outside for base package.

 

There is precedent for this, and I think many of the "back to nickel" references actually mean this arrangement. That said, if Tillman moves to safety the trio of Bene-Norman-Jones was solid and Colin could be even better with additional experience at that position. The possibilities are very exciting because the team has some actual talent to work with... been a while since that could be said.

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Riverboat Ron Mentor

Riverboat Ron

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It's no disrespect to say Bene is a nickel CB, the guy was solid on the outside but he started out the year on fire at nickel creating turnovers. I have no clue if we intend to put Tillman at nickel, outside or at safety but I honestly think Bene can take this defense to a new level at nickel.

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Moorgan Enthusiast

Moorgan

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Bene's role in a game might boil down to who we are facing that particular week... He might be the nickel corner when we play teams with huge receivers, such as TB or CHI, or he may be the #2 if we play teams with smaller quicker receivers, like the Saints outside of Colston

I think this is key. If we have versatile talent, we should use versatile schemes. The best example I can think of is the Patriots. They seem to consistently change their scheme based on the weaknesses of their opponents. I'd like to see more of that versatility in Carolina.
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