The coaches need to quell Funch's seemingly obvious anxiety.

[top dawg]

Devin Funchess will likely be the guy in 2015 for us at his position.  He has unfortunately found himself in the position of filling Kelvin Benjamin's big shoes. Some, perhaps most, including Gregg Rosenthal, believe that filling Benjamin's shoes just can't be done in regards to his physicality and outstanding presence in the endzone. True, but that doesn't mean that Funchess can't bring to bear his own style of dominance against the opposition which is rooted in his ability to play all the spots at wide-out. 

Implicit in his own words is the fact that he believes that everyone expects him to "play" KB now, and, indeed, Rivera has made statements to that effect.

"Absolutely, that should help a lot. He is really a solid young man," coach Ron Rivera said of the receiver's IQ, via the Charlotte Observer. "He knows two positions, and obviously he'll concentrate on Kelvin's and work to handle that spot for us."

"It was always my expectation for it to be a big year. It just so happened that occurred yesterday," Funchess said Thursday. "So I guess everybody will expect more on my plate."

Is it me, or does it seem like Devin Funchess seem to have a tad more anxiety than necessary?  if nothing else, his words don't portray a message of security that one may come to expect from today's young and swagged-out receivers. In that sense, it may be a good thing, but I sense that he needs to be made to feel more comfortable.

Funchess, the big year (or even the expectations of a big year) did not happen "yesterday", your year really hasn't begun yet. It's up to you to help make it a "big year" in the coming months. That being said, you need to concentrate on being Funchess and not Benjamin. You don't have to guess that 'everybody will expect more' on your plate, that is already a fact. There is no room for guessing.  But, I think that the intelligent fans will just expect not "more" in the sense that they expect you to metaphorically fill Benjamin's shoes, but to just raise your game and effort to the point where you are being the best Devin Funchess that you can be for the Panthers. The "lapses in concentration" that Rosenthal references can be cleaned up, especially one with as good a football IQ as Funchess is purported to possess. As long as Funchess focuses on that, all the other things will gradually fall into place as the season.progresses.

Rosenthal is correct in saying that Funchess "isn't the talent Benjamin is", and I know what he implied in the statement, but what I mean is that he isn't the talent Benjamin is in that he brings a different skill set to the table, and that this skill set can be just as important or prolific in terms of its dynamics to the success of the 2015 season as Benjamin's was to the 2014 season.  It's up to the coaches (and, possibly the GM) to bear the responsibility of planning a way for that to happen, and put Funchess in the best position to succeed, notwithstanding the loss of Benjamin. The burden is not all on Funchess. Indeed, in my opinion, most of it will be on the sidelines. 

[Delhommey]

If the coaches have the expectations of Funchess that some fans do, that he can be a #1 WR, the guy's career is over before it starts.

He will hopefully fill some of the "big bodied WR" situational roles along with Olsen, but he's not going to be another KB.

A 600-700 yard season would be a huge success and more of what should realistically be expected.

[London Loves Luke]

This is a good point, Funchess is a couple of years younger than KB and came from a much less pressured college situation. 

There's an element of throwing him in at the deep end, but you better make sure the kid can swim. 

[CarolinaSamurai]

Jesus man talk about over analyzing a few words. Don't fall into the rabbit hole of what things do or don't mean. Relax and hope he does well.

[Servant of Cthululelei]

Is this all based on the fact that he said "I guess"?  I say that all the time. Even when I'm very sure of what I'm saying.  It's just a habit.

[PhillyB]

i'm sure he's anxious. he and everyone in the organization knows he's the only one with the potential to fulfill KB's contributions to the team. he's the only one we can't definitively say isn't a number one receiver on this team.

 

[csx]

It's you.

[top dawg]

Jesus man talk about over analyzing a few words. Don't fall into the rabbit hole of what things do or don't mean. Relax and hope he does well.

Part of the fun of being on a fan forum is analyzing what words mean because we're not actually there to ask the questions that we'd like to ask.  Call it over analyzing if you like. I call it trying to empathize with a young man's feelings from analyzing what he is saying, admittedly from afar. Even if you don't believe that, surely you ought to be able to understand the overall point of the post, even if you believe that I am "over analyzing".

[caatfan]

Jesus man talk about over analyzing a few words. Don't fall into the rabbit hole of what things do or don't mean. Relax and hope he does well.

Exactly. We don't know what's in his head and we aren't going to know, just from a few quotes that get in the press. We also don't know what his teammates and coaches are saying (or not saying) or doing to help get him ready, physically and mentally. The Panthers have a good team atmosphere for this kind of situation. I wouldn't worry about his head being on straight.

[London Loves Luke]

It's not about the coaches expecting Funch to have a KB type season, it's about them suddenly treating him like the number 1 now that KB isn't there. That will create enough pressure in his own head. 

Dont forget Funch's mentality is very different from KB. From all accounts he's more of a thinker than KB, who's more of a lovable brute. Being that thinker type will mean Funch needs to grow into a leadership role rather than be dropped into one, or he could end up putting too much pressure on himself. 

KB was older, had dealt with more pressure in college and is more a do first, think later type personality. I really do believe that Funch will need some careful expectation management from the coaches so that he knows it's not on him to replace KB.

[L-TownCat]

anx·i·e·ty

aNGˈzīədē/

noun

 

1. a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

 

 

I don't think hes anxious I think its more...

 

bra·va·do

brəˈväˌdō/

noun

 

1. a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.

[TheRumGone]

It's not about the coaches expecting Funch to have a KB type season, it's about them suddenly treating him like the number 1 now that KB isn't there. That will create enough pressure in his own head. 

Dont forget Funch's mentality is very different from KB. From all accounts he's more of a thinker than KB, who's more of a lovable brute. Being that thinker type will mean Funch needs to grow into a leadership role rather than be dropped into one, or he could end up putting too much pressure on himself. 

KB was older, had dealt with more pressure in college and is more a do first, think later type personality. I really do believe that Funch will need some careful expectation management from the coaches so that he knows it's not on him to replace KB.

this.

funchess comes from a shitty Michigan school with a shitty qb.

 

kelvin literally won the national championship with a last second catch. It is ridiculous to expect so much out of the guy. There personalities and playing experience is just so much different.

 

that said. In the grand scheme of things the only part of the KB injury that might produce anything good is that funch maybe prepared to be a #1 by seasons end and with KB coming back next year we might be looking at some dominant WR play. 

 

[IGSaint]

What a pointless thread. 

[beastson52]

Adversity brings out the worst of the huddle :(