Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

What has happened to Benwikere?


NYPantherFan

Recommended Posts

I was doing some DFS research and came across this:

"Cobb typically runs 91 percent of his routes from the slot, while Benwikere defends the slot on 81 percent of his routes in coverage. Benwikere is our lowest graded slot corner and ranks in the bottom-10 among 76 qualifying corners in completion percentage (74 percent). Last week, against Indianapolis, he gave up six catches for 69 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. "

So what has happened to "Big Play Bene"? He graded out last season as the top coverage corner over the last four weeks after he got the starting job in week 14. This year, I don't think I've heard his name called much at all. I wonder what has caused such a drastic swing in performance?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't believe Bene is a true slot corner. Last year he was successful as an early down slot/roamer and passing down outside corner with Colin Jones manning the nickel. I think he is kind of adjusting to his new role (Peanut Tillman caused it) and has to gain some comfortability. He is a tremendous athlete and an intelligent guy. He will be fine in the long run.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some here are overthinking a bit as far as why he's struggling.

Yes, he was better outside last year. That's his natural position. He's not a slot corner. He does his best work on the sidelines where he only has to know where the safety coverage is to know where he should be positioned. In the slot, he has to now know where his LB help is in coverage, where the outside coverage help is, and the deep part of the field coverage is. If he is mistaken on any of that or guesses right but loses the TE or outside receiver because he's having to focus on all 3 at once to determine who he is supposed to pick up, he'll obviously look lost. He's not a natural nickel for that reason.

When Bene shifts outside during man coverage, he looks like the Bene from last year. Why? Because now he just has to avoid letting his man get over the top of him and he can react more and see more.

Bene is gonna get picked on a LOT during this game. He has to step up and our outside backers have to be on the spot with inside crossing routes, because that is where we are going to get hit all game. Rodgers is going to try to dink and dunk us on those 5 yard passes that turn into 15 yard gains and then hit us deep. We just need Bene to lock up the shallow portion of  the field to his side and undercut intermediate, one-cut routes when he can.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Not sure why everyone keeps talking about the Panthers paying him $50M/year. I don't recall anyone EVER saying he deserves that. I think something like what the Dolphins signed Malik Willis to would be good: 3 years, $67.5M but it will probably be something along the lines of Mayfield or Darnold which is around $35M/year.
    • Actually that 4400 was based on a 16 game season to match Bryce's 16 games this year. Your offense has to be to drive the ball when it matters. Bryce doesn't do that with any level of consistency. If you're building a team that isn't focused on your QB, then fine. Then there's no need to pay Bryce as a franchise QB because literally anyone else will do. If you're going to pay him 50m plus per season, you have to be able to put the team on his shoulders and know he's going to carry the load. So far, when the pressure is on to get it done, Bryce has fallen miserably short of the target. 4-6 to finish out the season and 0-2 when all we need is a win to secure a playoff spot isn't stepping up and proving yourself as a franchise QB. I'd say it's quite the opposite.  There isn't a single coach in this league that would take Bryce over Burrow and very few if any that would take Bryce over Prescott. Hurts didn't have to throw in 2025 because Philly's defense was disgusting and Saquan had a MVP season. But then again, Hurts has shown that he can when it counts, and then there's his signature. Philly runs the tush push to lethal perfection, but that's a play we can't even consider with Bryce. You used 3 QBs from teams that had no defense to show QB stats don't always matter. When we had the worst defense in the NFL, we didn't see Bryce step up and carry the offense and put up gaudy numbers in a losing season because we were playing catch up. It was pretty much the opposite.  What have we seen from Bryce consistently to consider offering him a top 10 NFL franchise QB level contract? At the end of the day, that's all that matters.   
    • I mean, what fanbase has high expectations when you have a QB like Bryce leading your team?
×
×
  • Create New...