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What has happened to Benwikere?

NYPantherFan

By NYPantherFan,
in Carolina Panthers

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NYPantherFan Community Regular

NYPantherFan

Posted
Posted

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?

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XClown1986 Experienced

XClown1986

Posted
Posted

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.

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lightsout Grand Master

lightsout

Posted
Posted

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.

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