I know this is a hypothetical question. How much would this offense change with KB?

[Ivan The Awesome]

Seeing how great the offense is doing. I just have this question, would the offense be as efficient or resilient as it currently is with Kelvin Benjamin?

 

Logic suggests it would be better. 

 

Cam Newton has progressed so much and I believe part of it is that he doesn't have his other BFF to throw to, KB. This has kind of forced Cam to rely on his other receivers besides Greg Olsen. It has taught him to spread that ball around and find the open man. I don't believe one of our WR's has reached 100 yards yet. 

 

I am not sure if it would be better as much as different. The offense without KB had to adapt. Shula and Cam had to literally evolve and think outside the box. Another note is that this is the most I've seen Cam audible in his career. He's dissecting defenses and he's taking what they give him. Most of the time it's some really long explosive plays which boasts well for the offense.  

 

Would Cam rely more and more on KB? Would he force throws to KB, leading to more INTs? Or would their chemistry just be too good that it would not matter? Would this team be averaging this many points? Would it be more or less?

 

So many questions and variables...

 

Lost in dreamland this morning. Thinking about how much different this offense would be with a year 2, Healthy, KB. :D

 

 

 

Edit:

 

I realized that maybe I did not phrase the question correctly. There is no doubt it would be better but how much would it change?

[hepcat]

Surprised this wasn't a PanthersUnited thread when I opened it

[Ivan The Awesome]

Just now, hepcat said:

Surprised this wasn't a PanthersUnited thread when I opened it

(throws flag)

 

Personal foul.

 

Unnecessary roughness.

 

 

[therealmjl]

I can't think of a scenario where we would be worse with Kelvin Benjamin on the field.

[PandaPancake]

This is no place for logic. 

I had a similar thought on Sunday, because KB is out will this teach Funchess to use his size? When KB gets back will we have two giant receivers that'll require both to be double teamed while CAP strolls into the end zone? I have no solid answers

[Shaqil915]

Gonna go out on a limb here and say yes this offense would be better with a 1000 yard receiver.

[Dunn]

There were definitely times this year we could have used KB in multiple scenarios.  He would take the pressure off Olsen big time thus opening up the passing game even more.  If Fun Fun can keep progressing, KB back and Olsen still killing it....my god.

[Zaximus]

Would be much better.  I've heard that KB being out made Cam better, in a way maybe it did, but you can't say losing a guy like KB helps.  The requirement of the defense to give him attention at the minimum would help.  I think our issue last year was lack speed.  Ginn and Brown (who didn't really get time till end of last season) bring that.  If we had the combo of them with KB's size/toughness and Cotchery/Funchess, we'd be much better.  It would be way harder to defend Olsen as well when KB is out there. 

[shreddingdefense]

No question we would be better offensively. How about if we were to start funchees over brown would we be better?

[d-dave]

I'm going to play Devil's advocate here.  Personally, I do think we'd be better, but I'm not completely sure.

KB is a MAN.  He was killing it in TC.  He looked like his star was about to explode, but then he went down, and we had to modify the heck out of everything.

Cam has been forced to read the entire field, and try to build rapport with different receivers who are no where near as good as KB is on a bad day.  He's thrown to 88 a lot, duh, but he's also spread the ball around to a bunch of different guys.  I think that has made him a better QB.

Gameplan, we have developed one of the most sophisticated running attacks in the NFL.  Despite everyone knowing we're going to run the ball, they can't really do that much about it.  It's because of Cam, and the fact that we do a lot more with our running game than just line up and hit the guys in front of us.  

So I think that because it forced us to do different things and find success it's made us better.  But then again, I'm also an idiot on line...

I do absolutely think that KB will open our offense more.  Having a true big play WR again will be HUGE for us and Cam.  It happened, and Cam has been better because of it.  So I'm pretty pleased there. 2016 could be an extremely big year for our offense!

 

[SOJA]

going on a positive note here- It may have actually helped Cam. Kelvin could consistently be a safety valve and Cam's has had to work with.....

 

fug it I can't even say it, I just miss KB :(

[electro's horse]

The main place you'd see the difference would be in the red zone.

right now the Panthers are 10th in the league in TD percentage in the red zone, which isn't bad. However, adding Kelvin into that mix would be a huge boon. They really don't have anyone to take the heat off olsen inside the ten, and even he can't really sky like Kelvin can.

KB has really bizarre physical proportions that few in the NFL can match. 

[Mr. Scot]

With both Benjamin and Olsen available, the offense would become a real "pick your poison" proposition.

If Funchess develops as well, that trio could become a nightmare. And you'd still have to account for the speed of Ginn and Philly.

[thefuzz]

We have certainly missed him, but probably not as much as we will miss him in the playoffs.

 

When they don't call holding as much, and Ginn and Philly are getting re-routed, when it's cold as hell and you need bigger hands to hold the ball after the catch, when it's all on the line and you need a TD from the 9 yard line....that's when we will miss KB.

But to answer the questions:  KB being out has hurt our offense.  KB being out has helped our QB.