Panthers.com: Moore and Samuel silence the critics

[Mr. Scot]

...or in this case, critic.

Quote

Earlier this week, former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith made a statement about the team’s current wideouts.

On Charlotte’s WFNZ sports radio station, Smith criticized the group, from its effort to its ability to beat press coverage – even suggesting the franchise consider drafting a new pass catcher come April.

“Outside stuff, we don’t really pay attention to it. For me and DJ it’s about just going out there and getting better each and every week,” Curtis Samuel said after Sunday's game. “I don’t really follow stuff on social media like that. I honestly don’t care, but everybody has their own opinion, so I’m not mad at him.”

Whether Samuel or DJ Moore heard Smith’s message or not, the duo certainly responded on Sunday against the Titans, and it all started when Samuel decided to wear a green sweat suit for game day.

“I threw on the money green today, because I was making a statement,” Samuel said. “I went out there to make some money.”

That’s exactly what Samuel did, hauling in three catches for 64 yards and a touchdown, while Moore exploded for 101 yards on seven receptions, marking the second-best performance of his career.

“That’s just us,” Moore said. “Like I said, you can love us or hate us. At the end of the day, we’re just going to play our game.”

Moore and Samuel silence the critics in win over Titans

I know some folks see this as a deliberate ploy by Smith. I don't know if that's true or not but it's plausible.

[TN05]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

...or in this case, critic.

Moore and Samuel silence the critics in win over Titans

I know some folks see this as a deliberate ploy by Smith. I don't know if that's true or not but it's plausible.

Steve Smith knows how to use anger for on field benefit. I’m sure this is what he had in mind here. Reverse psychology!

[jfra78]

I'm not sure it was a ploy, but I think him calling them out was with good intention

[Moo Daeng]

I don't think there is any question he was challenging them. 

[DeAngelo Beason]

It absolutely felt like a ploy by Smith to light a fire under their azzes for sure.

[Untouchable]

It was an incorrect hot take.  Wasn't the first the season, won't be the last.

[MHS831]

36 minutes ago, TN05 said:

Steve Smith knows how to use anger for on field benefit. I’m sure this is what he had in mind here. Reverse psychology!

I personally watched Steve Smith verbally abuse Dwayne Jarrett at OTAs when he was rookie to a point where Fox and Friends should have chimed in and stopped the abuse. Jarrett busted.  I cannot recall one WR after Moose (who was here 5 years  before Smith) prospering here when he was a teammate.

So "reverse psychology" may not be the clinical definition of his technique.

WRs drafted after SS was a veteran:

• Keary Colbert (2nd round)
• Drew Carter (5th round)
• Ryne Robinson (4th round)
• Dwayne Jarrett (2nd round)
• Brandon Lafell (3rd round)
• Armanti Edwards (3rd round)
• Kealoha Pilares (5th round)
• Joe Adams (4th round)

These players, mostly developmental, were unable to succeed here playing with Smith.  How effective was his influence? 

For those of you who call Lafell a success here, you have a fair argument. Lafell's last season in Carolina was his most productive (49 receptions).  The following year he had 74 receptions for over 300 more yards, however.

 

[Forty-Eight]

Shut up and ball. Samuel has done absolutely nothing to earn a second contract. 

[mc52beast]

Hopefully it didn’t take 89 going off for them to show they belong...

[Car123]

Feed them and they will produce....

[1of10Charnatives]

10 hours ago, MHS831 said:

I personally watched Steve Smith verbally abuse Dwayne Jarrett at OTAs when he was rookie to a point where Fox and Friends should have chimed in and stopped the abuse. Jarrett busted.  I cannot recall one WR after Moose (who was here 5 years  before Smith) prospering here when he was a teammate.

So "reverse psychology" may not be the clinical definition of his technique.

WRs drafted after SS was a veteran:

• Keary Colbert (2nd round)
• Drew Carter (5th round)
• Ryne Robinson (4th round)
• Dwayne Jarrett (2nd round)
• Brandon Lafell (3rd round)
• Armanti Edwards (3rd round)
• Kealoha Pilares (5th round)
• Joe Adams (4th round)

These players, mostly developmental, were unable to succeed here playing with Smith.  How effective was his influence? 

For those of you who call Lafell a success here, you have a fair argument. Lafell's last season in Carolina was his most productive (49 receptions).  The following year he had 74 receptions for over 300 more yards, however.

 

legit point I have never seen brought up anywhere, and while I don't care for the way Smith's departure was handled by Gettleman, it's possible he and Rivera observed this very trend you're bringing up and it factored into their decision to part ways with Smith.

[MHS831]

4 minutes ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

legit point I have never seen brought up anywhere, and while I don't care for the way Smith's departure was handled by Gettleman, it's possible he and Rivera observed this very trend you're bringing up and it factored into their decision to part ways with Smith.

It was brutal. At one point Kasay got between Smith and Jarrett.  We were 40 yards away and could hear every word Smith was yelling at Jarrett.  I even told Jarrett after practice to hang in there and ignore Smith--he was signing my son's helmet.  When he finished, I was reaching for the pen and he slapped it kinda hard (as a teammate would--not in anger). He then handed me the pen and thanked me.  His eyes seemed to be tearing up.  Not sure, but it seemed like it. 

[1of10Charnatives]

20 hours ago, Forty-Eight said:

Shut up and ball. Samuel has done absolutely nothing to earn a second contract. 

You keep saying this but I'm genuinely a little baffled why you feel this way. Both on the eye test and his stats, Samuel strikes me as a solid receiver with upside going forward. The eye test is of course highly subjective, but any examination of his stats in comparison to other receivers this year places him solidly middle of the pack as a starting WR, especially when you consider he's playing with a QB situation in flux.

I mean if you don't like him, you don't like him, sure, but I find the notion he's a total flop unworthy of being resigned hard to support on the facts.

I have a good friend who played lb in college that is otherwise a very knowledgeable fan, but tends to regard any level of play below pro bowl caliber as garbage. His thinking here is extremely binary, you are either great or you suck, there is no middle ground. Is this just how you look at receivers?

[CRA]

1 minute ago, MHS831 said:

It was brutal. At one point Kasay got between Smith and Jarrett.  We were 40 yards away and could hear every word Smith was yelling at Jarrett.  I even told Jarrett after practice to hang in there and ignore Smith--he was signing my son's helmet.  When he finished, I was reaching for the pen and he slapped it kinda hard (as a teammate would--not in anger). He then handed me the pen and thanked me.  His eyes seemed to be tearing up.  Not sure, but it seemed like it. 

89 was a great player.  A GOAT. 

Pretty well documented shitty teammate by normal standards. 89 got different standards and still does. Even in the broadcast booth...he seems to display the same behavior IMO.  He seems to not be able to help himself in terms of simply being a pain to others.   He basically spent an entire broadcast shitting on Joe Thomas and making his night hell a couple weeks ago just because...