The one big negative today: Steve Smith has officially lost a step

[Sam Mills Fan]

We really should have traded him when we had the chance. The rest of the league is going to catch on that he's not nearly as good as he once was and we're not going to be able to get as much for him if we do end up trading him.

He looked bad on punt returns, had some bad drops, looked slower, had dumb penalties. Pretty disappointing. His occasional stupid penalties look bigger and bigger the more he continues to fall back down to earth as an average receiver.

[Carl Spackler]

Agree but he had one really good return.

[OneBadassCat]

Oh shut up

[Murph]

His fire & energy in the 1st half helped this team a lot.

[Dpantherman]

First game back from an ankle sprain, I say no. And what do you mean by lost a step? same speed as before, still commands a double team. and now that he has help look out. on to St. Louis (im actually pretty worried about this game.)

[jasonluckydog]

He just came back from a 6 week injury in 2 weeks ....Steve Smith has not lost a step.

[DT3428]

I hope opposing teams are foolish enough to think he has lost a step and stop double covering him. Then he can burn em up realll good

[spartan_pantherfan]

lol if Steve Smith was not on the field do you really think the offense would have played as well? everyones game would have went down.

[Sam Mills Fan]

His Wolverine-like healing abilities have nothing to do with his play on the field.

Did you guys not see those drops? He's had a problem with drops all season. His YAC is way WAY down this season as well, even when there's just one single defender between him and the end zone.

[Sam Mills Fan]

And please don't think I'm hating. This is the first time in my illustrious history on the Huddle that I have EVER posted something negative about 89 on-the-field.

[SuperLego5]

Ahhh there we go, it doesn't feel like a proper Panthers win until somebody makes a stupid negative comment that has absolutely no evidence to support it while ignoring various factors relevant to the comment.

[Vagrant]

So a high ankle sprain has nothing to do with your speed or cutting ability?

Smith has had very few drops. No more than any other year, it's just that our passing game sucks so much generally that they're more noticed.

Smith has not lost a step. At least not yet. He is just simply too unhealthy to be playing right now and he still made a few big plays.

[Sam Mills Fan]

First game back from an ankle sprain, I say no. And what do you mean by lost a step? same speed as before, still commands a double team. and now that he has help look out. on to St. Louis (im actually pretty worried about this game.)

He has absolutely no pain in his ankle. He stated this and wouldn't have been practicing this week if he did and DEFINITELY wouldn't be out there on punt returns if he did.

Also, of course he commands double teams this year. Until the Gettis emergence today, he was the ONLY competent receiver we've seen all year. You could have traded for about 30 other receivers in the league and they would have had double teams out there today too.

[pantherfan81]

Even if he has lost a step, I'm glad his presence alone allowed such a breakout performance for our youngn's.