Did XL Get Benched?

[Carolina Cajun]

So first of all, we know that he continues to make mistake after mistake EVERY single week.  Him lining up offside was somehow even mor embarrassing than I thought considering he "checked" with the official...yet literally NEVER looked at the official to find out if he was lined up correctly.  fuging insane to me.
 

That said, later in the game, I noticed on 4th down, when we HAD to have a first down to keep the game alive down 20-10 with like 3:30 to go...XL was suspiciously NOT on the field.  Thats our "Number 2 receiver" not on the field for a HAVE TO HAVE IT down.  If I remember, the personnel was Tmac, Jimmy Horn, Tremayne, and Mitchell evans or Tremble.  I noticed live during the game because they showed a shot of Canales and XL was behind him, helmet off.  I dont have access to the all 22 but if someone could, I would love to know how much he saw the field in the second half.  I know he had the 1 catch for 3 yards on the TD drive.

Also dug into the numbers, first of all its obvious that Jalen Coker is now our #2 receiver, not just by play, but play percentage too as I looked through snap counts but I'm just lookin at XL in this post.  Heres a plot of his snap count % since he returned from injury.

Obviously hes trending down, but I do think that the lackadaisical play and just absolute dumbass mistakes, I think its possible that Coach Canales has had enough.  He wont say it in the media (No coach ever will) but I think actions speak louder and Im hopeful that he finally straight up benches him this weekend and runs with players that wont continually put us in a bad position.

[Waldo]

Hopefully. He has earned it and maybe it would help him see how much he has to work on because up to now he hasn't shown any care about improving his game that I can see. As a project player that's beyond concerning. 

[3838]

Wonder if we'll see Renfrow in the slot Saturday?

Edited December 30, 2025 by 3838

[kungfoodude]

I can't find a source that has snap counts by half. That would take an All 22 look.

[Carolina Cajun]

Just now, kungfoodude said:

I can't find a source that has snap counts by half. That would take an All 22 look.

yea, I dont have the all 22, I really would be interested because I seem to remember seeing A LOT more of Tremayne in the 2nd half, but like most of us I was just watching the game as a fan.  

[electro's horse]

His decreased snap count probably has more to do with Coker getting healthy and Dave wanting horn out there for his one jet sweep a game.

Dave is constantly rotating all the receivers and i think he values having fresh legs at all times over specific players for situations. 

[CRA]

5 minutes ago, 3838 said:

Wonder if well see Renfrow in the slot Saturday?

Bryce can't throw an accurate ball to tiny Renfrow. 

Just use the big 3.  Tmac/Coker/Tremayne.  I assume Moore will replace Tremayne which is pointless.   

[electro's horse]

Don’t get me wrong XL absolutely should be benched or cut I just think Dave overvalues having a slightly more rested WR

[kungfoodude]

3 minutes ago, CRA said:

Bryce can't throw an accurate ball to tiny Renfrow. 

Just use the big 3.  Tmac/Coker/Tremayne.  I assume Moore will replace Tremayne which is pointless.   

I can't tell if the misuse of Renfrow are his own limited abilities, poor play design for him or Bryce just not being able to recognize him being open before it is a contested catch.

We kept throwing him all these contested catches early in the season and he wasn't very good at that in his prime, much less in "shell of himself" mode. That poo still has me scratching my head.

[PleaseCutStewart]

Nah, he was too busy running out of bounds chasing a squirrel around the field because the dude has a madden awareness rating of -10

[CRA]

8 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I can't tell if the misuse of Renfrow are his own limited abilities, poor play design for him or Bryce just not being able to recognize him being open before it is a contested catch.

We kept throwing him all these contested catches early in the season and he wasn't very good at that in his prime, much less in "shell of himself" mode. That poo still has me scratching my head.

Renfrow is a one of one.   Said from the jump, his route running never fit Dave's O or Bryce.    He wasn't a replacement for AT, who was basically a TE for Bryce.  I don't think Dave had a clue what to do w/ Renfrow and was just inserting him into an AT type role. 

Renfrow is great at his Renfrow routes and moving chains.  Even today.  We saw all camp and folks like Horn documenting it.   But Bryce can't see the area of the field well Renfrow runs his routes, nor is getting the ball out on time and accurately his specialty.  But that's not Dave's offense either. 

I still think Renfrow just missed football and wanted to prove he could comeback....and wanted one year in his backyard childhood/team.   But much like so much of the Panthers, yet another round peg and square hole situation.  Just no fit for what he does well (which is super specialized)

 

[WarPanthers89]

[electro's horse]

Renfrow has a chronic medical condition so bad it caused him to miss a whole season and it’s probably pretty hard to physically recover when you’re shitting your guts out all week.

also he got hospital ball’d by Bryce earlier in the year and i wouldn’t come back if I was him either.

XL hasn’t been the same since Bryce got his guts rearranged in Philly, and Hayden Hurst never played again.

Bryce out there ruining his team mates careers. 

Edited December 30, 2025 by electro's horse

[coffee]

Weird question that I'm sure some of you will hate:

I don't know the legalities of this.  If the Steelers lose, they're eliminated.  Doesn't that put Adam Thielen out there with no strings attached?  Wouldn't we be able to bring him in for the playoffs?  He wanted to go out with a bang and he already knows the system plus has a great connection with Bryce.  I sure would feel better about TMac/Coker/Thielen as our top three and let Legette sit more/all out if we were going to have any shot of making noise postseason.