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http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/05...2uL02dOXZ4


Enjoy!

Remember that this is a team woefully thin on WRs. It wouldn't be so bad to see Joe go back to playing WR when Cam returns if he's the 3rd or 4th WR in the organization and, so, used a ton. He has the size that Cam has never had in a WR (Steve Smith was only 5'9", 185 and Brandon LaFell "only" 6'2", 212).

That just changed with Carolina's 1st round pick... 6'5" 245lb WR out of FSU.

(05-08-2014 10:44 PM)UABslant Wrote:  That just changed with Carolina's 1st round pick... 6'5" 245lb WR out of FSU.

There was a study a few years ago that the most difficult positions to learn as a rookie and be productive are LT then WR then QB. He'll play, but they can't be expecting him to step up right away.

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(05-09-2014 12:09 AM)blazr Wrote:  

(05-08-2014 10:44 PM)UABslant Wrote:  That just changed with Carolina's 1st round pick... 6'5" 245lb WR out of FSU.

There was a study a few years ago that the most difficult positions to learn as a rookie and be productive are LT then WR then QB. He'll play, but they can't be expecting him to step up right away.

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I think that is slowly changing. For receivers it was always kind of a see what they do in year 3 thing, but plenty of guys can come in and put up numbers at WR with the league currently throwing the ball as much as it is. Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, Terrance Williams and Kenny Stills were all rookies last year. Benjamin is a freak athlete, and it's not like Cam has a ton of other options. He'll likely have his ups and downs, but it isn't like Joe and Cam have been together for 3 years and have some sort of Tom Brady-Wes Welker thing going on.

The problem has never been the talent of the incoming receivers. Just like the LT position, WRs are going to be facing CBs and even safeties that have forgotten more about taking WRs out of their routes (and getting in their heads) than any rookie can be taught. It doesn't help that rookie WRs come in convinced that they are special and unstoppable (see White, Roddy).

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My point is not that Benjamin won't be a key guy...just that a similar-sized Webb could take reps (and pressure) off him early in the season fir a team that is definitely in "win now" mode (vs "rebuilding").

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Webb has 6 career catches and has been swapping between WR and QB in the NFL. I really don't think he's any more ready to play WR in the NFL than Benjamin is. Some rookies do come in thinking they are special and learn things the hard way. Others(Keenan Allen) come in and blow up. I agree it isn't likely for a rookie WR to have a great year, but it is possible to have a good year.

(05-09-2014 09:07 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Webb has 6 career catches and has been swapping between WR and QB in the NFL. I really don't think he's any more ready to play WR in the NFL than Benjamin is. Some rookies do come in thinking they are special and learn things the hard way. Others(Keenan Allen) come in and blow up. I agree it isn't likely for a rookie WR to have a great year, but it is possible to have a good year.

Truth

AND, Joe got out of MN at a good time. They just drafted ANOTHER QB - Bridgewater out of Louisville. Will this become an annual event for them as they desperately seek their "savior" QB?

< Floodgates open>

Two predictions, Benjamin will do very well for Carolina and Bridgewater will do not so well for Minnesota.

Hope we get to see Joe crack the rotation somewhere, but it seems like the Panthers might have gotten him to simulate Cam in the offensive practices

(05-09-2014 10:55 AM)TPBlaze84 Wrote:  Two predictions, Benjamin will do very well for Carolina and Bridgewater will do not so well for Minnesota.

Hope we get to see Joe crack the rotation somewhere, but it seems like the Panthers might have gotten him to simulate Cam in the offensive practices

Yep. Bridgewater would benefit if the Vikings took it slow with him, but there is so much pressure on 1st round QBs now. Minnesota still has a lot of issues, but I can't blame them for a taking a chance on the guy.

I agree with what it appears the Panthers are doing with Joe. Hopefully if they don't keep him around he finds a spot somewhere else.