Expectations Raised After Carolina Loss?
August 19th, 2015
Sad news hit the NFL family today when it was learned Carolina Panthers’ No. 1 receiver Kelvin Benjamin was lost for the season with an ACL tear.
No, Joe’s not cheering because the NFC South champs were dealt a crushing blow like this. Well …
Of course not. Joe hates to see any player deal with a major injury. But the division did get a lot more interesting.
Joe realizes the Bucs couldn’t stop Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and backup quarterback Derek Anderson last year, but one would hope the Bucs’ defense is improved significantly. If not, then Lovie Smith is likely looking for work.
Losing stud Benjamin from a rather thin receiving corps is not something Carolina can go out and fix. No. 1 receivers are not sitting home on the couch, and they don’t get cut. Heck, there aren’t even No. 2 wideouts laying around (other than mattress-in-the-yard Mike Williams.)
So how many wins was Benjamin worth? From a Carolina team that seemed poised to win, what, nine games?
Joe thinks losing Benjamin will cost Carolina two wins. If those Ws fall to a revived turnover-happy Bucs defense, the perhaps things could get very interesting in Tampa. In Week 4, the Bucs take on the Panthers in Tampa. Man, Joe would be bouncing-off-the-walls excited if the Bucs opened the season 2-2.
August 19th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
how bout 4-0
August 19th, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Benjamin is quite a loss, but don’t expect Carolina to sit back idle. There are plenty of receivers around.
August 19th, 2015 at 7:07 pm
They still have Cam and the inept duo of Lovie and Frazier can’t scheme to stop te’s. Bad combo for the Bucs
August 19th, 2015 at 7:12 pm
I would watch to see if Carolina does not give reggie wayne a work out tomorrow. And it just might turn out that losing our RT is a bigger loss than the Panthers losing their top WR!!!!
August 19th, 2015 at 7:13 pm
@Tampa Tony
Well we have Jameis Winston and the inept duo of my WANG and your MOUTH! Great combo for you!!
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
August 19th, 2015 at 7:28 pm
Last year our defense couldn’t stop 3 backup QBs
August 19th, 2015 at 7:30 pm
@onelove-thanks for the offer but I’m married. But if you are as inept as Lovie you might have a hard time performing.
Come find me in section 312 row c keyboard tough guy
August 19th, 2015 at 7:33 pm
We shall see what transpires. This season is huge for Cam, might define him along with Rivera.
Consensus sold Carolinas passing game short last preseason.
Interesting indeed.
August 19th, 2015 at 7:45 pm
@Tampa Tony
I’ll admit my performance usually depends on what kind of talent i’m working with. If you compare that to what Lovie has to work with then i’m as limp as the noodles that your husband uses to cook spaghetti!
“Come find me in section 312 row c keyboard tough guy”
OK! I know you really meant one of the bathroom stalls closest to section 312 row c!!(wink)
“It’s as simple as that” – Lovie Smith
August 19th, 2015 at 8:02 pm
This is some unfortunate news.
I hope the kid has a strong support system…
I pray the young man can heal properly, and continue his playing career – without any major set backs.
So get well soon KB
And always remember……
“A Setback Is A Setup – For A Comeback”
August 19th, 2015 at 8:09 pm
Sorry for Benjamin – but this is good news for the Bucs. Hope we can get through the pre-season without any more injuries.
August 19th, 2015 at 8:35 pm
definitely our gain, but Carolina’s concern was their oline and accuracy from am (see the playoff games vs. a deplted Cardinals defense and Cam Seattle game in which Cam nearly threw four picks)
August 19th, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Feel bad for KB. Them drafting Funchess should help a bit tho.
August 19th, 2015 at 9:00 pm
I’m sure the stinking panthers are shedding tears for the Bucs loss of Dotson also.
August 19th, 2015 at 9:12 pm
37…Panthers fans don’t even know who Demar Dotson is.
August 19th, 2015 at 9:54 pm
2 – 2 hopes is the mentality of a loser.
August 19th, 2015 at 10:01 pm
I still remember the panthers team laughing at our bucs last year even newton was on the sideline clown acting at us.. I am sorry for kb but no way do i feel sorry for that lame a$$ team….
August 19th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
Actually our defense was top ten second half of the season
August 19th, 2015 at 10:16 pm
It’s just human nature to hope for bad things to happen to your opponents…..you don’t want serious injuries…..but they do happen…..better to the Panthers that most anyone else……Too bad it wasn’t Cammy instead!!!
August 19th, 2015 at 10:29 pm
Would not matter. Anderson will still tear up this secondary.
August 19th, 2015 at 10:53 pm
He plays for a punk a$$ rival to my beloved Buccs but duke a Nole. Saddened by this revelation.
August 19th, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Ya im a big noles fan, so that sucks for Benjamin. The same way onelove sucks cock to stay warm on a winter night. It however may help the Bucs out. He was truly a good reciever. Although picked after Evans he still about produced the same. Im still happier we got Evans. TEs killed us like some of the commenters on this site kill tight ends, but I think we are a bit more athletic at LB with LVD, Megakwon and on the DL killing it. We should be alot better. The safety position may see improvement too in play. All these guys covering underneath routes should be an improvement over last year. Even if S. Moore plays Nickel back. Hes having a strong camp to. L. Johnson is slow period. I gues for Lovie that was the biggest thing getting exposed underneath. Go Bucs. 9-7 and sneaking into the playoffs.
August 19th, 2015 at 11:21 pm
Last season it wasn’t like Carolina was blowing us out, we gave up 39 points to them in two games.But you can’t win in the NFL with an offense averaging 17 points a game. Our offense scored 31 points against them in two games, how many games do you all expect to win with a pathetic offense like that?. Our defense will be fine, we need an balance offense that can scored 25 points a game.
August 20th, 2015 at 12:43 am
KB is an awesome WR,was super fun to watch play during his time at FSU with JW. Belle Glade pride and joy. Hate to see this happen to him. Panthers will not be the same.
August 20th, 2015 at 5:51 am
If the Bucs have the same attitude as joe, just mail in the season. 2-2?! …in this day of football big turnarounds can happen….how does it happen? Limited injuries, a return to buc ball…top rate defence and a running game…and a slew of rookies hold up including very few turnovers by Americas QB
August 20th, 2015 at 8:13 am
I had exactly the same thoughts last year when Cam was out. Then we played them and Derek Anderson and Greg Olsen torched us. This might matter more to a more established, deeper team but not necessarily to us. By the looks of things we still have pass defense issues. Those 10-15 yard passes kill us constantly. I know the idea of the cover 2 is keeping everything underneath but damn, when they get 7 or 8 yards on first or second down it really kills us.
August 20th, 2015 at 8:24 am
2-2what are guys smokin? 0-16 still don’t have a qb that’s a season killer.
August 20th, 2015 at 9:04 am
Pawel, if you know anything about the Tampa 2 defense it’s that it takes at least half a year to master or more. Also in the second half of the season we were top ten in overall defense. Don’t bring up that backup QB crap
August 20th, 2015 at 9:19 am
Joes thinking on this is “Another NFC South team got worse so we get better right?”
-_- Don’t think it works like that unfortunately
August 20th, 2015 at 9:37 am
then again we couldn’t be Cam’s backup twice last year, I don’t think Carolina will have any trouble beating us again this year.
August 20th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Kelvin Benjamin is a great receiver and I was POed that he ended up with the Panthers after seeing what he did at FSU. He’s the reason Jameis has a ring.