Finding the Fits: Benjamin-Funchess Formula new BFF for Cam, Carolina – CBSSports.com
This is part of a series — Finding the Fits — in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2015 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.
Carolina’s best fit: WR Devin Funchess, Michigan, No. 42 overall
Give Dave Gettleman and the Panthers credit, they are willing to take a non-traditional route to bringing a Super Bowl to Carolina.
After investing the No. 28 overall pick in 6-foot-5, 245 pound wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin a year ago, Carolina’s general manager shipped three picks (No. 57, 89 and 201) to the St. Louis Rams to land a similarly talented pass-catcher in Funchess. While the numbers say that Benjamin more than lived up to his lofty selection a year ago by catching 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine scores during the regular season, few clubs “double down” with big receivers. Most look to complement a big receiver with a smaller, shiftier pass-catcher. The 6-4, 232 pound Funchess is athletic for his size and clearly projects best at receiver (where he starred for Michigan in 2014), but after registering a 4.70 seconds at the Combine in the 40-yard dash, he is hardly shifty and some immediately panned the Panthers’ pick.
Devin Funchess gives Cam Newton another big target. (USATSI)
After further review, however, there are several factors to suggest that Gettlemen, head coach Ron Rivera and especially recently extended quarterback Cam Newton may be the ones laughing last.
Because of Carolina’s focus on the running game and, specifically, Newton’s extraordinary combination of size and athleticism, opposing defenses must stop the run first when playing the Panthers. That may sound like coach-speak as every fan has heard the cliche of prioritizing run defense, but against Carolina, it is the truth. Far more the truth vs. the Panthers, for example, than recently pass-happy division rivals New Orleans and Atlanta. Safeties are often forced to hold tight in run support rather than offer help to cornerbacks on the perimeter. That puts corners in the unenviable position of covering Carolina’s monstrous receivers one on one much of the time. The height, leaping ability and catch radius Benjamin and Funchess offer make them a potentially deadly duo – especially with the strong-armed Newton heaving the ball.
Newton lacks the precision of some of the other star quarterbacks in the NFL but he possesses extraordinary arm strength and when he is off-target, the ball often sails high and wide. Who better than receivers of this size to haul in Newton’s passes? Where better than the red zone to take full advantage of these mismatches? With this duo catching passes, the trendy acronym “BFF” might not just stand for Newton’s new “best friends forever” but the Benjamin-Funchess Formula.
Further, look at the rival corners Carolina is facing. As noted yesterday, the Falcons finished dead last in pass defense a year ago. Tampa Bay finished 28th and New Orleans checked in just slightly better at 25th in the NFL.
Taking advantage of the unique strengths on their own roster as well as capitalizing on the struggles of divisional opponents – that’s sounds more savvy than strange to me.
Other thoughts on the Panthers’ 2015 draft class:
Carolina’s unconventional drafting wasn’t limited to the aggressive trade up of 16 spots to land Funchess, however. Some thought that the selection of linebacker Shaq Thompson in the first round was even more befuddling. In the days after the draft while canvassing rival scouts’ opinions of the draft biggest stories, Carolina’s selection of Thompson was often characterized to me as the most surprising pick of the first round.
As a native of the state of Washington, myself, I’m quite familiar with Thompson and personally graded him as a late first round hybrid linebacker and safety throughout the draft process. While there in no denying that he lacks ideal size at 6-0, 228 pounds, Thompson’s agility, awareness and ballskills make him as natural a football player as there was in this draft. Thompson’s athleticism and unique football I.Q. were demonstrated by his winning the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player in 2014 as he switched back and forth between linebacker and running back for the Huskies after initially signing with the team as a prep safety. Given time to bulk up and focus on just one position (outside linebacker) for Carolina, I expect that he’ll quickly emerge as a quality complement to All-Pro middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, a former safety convert, himself. Specifically, Thompson’s range and hands in coverage make him a nice fit given the spread looks so common from opposing offenses in this division.
One of the reasons why I’m higher on Carolina’s selection of Funchess is that the club seemingly does not place the same value on offensive linemen as most throughout the league. Regardless of which rookie blocker Carolina may have considered in the first few rounds, no offensive lineman was likely to suddenly transform Newton into a rhythm passer. Newton’s success is built around his athleticism, arm strength and improvisational skills. A disappointing week at the Senior Bowl pushed Daryl Williams just outside of the top 100 picks and I believe he’ll ultimately outplay this position, perhaps even winning the starting right tackle role as a rookie. With Michael Oher and Nate Chandler (or Williams) starting at tackle for Carolina, the Panthers aren’t likely to lead the NFL in pass blocking proficiency, but they should prove maulers in the running game and be able to provide Newton with just enough time to loft passes up high to his young, massive receivers. It isn’t a strategy that would fit every club but for the reigning division champs, the tactic is not only logical, it is a proven winner.
Carolina’s 2015 draft class:
- 1st Round, No. 25 overall: OLB Shaq Thompson, Washington
- 2nd Round, No. 42 overall: WR Devin Funchess, Michigan
- 4th Round, No. 102 overall: OL Daryl Williams, Oklahoma
- 5th Round, No. 169 overall: LB David Mayo, Texas State
- 5th Round, No. 174 overall: RB Cameron Artis-Payne
Key Undrafted Free Agents Signed:
Read more about all of Carolina’s picks here.
Read all of the Finding the Fits series here.
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