When the Panthers decided to overhaul their receiving corps this offseason, they took a couple large leaps of faith. Not only did they clear the way for unproven players, but they also showed a whole lot of confidence in Ricky Proehl.

Few can claim 17 years of playing experience like he can, but the 46-year-old is still very young as a coach.

The former Panther joined the team as an offensive consultant in 2011. The next year Proehl moved to assistant wide receivers coach before taking over the main job with the group last year.

In March, he suddenly lost his top four wideouts during one of the wildest weeks in Panthers’ history.

“When you’ve got a group that’s so smart, they’re interchangeable, and they know the offense, it’s comforting as a coach,” Proehl said, when asked about the transition. “Now you’ve got a bunch of young guys, and even the veteran guys, they have to learn the system. It’s teaching them all over again.”

From veterans like Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant to unknowns like Tavarres King and Marvin McNutt, the roster lacks names that could scare defensive backfields. But as they entered the offseason, the Panthers believed the previous receiving corps had already reached its ceiling, one that wasn’t all that high.

The changes may not have been so extreme if not for the incredibly deep class of receivers in this year’s draft. The front office and coaching staff realized months ago that they could get at least one talented prospect, and they dispatched Proehl to campuses around the country to find the right guy.

“I felt like every place I went, whoever I was going to see, brought something special to the table,” Proehl said. “There were probably seven or eight that could have gone in the first round, but then even the other ones weren’t far behind.”

A few weeks into his jet-setting spring, Proehl landed in Tallahassee to watch Florida State’s Kelvin Benjamin. In a way, it was love at first sight.

“A guy his size, and the way he caught the ball, it was natural. He was just like a vacuum. I was in awe,” Proehl said of Benjamin’s workout with the Panthers.

Despite a somewhat long list of concerns that included his work ethic and route running, Benjamin quickly became one of Carolina’s targets. And when they went on the clock earlier this month, they wasted no time turning in the card that made him their first-round pick.

“All the young guys that I went to see, there’s things that they need to work on to get better. But you can’t teach 6-5, 240,” Proehl said, echoing the post-draft explanation from general manager Dave Gettleman. “If he can grow and develop into the receiver I think he can be, he’s going to be a huge asset for our offense, and for Cam especially.”

While sifting through a bunch of talented wideouts was a good problem for the Panthers to have, the success of the receiver renovation hinges largely on if they made the right call on Benjamin.

If it turns out they didn’t, the plan could end up being as disastrous as many on the outside have speculated. But if Proehl can mold his new group into something better than what the Panthers had previously, he may find his young coaching career fast tracked.

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ANOTHER NOTABLE QUOTE

Proehl on Steve Smith’s release – “Steve and I didn’t just work together, but we’re great friends. I love the guy. He’s probably the greatest Panther in franchise history. We continue to talk, but as a coach we need to move forward with what we have now.”

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BBR NUGGETS

• Stephanie Rivera was on TV Wednesday morning. – NFL Network
• Ron Rivera was on TV Wednesday night. – NFL Network
• Byron Bell danced. – Jonathan Stewart, Instagram
• So did Thomas Davis. – Thomas Davis, Instagram
• David Foucault made his parents cry. – Owen Sound Sun Times

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COMING UP

Our first Panthers’ media survey has been live for about a month and we’ve gotten some extremely helpful and enlightening feedback. Before we share some of the results, this is last call if you’re interested but haven’t filled it out yet.

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