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Black and Blue Review

Black and Blue Review

Carolina Panthers News and Coverage for the Digital Age

Breaking Down: Kelvin Benjamin’s Development Since Joining the Panthers

There wasn’t much consensus when the Panthers took Kelvin Benjamin in the first round of May’s draft. Some believed the 6-5 receiver was a perfect weapon for quarterback Cam Newton. Others felt Benjamin was too raw with bust potential.Drops, inconsistencies and technique deficiencies were littered throughout Benjamin’s two years at Florida State. At the very least, it appeared it would take him a while to get going as a pro.It’s still very early, but from the moment Benjamin arrived in Charlotte, he’s given his doubters very little to pick on. Through a dominant training camp and preseason, we’ve seen him develop into a far superior player than the one he was less than a year ago.While taking a closer look at the Panthers preseason games, you can see a number of traits Benjamin failed to show as a draft prospect. Here are some examples:


 Gaining Separation From Tight Coverage

Benjamin was billed as a phenom, who some compared to Lions receiver Calvin Johnson. But his numbers at February’s Combine were less than impressive, running a 4.61 40-yard dash and posting a 7.33 three-cone drill.There were also times in college where Benjamin appeared stiff, and unable to sink his hips or separate cleanly from corners.NFL.com’s Nolan Nawrocki wrote,

“[Benjamin] lacks elite, top-end speed and many catches are contested. Hand use could improve releasing vs. tight, press coverage. Overly grabby. Is not yet a nuanced route runner and does not sink his hips and pop in and out of his breaks.”

None of that showed up in the preseason. Benjamin appeared lighter, faster and used technique that put plenty of space between himself and defenders in his routes:

KBChiefs1
NFL.com
On this play, Benjamin lines up across from the Chiefs 6-3, 218-pound top cornerback, Sean Smith. Benjamin immediately gets Smith off-balance by making a subtle fake as if he will run outside. When the rookie cuts back inside, he already has the upper hand.You’ll notice Benjamin engages in a hands battle with Smith as the route develops. The defender is attempting to press the receiver, but is unsuccessful. Benjamin bats the cornerback’s arms away, and stays balanced as he prepares to break on the route:
NFL.com
NFL.com
In frame No. 1, we see an out-of-position Smith make a last-ditch effort to grab onto Benjamin. You’ll also notice that Benjamin begins to sink his hips in the first frame. By the second frame, he’s dipped his inside hip low to the ground like a pro. Since Benjamin executes this with such quickness, and because of his early advantage gained at the line, Smith slips in his attempt to keep up. This is a series of NFL veteran moves from a guy who was playing in college just a few months ago.The results become clear in the third frame. Benjamin has achieved plenty of separation to make a clean catch over the middle.This play was no anomaly. The rookie put these techniques — hand use, sinking hips, quick breaks — together on numerous occasions in the preseason.Benjamin struggled at Florida State with creating optimal separation in tight coverage, and being flexible in his lower body. Since his time in Carolina, he has developed these traits in practice and transferred them to the field.

Route Running and Boxing Out Defenders

Most draft prospects come out of school as raw route runners. Collegiate receivers are rarely asked to, or need to, run the full route tree against opposing corners. Their jump to the NFL is often steep, as they don’t have the necessary skills to beat pro defenses.Benjamin was an inconsistent with his routes at Florida State. He often appeared sluggish, and his patterns were not always crisp. But he was much-improved this preseason:

NFL.com
NFL.com
On this play, Benjamin runs a deep comeback route down the left sideline. He streaks down the field, only to break off and face his quarterback at the stem of the pattern.During the straight-ahead, vertical portion of the route, Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler has good position. However, Benjamin quickly halts and prepares to alter his route. This leaves the defender in a poor spot to defend the now out-breaking receiver:
NFL.com
NFL.com
By the time Butler attempts to recover, Benjamin is ready to counter. The rookie takes his right arm and goes over Butler to achieve more separation on the out route. The Panthers’ top receiver presents a great open target for his quarterback to hit.Benjamin was criticized for not utilizing his 6-4, 240 frame enough in college. But here we see Benjamin box out the small cornerback as he waits for the pass to arrive on the sideline. He shields the defender from the ball and hauls in a difficult catch in tight coverage.While watching Benjamin as a draft prospect, you saw an unrefined route runner and a player not using his size. The current iteration of Benjamin shows a route technician, who knows how to deploy his 6-5 body.

 Maintaining Concentration

According to Rotoworld’s Greg Peshek, Benjamin dropped 9.68% of the passes thrown his way last season at FSU. It was a flaw far too easy to spot. While Benjamin didn’t display poor technique — trapping the ball, alligator arms, etc. — he continued to have a problem with drops. When the issue isn’t one surrounding technique, that usually indicates a concentration problem.It did appear Benjamin would lose focus when trying to reel in some passes. But those issues have disappeared since he started working with Newton and Panthers receivers coach Ricky Proehl:

NFL.com
NFL.com
This was the touchdown that forced everyone to take notice of the improving Benjamin. During the preseason opener against the Bills, he made a spectacular catch over well-regarded corner Stephon Gilmore.As the ball is in the air, Benjamin again uses his arm to extend the space between him and the defender. Unfortunately, the move causes the receiver to stumble. At the five-yard line, Benjamin actually has both hands on the ground. If he were the same player from FSU, this would have been an incompletion. But Benjamin’s improved focus and concentration allow him to alter the play’s course:
NFL.com
NFL.com
Benjamin essentially crawls the rest of the route. Notice in the frame on the left how Benjamin keeps his eyes toward the sky. He isn’t focused on what his body is doing or where he is, but rather the location of the incoming ball. Benjamin lays out in the end zone, tracks the ball to his hands and grabs the pass for a touchdown.Being able to put the blinders on, and only focus on making the reception was an area he struggled at in college. But despite the mitigating factors in the play above, Benjamin used extreme concentration to turn an incompletion into a score.

Going Forward

After revamping their receiving corps, the Panthers knew they needed a game-changing force in the passing game. The issue many had was that they needed one right away, and Benjamin wasn’t supposed to be “pro ready.” But general manager Dave Gettleman and company took a leap of faith.The Panthers have pumped confidence into their first-round pick. He’s rewarded them by developing into a massively improved, and well-rounded player in a matter of months. The rookie has already developed in key areas such as route running, gaining separation in coverage and concentration.Instead of being stuck on a learning curve, Benjamin is unquestionably the Panthers’ number one receiver. That’s well beyond even the most optimistic projections any draft analyst could have had.And for the first time in too many years, the Panthers finally have a young, dynamic threat in their aerial arsenal.

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  • QC_RB

    BlackBlueReview MattHarmon_BYB Awesome read.

  • QC_RB

    BlackBlueReview MattHarmon_BYB Awesome read.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    QC_RB BlackBlueReview thank you!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    QC_RB BlackBlueReview thank you!

  • BMullis3

    BlackBlueReview Awesome stuff…keep it up

  • BMullis3

    BlackBlueReview Awesome stuff…keep it up

  • clyde1784

    sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam shoulda been Morgan Moses #Disssapointment

  • clyde1784

    sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam shoulda been Morgan Moses #Disssapointment

  • clyde1784

    sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam shoulda been Morgan Moses #Disappointment

  • clyde1784

    sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam shoulda been Morgan Moses #Disappointment

  • BlackBlueReview

    BMullis3 all credit to MattHarmon_BYB on that one. And thanks!

  • BlackBlueReview

    BMullis3 all credit to MattHarmon_BYB on that one. And thanks!

  • TMuhammad23

    clyde1784 sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser JellyIntoAJam did he make the redskins roster?

  • TMuhammad23

    clyde1784 sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser JellyIntoAJam did he make the redskins roster?

  • clyde1784

    TMuhammad23 sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser JellyIntoAJam he won the swing tackle job

  • clyde1784

    TMuhammad23 sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser JellyIntoAJam he won the swing tackle job

  • JellyIntoAJam

    clyde1784 TMuhammad23 sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser Meaning the back up role?

  • JellyIntoAJam

    clyde1784 TMuhammad23 sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser Meaning the back up role?

  • clyde1784

    JellyIntoAJam TMuhammad23 sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser yep.

  • clyde1784

    JellyIntoAJam TMuhammad23 sdanner52 aidendrakesdad PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser yep.

  • BMullis3

    BlackBlueReview Absolutely. Keeping a displaced fan in Texas in the loop. Excited to see how the (cont) http://tl.gd/ng12oo

  • BMullis3

    BlackBlueReview Absolutely. Keeping a displaced fan in Texas in the loop. Excited to see how the (cont) http://tl.gd/ng12oo

  • TMuhammad23

    clyde1784 JellyIntoAJam sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser couldn’t afford to take somebody who nt starting in the 1st rd

  • TMuhammad23

    clyde1784 JellyIntoAJam sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser couldn’t afford to take somebody who nt starting in the 1st rd

  • laclair24

    Well done!  This is the type of thing Panthers fans (at least this one) have been waiting for.  Excellent breakdown!  I look forward to more of this in the future.  Way to go BBR!!!

  • laclair24

    Well done!  This is the type of thing Panthers fans (at least this one) have been waiting for.  Excellent breakdown!  I look forward to more of this in the future.  Way to go BBR!!!

  • clyde1784

    TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser I’m talking 2nd round & he’d be starting here

  • clyde1784

    TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser I’m talking 2nd round & he’d be starting here

  • JellyIntoAJam

    clyde1784 TMuhammad23 sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser I do agree, he would probably be starting for us.

  • JellyIntoAJam

    clyde1784 TMuhammad23 sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser I do agree, he would probably be starting for us.

  • clyde1784

    JellyIntoAJam TMuhammad23 sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser played well in 2 games at LT in preseason according to PFF

  • clyde1784

    JellyIntoAJam TMuhammad23 sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser played well in 2 games at LT in preseason according to PFF

  • TMuhammad23

    clyde1784 JellyIntoAJam sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser so what happens when hardy gone who plays de

  • TMuhammad23

    clyde1784 JellyIntoAJam sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser so what happens when hardy gone who plays de

  • TMuhammad23

    JellyIntoAJam clyde1784 sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser I disagree only chance maybe at rt

  • TMuhammad23

    JellyIntoAJam clyde1784 sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser I disagree only chance maybe at rt

  • PantherNasty

    sdanner52 aidendrakesdad clyde1784 bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam He’s turning into a beast and he’s just a rook

  • PantherNasty

    sdanner52 aidendrakesdad clyde1784 bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam He’s turning into a beast and he’s just a rook

  • PantherNasty

    sdanner52 aidendrakesdad clyde1784 bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam imagine with 2 years experience

  • PantherNasty

    sdanner52 aidendrakesdad clyde1784 bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam imagine with 2 years experience

  • JellyIntoAJam

    TMuhammad23 clyde1784 sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser I didn’t specify which side.

  • JellyIntoAJam

    TMuhammad23 clyde1784 sdanner52 PantherNasty bryanaustin596 EElsesser I didn’t specify which side.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    Anthony_Rizzuti another implies any of the dribble I write is compelling. Thanks!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    Anthony_Rizzuti another implies any of the dribble I write is compelling. Thanks!

  • billvoth

    laclair24 Thank you. At this is the type of thing we want to provide for fans who have too long been starved for smarter coverage.

  • billvoth

    laclair24 Thank you. At this is the type of thing we want to provide for fans who have too long been starved for smarter coverage.

  • jccsells

    BlackBlueReview MattHarmon_BYB Great Read and another awesome article!

  • jccsells

    BlackBlueReview MattHarmon_BYB Great Read and another awesome article!

  • Keith Laibson

    Definitely liking what I see from Kelvin Benjamin… and he wears #13… so that is even better :-) .

  • Keith Laibson

    Definitely liking what I see from Kelvin Benjamin… and he wears #13… so that is even better :-) .

  • sdanner52

    PantherNasty aidendrakesdad clyde1784 bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam He’s a big rookie though,gonna be a beast.

  • sdanner52

    PantherNasty aidendrakesdad clyde1784 bryanaustin596 EElsesser TMuhammad23 JellyIntoAJam He’s a big rookie though,gonna be a beast.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    JNashty88 BlackBlueReview thanks man. I appreciate it.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    JNashty88 BlackBlueReview thanks man. I appreciate it.

  • ralphie_p

    If KB will listen to Ricky Proehl – and it sounds like he is – the Panthers will have another first-round success story.  Thanks for the write-up!

  • ralphie_p

    If KB will listen to Ricky Proehl – and it sounds like he is – the Panthers will have another first-round success story.  Thanks for the write-up!

  • Mickey Cloud

    Great write up, much appreciated, @BlackBlueReview team cc @MattHarmon_BYB & billvoth

  • Mickey Cloud

    Great write up, much appreciated, @BlackBlueReview team cc @MattHarmon_BYB & billvoth

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB are you a fan of any team?

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB are you a fan of any team?

  • ThaJTL

    MattHarmon_BYB BlackBlueReview Looks great!

  • ThaJTL

    MattHarmon_BYB BlackBlueReview Looks great!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum not really at this stage

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum not really at this stage

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB noticed it in NOVA, where? We have a fan group up here that watches…good vibe there

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB noticed it in NOVA, where? We have a fan group up here that watches…good vibe there

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB great article btw

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB great article btw

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum I work in Fairfax. Live near Woodbridge right now, which is where I grew up.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum I work in Fairfax. Live near Woodbridge right now, which is where I grew up.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    ThaJTL BlackBlueReview thanks again!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    ThaJTL BlackBlueReview thanks again!

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB nice. I’m in Arlington. We watch in Foggy Bottom. You probably don’t want to drive all that way to watch lol

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB nice. I’m in Arlington. We watch in Foggy Bottom. You probably don’t want to drive all that way to watch lol

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum thank you sir. Appreciate you reading!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum thank you sir. Appreciate you reading!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum maybe if/when Move closer up north. I’m probably going to be pretty busy during game days though, with fantasy football writing

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum maybe if/when Move closer up north. I’m probably going to be pretty busy during game days though, with fantasy football writing

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB stay grinding man, your stuff is good. Give Dcpanthersfans a follow and come out if/when you can

  • cbynum

    MattHarmon_BYB stay grinding man, your stuff is good. Give Dcpanthersfans a follow and come out if/when you can

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum Dcpanthersfans thanks and done. Glad you’re enjoying the content. Lots more to come.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    cbynum Dcpanthersfans thanks and done. Glad you’re enjoying the content. Lots more to come.

  • Elder2

    The message has been delivered and now Kelvin has to keep things going until they are second natured as they seem to be now.

  • Elder2

    The message has been delivered and now Kelvin has to keep things going until they are second natured as they seem to be now.

  • CoolBlackCat

    Keep writing like this and they may have a new writer over there at NFL.com lol Great article my man.

  • CoolBlackCat

    Keep writing like this and they may have a new writer over there at NFL.com lol Great article my man.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    Mickey Cloud billvoth Thank you!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    Mickey Cloud billvoth Thank you!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    CoolBlackCat Too kind. Thank you!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    CoolBlackCat Too kind. Thank you!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    Elder2 I always like to watch if a rookie can carry over glowing practice reports to preseason. Helps indicate its becoming second nature, as you observed.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    Elder2 I always like to watch if a rookie can carry over glowing practice reports to preseason. Helps indicate its becoming second nature, as you observed.

  • sigchi222

    KB is easily one of the top 3 rookies on offesnse to keep an eye on for OROTY.
    Gettleman deserves a raise.

  • sigchi222

    KB is easily one of the top 3 rookies on offesnse to keep an eye on for OROTY.
    Gettleman deserves a raise.

  • CP_CSR

    MattHarmon_BYB BlackBlueReview I know it’s late but I just read it. Great work man! Keep it up.

  • CP_CSR

    MattHarmon_BYB BlackBlueReview I know it’s late but I just read it. Great work man! Keep it up.

  • BlackBlueReview

    CP_CSR MattHarmon_BYB hey – i’m still up, so thanks for the feedback!

  • BlackBlueReview

    CP_CSR MattHarmon_BYB hey – i’m still up, so thanks for the feedback!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    CP_CSR BlackBlueReview thanks man. Glad you enjoyed it!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    CP_CSR BlackBlueReview thanks man. Glad you enjoyed it!

  • GrizzlyCat

    I’ve watched the KB falling touchdown play several times and did not see the several points that you showed in the stop action frames.  Great write up and illustration – keep it up!  Thanks.

  • GrizzlyCat

    I’ve watched the KB falling touchdown play several times and did not see the several points that you showed in the stop action frames.  Great write up and illustration – keep it up!  Thanks.

  • BenjaminTarlton

    Great read dude, keep it up.

  • BenjaminTarlton

    Great read dude, keep it up.

  • tfroning86

    MattHarmon_BYB would you snatch up Benjamin over DeAngelo or Decker for flex?

  • tfroning86

    MattHarmon_BYB would you snatch up Benjamin over DeAngelo or Decker for flex?

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    Decker, KB very close. Both ahead of D-Will ET tfroning86: MattHarmon_BYB would you snatch up Benjamin over DeAngelo or Decker for flex?

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    Decker, KB very close. Both ahead of D-Will ET tfroning86: MattHarmon_BYB would you snatch up Benjamin over DeAngelo or Decker for flex?

  • tfroning86

    MattHarmon_BYB thanks. Can’t imagine I’ll give him much time at an WR spot over VJax or Jordy. CPatt on the bench too.

  • tfroning86

    MattHarmon_BYB thanks. Can’t imagine I’ll give him much time at an WR spot over VJax or Jordy. CPatt on the bench too.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    tfroning86 I’m a huge supporter of Patterson this year. And Jordy is an elite fantasy player with Rodgers healthy.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    tfroning86 I’m a huge supporter of Patterson this year. And Jordy is an elite fantasy player with Rodgers healthy.

  • krobinson4781

    MattHarmon_BYB I took KB over Brandin Cooks for flex in a .5 ppr. Took great restraint like waiting for a hot pocket to cool b4 digging in

  • krobinson4781

    MattHarmon_BYB I took KB over Brandin Cooks for flex in a .5 ppr. Took great restraint like waiting for a hot pocket to cool b4 digging in

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    krobinson4781 hahaha I bet Benjamin out scores Cooks in fantasy.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    krobinson4781 hahaha I bet Benjamin out scores Cooks in fantasy.

  • krobinson4781

    MattHarmon_BYB Agreed, especially in the consistency department.

  • krobinson4781

    MattHarmon_BYB Agreed, especially in the consistency department.

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    GrizzlyCat That’s what I’m here for!

  • MattHarmon_BYB

    GrizzlyCat That’s what I’m here for!