It's fashionable right now to suggest the Panthers are poised to regress. A primary reason for this is due to a bare cupboard at the wide receiver position. From the outside looking it, it's easy to see why. They allowed Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn Jr. to leave in free agency, then sure-to-have-a-statue-at-BOA wide receiver Steve Smith was released. And who did they replace them with? Rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and third-wide-receivers-at-best Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant.
So how in the heck did they actually get better? It's simple. These new dudes? They know how to score. Last year, the Panthers top three wide receivers scored a touchdown on 9.4% of their catches. The new crew? They score on 19.57% of their catches. When there aren't a lot of catches to go around, this can be the difference in a win and a loss.
The Old Guard - Ted Ginn, Jr. - 5'10"
He's relied mostly on speed to get open his entire career due to his size, and of course, his wicked-fast legs. The same style of play was the case for 2013. He was an incredible compliment to Cam and a valuable contributor in the return game. However, when it came to scoring he fell short.
Scoring Percentage: 13.9%
The Old Guard - Brandon LaFell - 6'2"
At 6'2", you'd expect LaFell to have been the better red zone target of the position group, but that didn't prove to be the case. Despite being physically similar to Mushin Muhammed, the young wide receiver was never able to live up to the billing. Fans like to point out his drops (due to concentration, I believe), but he was surprisingly clutch on third downs (outside of a painful fourth down drop).
Scoring Percentage: 10.2%
The Old Guard - Steve Smith - every bit of 5'9"
Steve Smith, you are my favorite Panther. I will never forget watching you take your first ever NFL touch to the house. It was an honor and a pleasure to watch you play for the Carolina Panthers. That said, Steve Smith's scoring percentage was in decline and he wasn't the same target he was when he won the triple crown. While he still knows how to get after it, he wasn't able to consistently put the ball in the end zone.
Scoring Percentage: 6.25%
The New Dudes - Kelvin Benjamin - 6'5"
Benjamin is massive. And his history at Florida State proves he has a nose for the end zone. While most look at him as simply a possession receiver, the tape shows a guy who has a knack for getting behind defensive backs. He should replace Ginn's downfield production and has the potential to score as many TDs as the top three wide receivers from last year combined.
Scoring Percentage*: 27.78%
*Based on his Senior year at Florida State
The New Dudes - Jerricho Cotchery - 6'1"
Cotchery has been at this for a while and his veteran leadership will be valuable at the position. He's a classic possession receiver who, last year, proved he had a nose for the end zone. He provided the Steelers with a consistent red zone option.
Scoring Percentage: 21.74%
The New Dudes - Jason Avant - 6'
While Avant may bring the groups overall scoring percentages down, he adds the third down element that we lost with LaFell. He will be able to replace that role and do it better than his predecessor. Plus, all accounts are that he is a fantastic mentor which bodes well for young Kelvin Benjamin.
Scoring Percentage: 5.26%
Final Thoughts
In 2013, we saw the Panthers move the ball down into the red zone, but if they weren't in a position to take the battering ram approach, the drives generally stalled out. It appears Dave Gettleman saw the same issue, so he went out and made sure that when Cam was inside the 20, he'd have a guy to throw to.
This is why the Panthers are better this year at the wide receiver position than they were in 2013.