With the loss of Kelvin Benjamin and the lackluster performance of the supporting wide receiver crew in two preseason games, things are looking kind of bleak for the Panthers offense but that isn't getting Cam Newton down. The Panthers enthusiastic leader was all smiles as usual. In fact, Cam recently stated that he felt 2nd round receiver and pin upon which the hopes and dreams of thousands of Panthers fans hang, Devin Funchess, had all the right tools to step in and fill Kelvin's size a million shoes. What he actually said was:

"He's a guy that wants to be great. We talk often. I'm pretty much a person that he can trust and that I know I can trust when the game comes on the line. We just need to get him to 100 percent."

There in the lies rub. Wide Receiver whisperer and coaching guru Ricky Proehl is very high on Funchess. He thinks the kids got skills but no one will ever know if he can't stay on the field. Needless to say if this nagging hamstring injury turns into more than a minor setback we're looking at a very long season with Jarrett Boykin and Greg Olsen taking the majority of targets from Newton. Could it be done? Yes, of course. Stranger things have happened. Fact of the matter is Cam is still inaccurate. Years of throwing off your back foot and racing defenders to the edge instead of working on mechanics and healing sore tendons will do that to you.

We need someone Cam can trust, someone he will feel comfortable forcing a tight pass to when the coverage is draped all over the only legitimate threat on the field. Kelvin had that, Funchess needs that. The fact that overthrowing either of our twin tower receivers would have taken a seriously concerted effort with Devin's 82 5/8" wingspan doesn't hurt matters. For the record Benjamin was a solid 83". So take KB out of the line-up, slide Funch n Munch in and sprinkle on some Greg Olsen with automatic hands at 6 - 5 with a 253lb frame and it doesn't look so bad. With Greg back in TE duties and off the O-line, the mistmatches are there, as long as we can exploit them.

It remains to be seen whether Getts can strike gold two years in a row with rookie WRs having breakout seasons, but if it can anywhere it can happen here. So far the coaches are happy with Devin's improvement and comfortable sending him out day one. There is a learning curve and Cam has taken on the responsibility of putting Devin 'Under his wing.' Now it's all a matter of how fast the rookie can get up to speed.

"I have full confidence in Devin that he gets it, sooner rather than later," - Cam Newton

Current plans are that Funchess will play in the 3rd preseason game against New England. With little to go on, this Friday stands to be Devin's coming out party. In his only significant action, Devin went for 53 yards on 2 receptions. The same night that Kelvin Benjamin has 3 receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Keep in mind that just last year we here at CSR were questioning Benjamin's ability to fill the massive hole left by the departure of diminutive all-star Steve Smith. Here we are again, wondering who will step up with Kelvin on the sidelines.