Every Saturday, several ESPN.com NFL writers answer questions from their readers. We’ve compiled some of the more notable answers below, with a cameo from Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com…
- There are a variety of reasons why the Panthers won’t pursue a receiver via trade, writes ESPN.com’s David Newton. While acquiring a player like Steve Smith or Calvin Johnson would help this season, the writer believes the players would be too expensive and would only provide a temporary fix. Furthermore, he notes the Seahawks’ recent success without a top wideout, and he believes the Panthers’ hot start is an indication that they could follow the same route.
- Considering the linebacker’s lack of playing time, it wouldn’t shock ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini if the Jets listened to trade offers for Quinton Coples. The Jets probably won’t keep the former first-rounder and his $7.75MM salary next season, but it’s uncertain if any team would be willing to take on that contract.
- The lack of a fifth receiver on the Titans depth chart is because the squad values their tight ends, writes Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. While the team could reasonably replace any of their five tight ends with a wideout, the writer believes backups Craig Stevens, Phillip Supernaw, and Chase Coffman are all safe.
That’s an interesting point, but the Panthers’ offense doesn’t have the margin for error the Seahawks’ did at its peak. And Seattle still had better receiving options (Tate, Baldwin) than Cam Newton does at receiver. Even if Newton tops out as better than Russell Wilson, which may be the case, the Panthers don’t have a Seattle-level defense, and Jonathan Stewart is not in Marshawn Lynch’s league to make anything more than a “poor man’s Seahawks”-type comparison.
The reason why the Seahawks were able to get away with not having a receiver is because they had/have the best defense something the panthers don’t have