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The Carolina Panthers used their first-round NFL Draft pick on wide receiver Xavier Legette this past April. The rookie seems ready to show off his talents on the field.
Over the weekend, he talked about strides made in preseason camp while also lending a bit of insight as to what to expect from a new-look offense this fall.
Legette skyrocketed up draft boards after a monster senior season at South Carolina. Having recorded just 42 receptions across his first four seasons in Columbia, he exploded for a 71-catch campaign in 2023 to lead the Gamecocks in receiving.
He showed enough to the scouts in Charlotte, and now, he’ll look to provide Bryce Young with a weapon at the wideout position.
Legette can absolutely fly on the football field, and his hands proved solid during that impressive senior year.
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If there is a knock on the receiver, though, it’s his route running.
Xavier Legette was asked about what he’s done to improve the trait in camp. He responded by filling listeners in on the Carolina Panthers offense.
“I feel like I’m hitting [my routes] on the spot. We’re still gonna continue to sharpen them up… but I feel like they’re good,” he said. “I’d say the comebacks [are what I’ve gotten best at]. We ain’t really running too many curls in this offense, but I think the comebacks are where it’s at.”
Everyone’s itching to see Xavier Legette in game action. He says he’s good to go when the coaches give him the green light. He’s also ready to showcase his improved comeback routes.#Panthers pic.twitter.com/2uoxbxcjeX
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) August 18, 2024
That should be music to Bryce Young’s ears as Legette can showcase his top-flight speed with a mix of comebacks and deep balls. What we won’t see much of are curl routes, which were a go-to in Frank Reich’s offense.
It will offer a change from the 2023 season, where Young struggled as a rookie. First-year offensive coordinator Brad Idzik is implementing a new scheme alongside head coach Dave Canales to hopefully better highlight his quarterback’s strengths.
Canales takes an analytical approach to the offensive side of the ball, looking to strike balance while confusing defenses. Pre-motion movement is a staple in his scheme. Curls are not!
[Canales’] system is built around achieving balance in a quarterback-friendly scheme. The system – with similarities to the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers – employs different concepts out of similar looks to keep defenses off-kilter. In the current era of the NFL, the horizontal-stretch has gained popularity in the league encompassing misdirection, outside-zone, jet-motion and bootlegs.
Xavier Legette figures to play a key role in Young’s success, and Canales will do his best to get him open. It should be fun to see how the new staff utilizes each player in the coming season.