It’s time for Torrey Smith to step aside and let the youngsters play

Torrey Smith’s skillset is similar to some of the players at his position.

Torrey Smith. There have been rumblings across Panthers Nation about him as he has been rather underwhelming to start the 2018 season. In four games, he has recorded seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Even I thought he would record better numbers to this point.

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Torrey Smith’s lack of production to this point was a hot-button topic on Friday’s edition of “Grill Bill.” Bill Voth acknowledged that people would rather see more of D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. Quite frankly, I would too. They are younger and far greater vertical threats for Cam Newton to throw to. However as Voth explains, there is a reason for keeping Smith on the field. Voth used a quote from a piece posted earlier in the week on Panthers.com.

"Listen, I get it, you’d rather see more of Moore, who’s played 96 offensive snaps compared to Smith’s 199. And Samuel could be the vertical threat the Panthers were looking for when they traded for Smith this offseason. All I can tell you is, despite totaling just seven catches for 67 yards and a score through four games, it doesn’t sound like there are plans to start cutting too far into Smith’s snaps anytime soon.“He’s a threat, and people have to defend him. He’s running great and he gets noticed out there,” offensive coordinator Norv Turner said Thursday. “Go back and look at the (Giants) tape, third quarter he ran down the middle and beat everybody. Cam just didn’t see him. Cam was looking outside, but it was going to be the easiest touchdown he’s had. He’s a threat.”"

Overall as far as this answer goes, I do not like what I am hearing. I understand that he is a decoy and that he is able to draw defenders to him. That part I get, and agree that you need decoys in an offense. However, here’s the part that bothers me. You are sacrificing the snaps of your younger stars. Although Smith plays that vertical threat role, Moore and Samuel are younger and posses a bit more speed.

When the Panthers acquired Smith, they had not drafted Moore yet and they were not too sure how Samuel was going to come back from injury. So far, the prognosis on both wideouts is very good. Smith probably was acquired to be a deep threat for Newton. Now, they have that via a healthy Samuel and a player in Moore who has shown flashes of  being great.

I did not like Turner’s answer because truthfully, Torrey Smith should be playing better than how he is right now. On top of that, he is holding back two playmaking wideouts. We will have to see how this situation progresses as the season goes along. I do think Moore and Samuel will get more playing time as the season continues, but until then, Smith has to show me something. Right now, what he is doing is not enough for him to warrant getting so many snaps.

Then again, I am not the coach.