Rivera hopes Gettis can fill No. 3 receiver role
Ron Rivera views Steve Smith and Brandon LaFell as his starting receivers. The Panthers' coach is anxious to see who steps up to claim the No. 3 spot.
Rivera hopes it will be David Gettis.
Gettis, entering his third season, missed all of last season with a torn ACL after starting 15 games as a rookie in 2011. He's back on the practice field now and said he's "close" to 100 percent, which is good news for Cam Newton and company.
"Brandon is going to do the things he did last year, so we need to find that guy who can come in and be that other threat," Rivera said. "Once we establish who that other guy is it's going to help our offense. I think David is well on his way right now as long as he continues to work on it and regain that confidence" in his knee.
Rivera believes Gettis can stretch the field and take pressure off Smith, who enjoyed a renaissance of sorts last season reaching his fifth Pro Bowl while playing alongside Newton and under innovative offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.
Chudzinski's scheme is based on a vertical passing attack designed to get "big chunks" of yardage. Gettis is the type of player, if healthy, who can do just that. He averaged 13.7 yards per catch in 2011 and scored three touchdowns despite playing in an offense that lacked imaginative play calling and consistent quarterback play.
Gettis said the new scheme plays to his strengths as a receiver.
"Our offense was fun to watch last year," Gettis said. "You want to be a part of it because you're a competitor, but the coaching staff kept assuring me that there's a place for me and there's a lot more things we can do as far as the vertical game when I get back."
Gettis was the last of the three receivers the Panthers selected in the 2011 draft. They took LaFell and Armanti Edwards in the third round before grabbing Gettis in the sixth. LaFell has come on strong but Edwards has been a bust, seemingly unable to make the transition from playing quarterback in college to receiver in the NFL.
Despite being on the low end of the totem pole, Gettis wound up claiming the starting job as a rookie in 2011 and had 508 yards receiving and three touchdowns. After Gettis tore the ACL last summer at training camp, the Panthers signed free agent Legedu Naanee and he started the first half of the season.
However, LaFell improved as the year went along and caught 36 passes for 603 yards receiving with three touchdowns. He also showed big-play potential, including a franchise-record 91-yard touchdown reception against Tampa Bay. That was enough in Rivera's mind to warrant LaFell earning the starting job heading into this season.
"Brandon is starting to establish himself, which I think is important," Rivera said. "Brandon should start to do that. Brandon should always have that carrot in front of him because he's a young guy that's learning and growing and the more he grows the better he's going to be."
For his part, Gettis said he's not fixated on regaining the starting job from LaFell.
"That's not my focus," Gettis said. "My goal is to be 100 percent and do whatever they want me to do and let the rest take care of itself. I feel like if you're doing your job everything else takes care of itself. These coaches here aren't going to put you in a position to fail."
Gettis said the plan is wear a brace on his left knee for the entire season. He began straight-line running about two months ago. He started cutting for the first time last week in organized team activities, although trainers have been cautious with him doing too much too soon.
"It's a work in progress," said Gettis, who expects to be 100 percent when training camp begins July 29.
"He's looking real good," Rivera said. "He's getting his speed back and quickness and now it's just a matter of him building up that confidence in the knee. You see the ability because of his speed, quickness and size. He's going to help us."
) to help teach them the ropes. Plus I don't think Smitty will be around by 2014.
