Panthers to 'Experiment' Deebo Samuel-Like Role With Laviska Shenault

Can this coaching staff be the one to maximize Shenault's production in the NFL?

Laviska Shenault has been used in a variety of ways over the course of his first three years in the NFL. He's lined up at just about every pass-catching spot imaginable aside from tight end.

There have even been some instances where Shenault has lined up in the backfield at running back. And when he gets his opportunity to tote the rock, he's raised a few eyebrows rushing for 197 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries (5.2 yards per rush).

At receiver, Shenault has been fairly limited. Some have even tabbed him as a "gadget" player with a limited route tree. In his first season with the Panthers, Ben McAdoo used him primarily in the underneath game with screens, bubbles, and swing passes out of the backfield. Rarely did he run a route deeper than five yards, but that doesn't mean he didn't hit some explosive plays. The Saints game in Week 3 is the perfect example of that where he had a couple of decent-sized kick returns and catches, but the big one came in the fourth quarter where he took a quick dump-off pass 67 yards for the score to extend the lead.

Despite being misused and having poor quarterback play, Panthers head coach Frank Reich believes they can carve out a role for Shenault in this offense. 

Today, I asked Reich just how creative they can get with him. Here was his response:

"It'll be interesting. I think Laviska has been one of those guys out here that's looked good. We'll continue to investigate the different roles that he can play. Even if we had this grandiose plan, which maybe we do, I won't reveal that here or now with all the different ways you can use him. But you look at guys like Deebo Samuel and stuff like that and you say, 'Well, can Laviska do some of that kind of stuff?' Of course, he can. So, we'll experiment with some of that stuff and some of it will get incorporated and some of it won't."

With a rookie quarterback under center, there will be a lot of crossers and screens implemented into the offense which could result in an increased target share for Shenault at receiver. And then at running back, the Panthers feel good about Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard but beyond that, they are still searching for a third back. Raheem Blackshear has impressed the staff through OTAs but regardless of who earns that third spot, Shenault may end up with more touches and that healthy balance of wide receiver/running back could be what unleashes his full potential.

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