From hero to villain, roles in the NFL can change extremely quickly; no one understands that more this week than Panthers wide receiver Kaelin Clay, whose punt return for a touchdown broke the game wide open two weeks ago in New York and whose fumble salted away a loss on Sunday in New Orleans. The quicksilver wide receiver from Utah spent training camp and the preseason with the Panthers, earning a roster spot before being traded away to the Buffalo Bills for rotational cornerback and secondary depth piece Kevon Seymour; when Buffalo decided to part ways with Clay, the Panthers were eager to bring him back.
Clay now plays a large role for the Panthers, not only as their full-time punt returner, but as a wide reciever on the field for over 40% of snaps after rookie Curtis Samuel was lost for the season to an ankle injury. While his statistics may not show his role yet (only three catches on six targets for 46 yards to go along with one reverse for 29), if the Panthers are to be successful on offense as they make a playoff push, Clay, along with fellow speedster Damiere Byrd, will have to be able to take pressure off of top targets Greg Olsen and Devin Funchess.
We had a chance to speak to Clay about how Funchess has grown into himself, how Clay is dealing with an expanded role, and what it’s like to be in the huddle with Cam Newton.
You’ve seen an increased role the past two weeks, how have you been adjusting to the extra playing time?
You know, you’ve just got to be ready. That’s one thing that the coaches, they harp on; next man up, everybody’s got to be ready, do your job. I’m familiar with the system, so it just shows that the coaches trust in me; I’ve just got to keep getting better every week.
How do you think the offense is going to respond going against a Top 5 defense in the Vikings?
We’ve just got to play the game that we play, you know. We can’t really worry about what they do; we do know that they’re a good defense, a Top 10 defense, but if we can continue to do what we do and just get better every day, I feel like we’ve got a good chance against anybody. But like I said, we’ve got to do better and just do what we do.
Two weeks ago, it seemed like Cam’s thumb was affecting his accuracy, do you think he’s back to full strength?
I couldn’t tell you that, but when he’s out there on the field, he gives us the best chance to win the games, so I love having Cam out there because he’s the leader of our team and of our offense, so anytime he’s out there on the field he’s a professional.
What’s it like being in the huddle with Cam Newton?
It’s crazy, because I was just talking to my sister about this. It’s amazing, man. Being out there with somebody like him who demands a lot, who’s well-respected; just to be in the huddle with somebody like that and he’s looking at you as he’s calling the play and he actually gives you the ball it means he believes in you, so I love going out there and playing with Cam because I know he’s going to give his all every time he goes out there.
You said he demands a lot, is that-
No, no, not in a [bad way]. We’re in a professional sport, he expects us to be in a certain spot as he’s throwing the ball or when we’re blocking, or just whatever the play call is, so he’s a leader. He wants everybody to be in the right spot so the plays work.
When something happens like the fumbled punt return last week, how do you move past something like that?
You live and you learn from it. It’s a football play, they made a great play on it; the most important thing is the ball. I’ve just got to focus on ‘high and tight’, keeping the ball in my possession. It’s things that I just, the little things that I didn’t do, like I said, keeping the ball high and tight, but they’re professional players, they get paid to make plays as well as we do, so I’ve just got to be better in that department.
What’s it like lining up next to or across from Devin Funchess? How do you think he’s grown over the past month?
Man, his attention to detail has gotten a lot better; I can see his physicality, he wants to win on every route, every play. So having a guy like that in the room and taking that mentality out there on the field, it just gives you that extra boost that, you know, “Let me go out there and help him lift, so he’s not the only one trying to put it on his shoulders.” I love him, man. Funch is a great dude, he’s a great teammate, I have the utmost respect for him.
Cam joked that Captain [Munnerlyn] gave him some inside info about the Vikings secondary, has he been feeding you any?
I haven’t talked to him today, but I’m pretty sure we’ll get something from him.
