The Carolina Panthers added some bricks this spring, and now six weeks into the season, despite being 1-5, the club is starting to see them stack up. One of the cornerstones is undoubtedly Xavier Legette.
The first-round rookie out of South Carolina stepped into an unknown and uncertain situation. But as the offense has stabilized in recent weeks, Legette has seen his production become more consistent. In the past four games, his reception percentage has not dipped below 60 percent, including his best performance, six receptions on 10 targets, for 66 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals.
That score also introduced a celebration that Legette says will be sticking around; he "hops on his horse" Dolla Bill and rides it out of the end zone and back to the sideline.
"That's going to be it every time," Legette laughed.
Legette pulled Dolla Bill out of the stable again on Sunday against the Falcons, after making a contested catch that proved why the Panthers were so passionate about this receiver in the draft process.
"That's just letting me know Andy Dalton, trusts me," Legette said. "If he's going to give me the ball with a DB right there in front of me like that, that means, he trusts me to go up and make those contested catches."
It's those types of plays that provide glimpses into the future.
He's pulled in 64 percent of his targets for catches, third best amongst the first-round receivers, and posted a 52 percent success rate (gaining at least 40 percent of yards required on first down, 60 percent required on second down and 100 percent on third and fourth down) tied for third best among those eight.
"The game, the speed is the same as from college for me," Legette said this week. "Everything is the same for me. I just say that when the ball come to me, I got to make those (opportunities)."
Legette has caught 69 percent of his receptions while lined up outside, as the Panthers look to make him a big-body perimeter threat. Even with Adam Thielen on injured reserve, the Panthers and Dave Canales have been able to play around with Legette on the field, due to other rookies stepping into their own as well.
Receiver Jalen Coker and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders have both earned more and more playing time in recent weeks. Against the Falcons, after Canales used timeouts during the Falcons scoring drive towards the end of the first half, Dalton put together a textbook effective two-minute drive ahead of halftime, capped with Legette's touchdown. The 14-year vet utilized all three rookie pass catchers to move downfield, 76 yards for the score.
"I mean, it's great," Canales bragged of his rookie's progress in the game. "It's great to see those guys to see the investment to see the work that they've been putting in come to life. Guys that we're counting on to make plays, you know, and they made their plays that came to them (Sunday)."
Despite Legette being a first-rounder and Coker first joining the team as an undrafted free agent, the two have leaned on each other as they become accustomed to the NFL. In the last three games, Coker has pulled in seven receptions on eight targets for 98 yards and six first-downs.
"He's someone that does well with the fundamentals," Legette said of Coker. "He does everything right. I think he's one of those guys that will play in this league a long time.
"We always connected since we got here. We had the rookie class, and we just fought together ever since."
Even as players like Legette, Coker, Sanders and eventually running back Jonathon Brooks (who's window to return is expected to open this week) continue to find their footing in the NFL and become the blueprint for the Panthers to build, there is an understanding that wins can't come at the sacrifice of moral victories.
"I say, man, you have to be perfect to win these games. Any mental mistake could be the difference between winning and losing. And we just got to execute on the plays that we missed (Sunday)," Legette pointed out. "This right here, we've got to get it right and try to find ways to win."
Any building project starts with a strong foundation. Spearheaded by Legette, the rookie class is looking to build their team brick-by-brick, believing that production will lead to wins.
Said Legette, "Just stay with the positive and just look at the negatives to see how we can overcome it."
