The last three games of this 2023 season will give the Carolina Panthers a chance to figure out what they have moving forward. And according to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, they have more than just a gadget in wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
Smith-Marsette stood out in this past Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons. In addition to holding down punt return duties relatively well in the wet and windy conditions, the third-year receiver provided a little extra work on offense.
Brown was asked about the 24-year-old’s increased role.
“I think him being able to kinda earn his right—from what he’s done from a special teams standpoint, but obviously every day when it comes to him competing as you’ve mentioned from a speed standpoint—but I think more importantly, he’s one of the guys we have on our offense that can make guys miss,” he said. “And so when it comes to creating plays for yourself, things aren’t 100 percent perfect—he can maneuver himself, make guys miss, set up plays and obviously bring the energy and spark to our entire offense.”
The 9-7 victory saw Brown get creative with the speedy ball carrier, most notably through the running game. Smith-Marsette recorded 31 rushing yards on four attempts.
But Brown later stressed that Smith-Marsette is more than just a one-trick pony.
“Yeah, I don’t see him as a gadget player,” he replied. “I think it’s more about trying to find a role within the guys we already have on the field—to spell some guys, but also give a chance to kinda get the ball in his hands. He had a couple opportunities from a pass game standpoint to run some routes. In the end, they kinda didn’t work out in that game. But I see him as an overall player—not just a gadget, special teams guy for us.”
