OL depth

I think our right side can at the least come in and run block well right away. Robinson and Schwartz aren't able to move around (either physically or in the lineup) but they're good backups for what they do.

Wharton moving around is doable, but not ideal. It does lessen the need for experience, and for a LT that would otherwise do nothing for 16 games.


I think one thing hurting our depth is our success - we now have three pieces in place for at least four years, I'm sure they'd love Kalil to be piece four. We have prospects in place to attempt to fill that fifth spot with more youth, but otherwise, young guys don't have much of a future here.

 

yes. That's pretty safe.

Robinson's light might or might not come on this year. But, the second line will be really interesting come camp, and he's a big part of why.

Hangartner and Bridges were useful depth, but not guys we wanted to start. I have no problem with having not spent on Hangartner or Omiyale, both got overpaid and honestly, if we had spent money on those two I'd have been pissed we didn't use any money to get a larger DT.

 

From what I've heard, Bernadeau and Schwartz have both progressed very well, and should be fine as backups this year. Also, I'd assume that after losing so much depth, if the coaching staff wasn't comfortable with their development, they would have brought in some veteran depth to compete with them (despite being so close to the cap, there are things they could have done to find enough money to bring someone in).

And despite the idea that someone will probably come available at some point, it's not something a team with Super Bowl aspirations gambles on. If they were not comfortable with either guy, and felt they needed someone else in there, they would have already brought someone in already (probably a couple of scrubs like they did last year), and not risk waiting on a guy to get cut from his current team in training camp...particularly since there is no way on knowing if anyone let go would even fit the Panthers scheme.

 

You're forgetting how we acquired Omiyale in the first place, after camps and after they decided what they had wasn't up to the task.

 

I feel pretty good about our OL mostly because of Wharton and Gross being able to move around if needed. I think we have enough guys who can play inside and at RT to keep us covered. If Gross goes down then Wharton probably goes back to LT. If Otah goes down I think Schwartz will be decent. He should be able to run block anyway. Robinson should be good enough to at least provide depth at RG behind Vincent.

 

Did you watch games in 2007 when starters got hurt?
The guys who backed up last year (08) saved the Panthers asses.

Lack of back up will haunt them again this year.

 

Who the heck is our #2 C now? That's pretty much the only use I had for Hangartner.

 

Bernadeau.

 

Which lineman got hurt in 07? Bridges was suspended, I think Hartwig missed one game, any I'm missing? Wahle was hurt, but never missed a start.

 

No, I remember. However, you can't just assume that someone who is a clear upgrade to what you have and also fits your scheme will get cut loose by another team. If it happens great, but there's no guarantee.