Changing up the OL (Steve Reed)

Panthers change up starting offensive line for Sunday
October 21st, 2010, 1:01 pm · Post a Comment · posted by sreed
Share Panthers starting RG Mackenzy Bernadeau told reporters on Thursday that he’s been benched for Sunday’s game. He said the Panthers will move starting RT Geoff Schwartz to his spot, while second-year pro Garry Williams will make his start at RT.

“It’s a move they decided to make trying to put the best players in,” Bernadeau said. “Hopefully that is what works best for us. We just have to go ahead with that… They came up to me and told me I was playing pretty well, but not up to the best of my ability. Little things are holding me back. Nothing crazy. Right now we just need a win and we need to make some changes and that is one of them.”

Bernadeau said he’s disappointed about the change, but vows to keep working hard.

Schwartz gives the Panthers a bigger body inside which should help with the running game.

Williams said he’s “very excited” about the chance to start at right tackle.

“This is my first ever start and it’s the opportunity I’ve been waiting on,” Williams said. “I’m going to go out and give it everything I’ve got to help us get a win.”

Williams said he feels like he’s improved since last year.

“Sitting back and observing helped me out a lot,” Williams said. “I feel like I’m ready to go. I’ve been practicing hard.”

 

Well, when I saw the headline, I was hoping that Fox took the advice of two football experts (Pat Kirwan and Abusive)--should have, IMO, moved Gross to RT, Wharton to LT. From there, slide 74 in at LG and your pass protection has a better chance of survival. Not that Gross is a world-beater. I still think Wharton is our team's best lineman, and even our best tackle. Too bad he's also our best guard, too.

Shit, go for it. Garry Williams--a black man. I can rally behind any big black guy named Garry.

He's notably smaller--MUCH smaller than 74, which is probably for the best. Schwartz is fucking huge, but has shown horrible instincts and footwork in pass protection at RT.

 

Would it have killed us to have kept Vincent?

 

He would have spiked our average age to, like, 18.4

 

Love that Bernadeau got benched. Not lovin' Schwartz at RG, though. I still think he's too lanky to play inside. Garry Williams against Manny Lawson and Isaac Sopoaga makes me itch.

 

Those two, v. 74, would have increased my itch factor.

Not saying Williams is worth a shit. But he's been in the system a couple years now, and with his size differential, there's obviously an effort being made here to utilize agility on the edge. Can't hurt, might not help.

 

I am starting to wonder if Otah ever plays again. A man his size with a bad knee is iffy to start with and he has not played in close to a year now.

 

Schwartz would've pwned Sopoaga, and he might anyway with Sopoaga playing the 5 technique. Williams vs. Lawson could be okay. Lawson hasn't really lit it up in pass rushing, and as you pointed out, Williams is (we're assuming) lighter on his feet than Schwartz.

Still, I think Fiametta is going to be looking to his right a lot.

 

Not a good player.

 

Didn't say he was. But I'm betting he'll be spending a good amount of time in blitz pickup on Sunday.