I predict the Panthers O-Line on opening day will be...

LT - Wharton
LG - Wahle
C - Mitchell
RG - Mathis
RT - Gross

OR

LT - Wahle
LG - Wharton
C - Mitchell
RG - Mathis
RT - Gross

Regardless I expect these 5 guys on the field.

 

I prefer the 1st option.

 

You never know. Could have someone unexpected step it up. James really wasn't expected to come up like he did a couple years ago. There always is the threat of a pre-season injury as well.

 

I think Reyes will hold off Mathis......

Just a hunch.

 

Doesn't New Orleans have a helluva RDE in Darren Howard? Might be trouble for Wharton - I think he owned Gross.

Or was it Grant? Either way, a tough way to start.

On the other side of the coin, Their rookie faces Peppers in his first NFL start.

 

I was just thinking about that. Reyes had a sprained ankle early last year that slowed him down the first half of the season and knows the system. Now he has an entire preseason to prepare. If you make Mathis have to take it from him, he will be better for it and a lot hungrier when he gets his chance. That just sounds more like Fox's style IMHFO.

 

I think Mathis eventually wins the job due to being more talented. I am not sure if he will be the better player by opening day or not. They may give him the job anyway if he looks to be close because most of the time the OL does not like to have a lot of personnel changes.

 

I said Reyes was a turd before last year, and I still stand behind it. Beating Brzeznski out for a job doesn't really stand out to me as excelling.

 

reyes got off to a slow start last year but really improved as the year wore on. coulda been the ankle they keep referring to. i think mathis has a tuff time beating him out this year ... but he could. noticed in one of the photos that Berger was lining up at RG (and ya gotta pull for a kid coming from nowhere). i'm wondering if mathis won't back up wharton and/or LG this year.

ain't it sweet to know we may go into this season with some decent depth on the OL for the first time since i can remember.

 

Reyes really just doesn't "fit" this offense. He's more of an inline blocker. He's not exactly mobile enough to fit here. I don't think he's as terrible as I did a year ago, but I do think Mathis will be a better fit, and due to that be considered better.