Panthers Camp preview

I think most of us don't realize how good a center Hartwig is, especially as a run blocker, because he hasn't done that for us yet. I'm ok with starting him over Kalil because I think he'll be better than Kalil, and it's not like we knew we could get Ryan at the bottom of the second round.

 

Kalil doesn't have to start for us right off, no. I think Hartwig is better than Bridges, who would probably have to move back out to tackle if anything at all happened at tackle. I don't want to crap on Bridges, he can be a good guard for us, but Hartwig has more power.

 

I'll crap on Bridges at guard, because the fact is that he was so bad there for Arizona that they cut him, and the Cardinals have been desperate for competent offensive linemen. Ideally I think that Kalil at center and Hartwig at guard would get the most talent on the field, but it won't kill me if Kalil rides the bench.

 

I've been of the same opininion re C: Kalil will be # two to start out the season, unless he somehow totally outclasses Hartwig early. And I can live with that too.

Reed is right about it being the most interesting camp in years. While I think we know what to expect defensively, it's a whole new ball game on the offensive side.

I'm gonna be very appreciative of the detailed camp reports I know you folks who go are gonna write up for the rest of us.

 

Kalil/Hartwig is the best pairing inside, and with our eldest vets on either side of him, Kalil should have no problems on the field. I don't have much against Bridges, but he's yet to earn anything, in the same way Mathis started a ton and didn't earn anything.

 

I'm still worried Hartwig will not be 100% or that he will be prone to another injury. Didn't he have part of his groin detached and they were not able to reattach part of it? He mentioned in an article a while back that he was going to have to adjust his play because of how important that was.

Does anyone know if that is a common injury?

 

I would rather see Kalil get some playing time. Hartwig is supposed to be able to play guard or even right tackle.

I think Bridges will be good at guard if he starts. He may have sucked in Arizona but he played decent for us at tackle last year. Something clicked for him when he got here, maybe it was just getting away from the Cards...

 

How he played tackle in Henning's offense is fairly irrelevant to how he will play guard in Davidson's.

 

I think people are misled by Bridges' size. He doesn't play that big. I saw him get bullied quite a bit last year, so I think having him at G would make him even more of a liability. Maybe not so much in the new scheme, but still not a guy I'd want to see inside unless we have another rash of injuries.

I don't know if anything "clicked", but he seems like a bright player who doesn't make a lot of stupid errors. However, I don't see any real strengths in his game. He's reliable in pass protection, but he doesn't make enough impact as a run blocker, especially as a RT. I don't think he's one of our top five linemen.

 

He should be okay. He can strengthen the rest of his groin to make up for it. It's not a career-threatening injury. He worked with the starters at OTA's and I haven't heard any complaints about it since.