OL depth

[magnus]

OL depth is fighting with DT depth for "glaring weakness" of 2009, but may be losing.

If there are glaring weaknesses – at least for now – on the Carolina Panthers’ roster, it’s the total lack of experience among the backup offensive linemen and the long snappers.

The Panthers lost all three of their experienced line backups during the offseason and so far haven’t re-signed veteran snapper Jason Kyle, an unrestricted free agent.

However, general manager Marty Hurney sounds comfortable with the strategy the team’s taking, noting that it’s important to develop young depth via the draft.

“We feel very good about (guard-center) Mackenzy Bernadeau and (tackle) Geoff Schwarrtz as far as (them) coming into their second year,” said Hurney. “We took them last year in the seventh round. They’ve had a year to kind of learn. We’ll see how they do. Then we used another draft pick (this year) on (guard) Duke (Robinson). And we really were aggressive and signed some rookie free agents after the draft.

“You’re evaluating every day and (seeing) how things go. Competition will kind of answer those questions. But I think we feel like we’ve got some good competition there for those backup spots.”

Thoughts? I think I read somewhere that Schwartz did a lot of growing up in the offseason, and he was already pushing people off the ball as a reserve in camp last year. So maybe he can passblock a little now.

 

[presidence99]

OL depth is fighting with DT depth for "glaring weakness" of 2009, but may be losing.

Only because we haven't seen the OL depth suck in a game, we can rationalize it for now.

Thoughts? I think I read somewhere that Schwartz did a lot of growing up in the offseason, and he was already pushing people off the ball as a reserve in camp last year. So maybe he can passblock a little now.

Thoughts? I would've liked to sign Khalif Barnes as a backup, but I'm sure some vet depth will shake loose. Schwartz developing would be great but Bernadeau is more important to me since I'm not sure if Robinson will get a jersey most weeks.

 

[magnus]

you could fairly easily argue that backup OL could cost you a full game in an injury situation, but that DT depth should be in every game. If all is equal.

I think we have a lot more talent on the OL past the starting 5 than we do past the first two DTs (obviously I'm leaving out DEs because we have four good DEs and a guy who could theoretically make the roster if Peppers isn't here). You're going to have more depth on the OL by nature, yes.

And yeah, it hasn't cost us in a game on the OL. I have no worries that we'll be as talented for depth as last year, when we were able to put two guys out there that had started 30 games and a third guy who played competent LT for a game. We're definitely worse off. Our starting DTs helped give up some games.


I'm not with those tags. I also already used my 5.

 

[presidence99]

a third guy who played competent LT for a game.

He managed to not fuck up against a team that had 10 sacks on the year.

 

[meatpile]

We have 29 rookies on the roster, and a $17 million superman who may never suit up......

 

[magnus]

He managed to not fuck up against a team that had 10 sacks on the year.

I didn't mean to suggest that competent was a glowing review.

 

[presidence99]

I didn't mean to suggest that competent was a glowing review.

Sorry, that was directed at the general 'we lost our backup LT, too' that gets thrown around.

Sears supposedly doesn't fit the Bucs new scheme, Morris might be willing to trade him for another QB.

 

[The Brain]

Thoughts? I think I read somewhere that Schwartz did a lot of growing up in the offseason, and he was already pushing people off the ball as a reserve in camp last year. So maybe he can passblock a little now.

I remember reading something similar. Back up Tackle was the only real concern I had. I think Robinson is an eventual starter, Bernadeau is at least serviceable as a reserve. I don't want him starting long term, but he'll do in a pinch. So with tackle being the only big question mark, and Schwartz stepping up it may not be a big deal.

Worse case scenario lets say gross get hurt, Move Wharton outside short term and start Robinson. Or if its on the other side Wharton at LT, Gross at RT and again Robinson starts. I know its a lot of line movement, but I'm hoping NOTHING is that permanent anyways.

 

[presidence99]

That assumes Robinson is ready, I'd bet Bernadeau would be first off the bench.

 

[Abusive]

I am still concerned about the depth. What we could always hope for is more of the 2005 continuity, where the line, I believe, started almost every game together. This was not the case in 08, and we still had fine results.

Sorry--I just don't see Handgartner or Bridges being major losses. Omiyale was nice.