After the draft, I think it was Verge who asked the best question that remained: "So what do we have as an offensive line? (paraphrased)." I think it is a great question.
We still do not have answers for everyone left of right tackle, but we do have depth and competition. Essentially, we are average across the front after Moton, but that is based on where we were and probably are--but it does not mean that is what we will be.
So I do this for myself and not for the Huddle, but I do not mind sharing. Agree or disagree--there are many ways this could go and I am pretty sure it won't go as predicted here. I tried to analyze each player as objectively and as positively as possible. These are the 10 OL I think could make the final roster:
Cam Erving: Has some LT experience, experience at G as well. Just does not come off as a LT1. At his salary, he is a steal if he starts and is average, but I really was hoping that he would be solid depth. Erving is smart, gives a lot of effort, but due to inexperience at any position, he is a bit behind. Built to be the utility infielder, it is best for the Panthers if that is the role he plays here. At his age, he is in his prime, so you are seeing his peak performance; he is what he is. I would say that he will give 100% and he will learn quickly. Is 100% enough? Not over the long haul. Still the favorite to be starting week 1, in my opinion. Erving has said he is most comfortable at LT, and this may be his best chance to win a job there.
Trent Scott: Scott was probably slightly below average last season, taking about a third of the LT snaps. That is admirable for a backup, and we know he should improve in 2021 because he was new to the system in 2020. So I might go as far to say that he could reach average. If Erving is average and Scott can be average, I feel better about LT than I did before the draft. Having 2 LTs that are slightly below average to average is something you can live with IF you upgraded in other places. Do not underestimate the value of Tremble here—and maybe a newer, better LG beside him will help. I would give Scott a C- based on last year, with the upside of a C for 2021.
Bradley Christensen: Since nobody asked me, I have been watching Christensen’s videos and reading a few reviews from respected analysts and have come to this conclusion: He can play LT with a few weak spots or he could be a star Left Guard. BC can handle the speed rushers and the benders; he can pull and reach the second level with ease. He is great on screens. Where he could run into trouble: Bull Rushers. He will struggle to keep the bigger, power rushers from plowing through his numbers. He has short arms and a tiny anchor. So if we can use Tremble to chip and offset that Bull rusher on longer plays from the pocket, he could be a serviceable LT. But these flaws are minimized if he moves to G, and his athleticism is put more on display. I think Rhule wants him to play G, honestly, because he sees it too. Rookie, so grade is based on week 1 potential---LT: C-, LG: B-
Dennis Daley: The forgotten man except in the “ice up” room, sometimes injuries happen in flurries. You get one, it alters your technique and you get another. A pulled groin can lead to a strained knee and that can lead to a hip pointer, for example. Then everyone calls you “injury prone,” the NFL’s kiss of death. But Daley was drafted in 2019 with Greg Little, and as a sixth rounder, had some impressive outings. Like in college, he was a bit inconsistent at LT, and was learning LG to start there in 2020 when the injury bug hit. So we really do not know what we have in Daley; he could be our best LT, and he could be a versatile reserve as opposed to the injured reserve. No grade, but we really (if you do not include Little) have 4 possible LTs on the roster, and all seem to be about on the same level at this time. Daley is a LT, LG, and possibly the RT backup.
Pat Elflien: I have watched Jets tape of Elf at G, and I have watched Vikings tape of Elf at C, where he won the Remington award as college football’s top C after being moved from G to C for his senior year at Ohio State. Probably a better pass blocker than run blocker, and I like him at C more than G, which is good news, considering Paradis’ age. He does not blow anyone off the ball in the run game, but he usually makes his block. He is very quick, and the more we pull him, the better off we will be. He has never played on a good OL, so we shall see how effective he can be. I see Elflien as the starting LG who will convert to C when Christensen becomes the LG or Paradis is benched. However, he may have a good relationship with Darnold, and the C/QB relationship is important. (Yes, I think Brady C’s destiny is LG—and I hope LT works out). Based on what I have seen on film, and this does not jive with PFF, I give him a C+ at LG with an upside of a B- if he plays C.
Matt Paradis: Better in 2020 than in 2019 (recovering from a broken fibula), Paradis restructured his contract so he is going to be here at least one more year (2021) and should be the starting Center week 1. He was probably the OL’s second best performer in 2021 for those who played full schedules, but Miller could argue that he was the second best and win half the votes. Paradis brings experience, and as his leg got stronger, so did he. At 33, this is his last year, and his leadership and experience at C are probably needed. He is more of a finesse, zone blocker and can get bull rushed into the QB. I would give him a C with a potential upside of B-.
John Miller: Miller surprisingly exceeded expectations last year, but probably graded out at the bottom of the average range for RG. He committed 6 penalties in 14 games (too high) and allowed too many sacks and hits on the qb—but was solid in the run game. He should improve in his second year with OL coach Pat Meyer, but there is a sixth round rookie at RG now who also wants to eat. The competition will be fierce, and Miller is on a 1-year contract, so he knows they might be grooming D. Brown to take over. Miller will start there week 1, and he will fight to keep his job or build his resume. I give Miller a C- with the chance for a C+ with the extra motivation.
Deonte Brown: Is interesting because he is an enigma. He is built like a road-grading people mover, but he played LG at Bama and he played like a LG, and that position is probably more aligned with his college tape. He is a smart blocker, almost a zone blocker at times, and rarely uses his 345 lbs to pave a path over the defender. I think that will change when and if he is moved to RG, but the upside is this—in pass protection, he does not get bull rushed and he is able to adjust and pick up stunts and blitzes better than most men his size. He is not there yet, but I think coach Meyer can make this guy into a star. I would have given him (at 347 lbs) a late third round grade, fwiw. I think at 335 and with some technique development, he will be our starting RG soon.
David Moore: Normally I would not include an UDFA before the first practice in July, but since we are high on Moore, I think I will. Moore is a bit short, but he is hard to move. Rhule played him some at center at Senior Bowl practices, and frankly, the drills in this video are impressive. He is raw, but I think he could make the roster; I think if you put him on the PS, someone would pick him up. For now, he is a third C, a third LG, and a third RG, but that is subject to change. Here is a brief clip of Moore at the SR bowl—note the fact that he is not intimidated and how he stalemates the rush. He gets beat on one rush, but recovers fairly well to minimize possible damage. https://youtu.be/kh6ewsdqQMk
So if you ask me, I would predict that the Week 1 lineup looks like this:
LEFT TACKLE (C)
LEFT GUARD (C+)
CENTER (C-)
RIGHT GUARD (C)
RIGHT TACKLE (A)
Cam Erving
Pat Elflien
Matt Paradis
John Miller
Taylor Moton
Trent Scott
Dennis Daley
(Elflien)
Deonte Brown
(Scott)
Brad Christensen
(Christensen)
David Moore
But at some point during the season, I expect the OL to transform—it could look like this by then end:
LEFT TACKLE (C)
LEFT GUARD (B-)
CENTER (B-)
RIGHT GUARD (B-)
RIGHT TACKLE (A)
Cam Erving
Brad Christensen
Pat Elflien
Deonte Brown
Taylor Moton
Trent Scott
Dennis Daley
Matt Paradis
John Miller
(Scott)
(Daley)
(Moore)
David Moore
(Moore)
(Daley)
Green--rookies
Red--probably not going to be here next year
