The State of the Offensive Line: Will Taylor Moton Suffice?

[Saca312]

No, this isn't a long post. It's more or less just me giving out some thoughts on the situation.

As we all know, Daryl Williams suffered through an injury in camp that will likely keep him out this season. Now, it is technically possible for him to play through it, it's not recommended. As with the Redskins OT Trent Williams, he clearly wasn't 100% playing through the same injury. If I were the Panthers, I'd err on the side of caution with Daryl Williams going forward until next season. While they elected to not do surgery, I still think Williams needs to let himself rejuvenate and heal if he wants to optimize his chances for a better contract and pass future physicals.

Now, with our offensive line, we now have Taylor Moton as our starting RT. As far as his skill-level, I believe Moton can provide franchise tackle quality play based on his measurables and tape throughout college. However, it's also worth noting that he is transitioning to the NFL, and not everything is absolute. He may need some time to fully adjust to NFL level pass rushers in game situations. Now, the advantage to him is having a year under his belt for going against the likes of Addison and Peppers and probably even KK Short as a guard. Even so, who knows what will happen on gameday. 

So with that being said, let's envision a world where Moton's preseason last year is the norm for him and he's as good as his measurables and college tape suggest. In that world, I believe we truly have upgraded the right side of the line. In terms of help, Daryl Williams was top 5 in the NFL at getting extra help from Trai Turner and Ed Dickson while being average at best going 1v1 on pass rushers. While he has improved as the season went on from below average to decent, I still think calling him a franchise tackle or even elite is pre-mature and highly disagree with his high PFF rating and All-Pro showing. While I can debate about certain misses All-Pro has made with some players alongside the inconsistencies in PFF's grading, I'll do that another time. 

Taylor Moton brings a higher degree of athleticism that Daryl simply doesn't have. He's shown that he can handle speed rushers and has the intelligence to recognize certain moves and find counters to such. Adding on, he's mean and tough, often times ensuring his victim is thoroughly beaten and pancaked at times. As last year's preseason and college tape has shown (search it up yourself - there's a lot), he's been able to pancake defenders and dominate them.

Even just recently, he's shown good technique and dominance against a rising DE in Wes Horton.

Nevertheless, it goes without saying it can be considered a risk. He'll have big shoes to fill in terms of reputation as he looks to prove he's just as good - if not better - than Daryl Williams. Hopefully he'll be solid enough that RT won't be much of a concern next season.

Now, with the left side of the line, it's far more murkier. Originally, I personally assumed Moton would win the job and do fine as a guard. While he's a more natural tackle, I still think his measurables and cerebral intelligence would allow him to be a good Norwell replacement. Sadly, that doesn't look like it'll happen.

So now, it seems we have to be 'garbage diving' in a literal sense for a good replacement. Sirles is more or less a backup until he proves otherwise, and Silatolu shouldn't even be in the league. There's hope that a UDFA named Mahon turns out to be a quality player - as training camp reports suggest - but not everyone will turn out a UDFA gem like Norwell was. It's very very concerning considering how Norwell was pretty much doing the job for most of the offensive line. It's a very hard job to fill, and it's even more concerning we have an inconsistent Matt Kalil as our LT. Now, Matt Kalil was certainly serviceable and better than majority public opinion suggests, but at the same time Norwell was also a huge help with that. 

It'll be very hard to find a way to make the left side fine unless someone shows up. It's imperative at this point honestly. Hopefully, we find someone, but I have very low optimism for that side of the line.

Now, in terms of the offense, I stand by our season could either go bust or Superbowl depending on our offensive line play. Until Norv Turner proves he's changed his ideology from ISO routes and long developing plays, I'm still concerned about whether this line can handle Air Coryell principles. While training camp is certainly positive on that shift, for me honestly it'll take seeing it one the field game one for me to believe it. 

Even then, it's still important the offensive line does well. I think the right side has upgraded as long as Moton proves what I've seen in the past is the norm. I think he's a better player than Williams and has far more potential from his athletic traits. Nevertheless, it goes without saying the left side of the offensive line is a nightmare. Hopefully we don't see Silatolu start there anytime soon and a UDFA shows up, but the future looks bleak on that side. If Silatolu starts and hasn't improved, I'm afraid for Cam's health.

So, that's my thoughts. Go ahead and give yours below!

(TL;DR - Daryl Williams injury sucks. Right side of offensive line may have been upgraded in a way, but the left side is a nightmare. Lots of unknown variables and scary scenarios.  Pray for Cam.)

[Moose Hoover]

honestly came it to lightly troll, but this is a really good write up so I'm gonna break kayfabe and say nice job.

[Moo Daeng]

We will find out. Its July.

Didn't you spend a good amount of time telling us William's wasn't that good?

[t96]

I like Moton but we haven't seen much of him and to just assume he can fill the shoes of an all pro is ridiculous. 

[LinvilleGorge]

Williams is a damn good RT. I very, VERY seriously doubt that Moton will be better and Williams's injury practically guarantees we'll have a turnstile at LG. We certainly didn't improve on the OL by losing our best OT.

[Saca312]

6 minutes ago, t96 said:

I like Moton but we haven't seen much of him and to just assume he can fill the shoes of an all pro is ridiculous. 

Well I get that point. However, I'm coming in with the assumption that 'All-Pro' Daryl Williams got wasn't deserved as far as his skillset. In my opinion, I saw a lot of Daryl Williams getting help from Trai Turner and Ed Dickson, and often wasn't that well in 1v1 situations. While I do agree he's improved from horrible to decent as the season went on, I do not believe he ever showed he could be a dominant player without help that you'd hope from a franchise tackle. I'd point to the Saints playoffs game with the last few drives where he got plenty of 1v1 looks and was slapped around.

Sure, it's certainly hard to argue against the reputation All-Pro and - to a certain extent - PFF both have. All-Pro has been a better talent identifier than the pro-bowl in comparison, and PFF has plenty praising it for its advanced analytics and review. However, that doesn't mean I have to agree with their decision, and I certainly have my own opinion after watching him. You all can take that for what it's worth and believe whoever opinion you want though. 

However, I was getting a bit more optimistic hearing how he's fixed his footwork during training camp and seemed to come in really refining certain fundamentals. Sadly, he got injured beforehand, so it's unfortunate to not be able to see whether such translates on the field. 

As far as Moton, I believe he can fill in those shoes if we go by what I saw from Daryl Williams has shown. He's certain athletic enough to handle most speed rushers and NFL pass rushers in theory, and technique wise he's been great in college and last year's preseason. But, as I said before, the NFL is a different ballgame, and it's yet to be seen whether he'll be able to handle it. However, plenty of accounts say that Moton is a film-nut and certainly seems like a hard-worker. Hopefully he'll be up to par and be solid on the right side. If so, I think he will certainly be better than Daryl's performance last season.

Either way, losing Daryl ultimately is a loss considering our LG situation, and even then RT is a gamble on whether Moton will do fine. I can definitely see your point.

[Moo Daeng]

William's was a huge question mark this time last season and most thought Moton would be the starter last year. 

Hard to believe it but as of today word is he could be back on a few months possibly.

[caatfan]

It'll be like the Lou Gehrig deal where Moton steps in for an injured player and starts for the next 15 years, without missing a game.

Guess I'm just in a positive mood today. 

[Aussie Tank]

Is Jahri Evans still floating around to bring in and compete for that lg spot i woulnt mind seeing that happen

[Pup McBarky]

Kyle is your Friend.

[Moose Hoover]

3 minutes ago, Pup McBarky said:

Kyle is your Friend.

shut up kyle

[Icege]

8 hours ago, Saca312 said:

In that world, I believe we truly have upgraded the right side of the line. In terms of help, Daryl Williams was top 5 in the NFL at getting extra help from Trai Turner and Ed Dickson while being average at best going 1v1 on pass rushers. While he has improved as the season went on from below average to decent, I still think calling him a franchise tackle or even elite is pre-mature and highly disagree with his high PFF rating and All-Pro showing.

lmaooooooo man just let it go. DWill is a top 10 OT and your narrative about him constantly receiving help got aced last season. You had that one tweet in the middle of the season that showed he got some help in the beginning, but then as the season went on we could see that he wasn't getting as much as you were trying to say.
 

Two plays where DWill has somebody lined up outside of him. Both are goal line plays. That's not exactly him needing help as much as it is the formation. Another play where JStew literally just has a defender run into him alone before leaking out to the flat. DWill is 1-on-1 and not receiving help from JStew. That's it before halfway.

First play where he gets help doesn't come until 4:25. Turner peels off of Kalil's man to give DWill's a shove and that's it. 4:55 he "gets help" because we've got an extra lineman and a TE to the outside of him. 5:07 he helps Dickson on his way to the 2nd level, not the other way around. 5:45 he gets help from Turner all day... because it's a 3-man rush.

If DWill was getting half of the help that you implied, we would have seen Dickson and Turner helping him out a lot more. Granted, it's just a highlight video, but with how often you were claiming that he gets help from Dickson/Turner he'd be getting help on more of those plays than just the ones where the line is stacked or there's a 3-man rush.

[Ace_Aladdin]

9 hours ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Williams is a damn good RT. I very, VERY seriously doubt that Moton will be better and Williams's injury practically guarantees we'll have a turnstile at LG. We certainly didn't improve on the OL by losing our best OT.

Thats why you use a 2 TE set formation.

Did you know TEs can line up next to OTs and help out in run blocking & pass Protection or go out and catch some balls from your favorite QB. 

 

[therealmjl]

10 hours ago, Saca312 said:

No, this isn't a long post.