Offensive Line or Defensive Line, the Next Step **

[SetfreexX]

Kinda in a little bit of a dead zone as we wait on the NFL Combine to commence, so with that said I've been mulling over the ''title'' the last several days. I'm not a huge college guy I tend to educate my self once the pre-draft workouts commence leading up to the draft as it's easier to key in on players at that point. 

I think in the first round it's obvious Offensive Line, or Edge are the targets given our current roster, the question then becomes what position to choose. The main thoughts on the OL are as follows:

• Do we cut Kalil and just get that over with 
• Will we extend Daryl Williams

Aside from those two questions the OL is in decent shape - Van Roten proved to at least be avg, Larsen has the experience needed to start at C and wasn't a huge drop off from Kalil, Turner is pro-bowl caliber, and Moton I believe most consider viable at either LT, or RT given his athleticism.  

When you take the DL into consideration, specifically the edge defenders we're looking at Mario Addison (who is dipping in productivity) then everyone else, Horton - UDFA, Cox Jr - UDFA, Obabda - UDFA, & Haynes a 4th rounder from last season. 

When you look at that group in comparison to the OL I think it's hard to argue that the ''edge'' position is the one that needs the most attention, and infusion of potentially elite talent on Day 1 of the NFL draft. Free Agency will go a long way in highlighting the path moving forward, but I would find it hard to pass on a premier rusher over offensive line in the first this year given the class we have coming out. 

I'd have no problem double dipping at OL in the 2nd, or later, but I think we can secure OL depth at least on the interior with free agency opportunities vs we all know legitimate pass rushers come at a higher premium on the open market. 

Baring this in mind, what are your thoughts on the 1st pick, and the position it should be?

[LinvilleGorge]

If Daryl's knee checks out, sign him. Move Moton to LT. As we all know, quality OTs don't exactly grow on trees. We've been fielding trash at OT for years. We can't get cocky and let a quality young one walk. Look for interior OL in the draft. I'm a firm believer in paying OTs and drafting OGs.

We need to sign an impact pass rusher as a FA and then still add another one early in the draft. This is a deep DL/edge rusher class. I'd love to add both an edge rusher and a DT with two of our four picks in the first three rounds. In the perfect world, the other two picks would be a DB and an interior OL.

[Black&BlueBubba]

Williams will be the key in my mind.  If they don’t resign him I feel we need to go OL in the 1st.  The OT is not that deep this year. If we need a day one starter I am not sure I see that right now out of the 2nd round.  The Edge class on the other hand is deep. There will be a couple in the 2nd and high 3rd that could contribute this year.  Although some of those may be more a 3-4 OLB than a true 4-3 DE.  

The other option you guys are gonna hate. I for one am not counting out Speedbump McGee as our day 1 starter at LT.  Not because I have confidence in him but less confidence in our front office.  I could see them getting a developmental OT in the 3rd and riding Khalil at least to start the season until his “heathiest he has been in forever body”  fails again.  

Maybe someone in the front office should have considered OL in a extremely deep draft last year instead of drafting 50 reserve LBs and other project players.  

[RumHam]

I think we need to shore up the OL completely. Follow what the Colts did this year.

[The Lobo]

19 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

If Daryl's knee checks out, sign him. Move Moton to LT. As we all know, quality OTs don't exactly grow on trees. We've been fielding trash at OT for years. We can't get cocky and let a quality young one walk. Look for interior OL in the draft. I'm a firm believer in paying OTs and drafting OGs.

We need to sign an impact pass rusher as a FA and then still add another one early in the draft. This is a deep DL/edge rusher class. I'd love to add both an edge rusher and a DT with two of our four picks in the first three rounds. In the perfect world, the other two picks would be a DB and an interior OL.

To me, Moton played a lot better than Williams ever did at RT. Williams has had a lot of help from chips and TEs on his side and moton didnt. If we re sign Williams why not him at LT?

[Daddy_Uncle]

Just make sure the oline is fixed so our QBs quit getting killed. Our goal should be top 5 online every year

[Lumps]

Roten is a backup.

Larsen to center.

Sign Williams for a decent deal. He’ll be offered more money elsewhere, be willing to let him go.

Cut Kalil.

DE and LT should be priorities in FA and draft depending on who is available.

Get the offense on the same page. Olsen and ex-Ryan don’t/didn’t need to be explaining plays in the huddle.

Larsen can play C.

[LinvilleGorge]

6 minutes ago, The Lobo said:

To me, Moton played a lot better than Williams ever did at RT. Williams has had a lot of help from chips and TEs on his side and moton didnt. If we re sign Williams why not him at LT?

Williams doesn't have the quickness or the length to play LT.

[The Lobo]

5 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Williams doesn't have the quickness or the length to play LT.

Mane let him walk then and draft one? 

[Waldo]

Larson and Roten are both backup quality, nothing more. If we go into the next season with them penciled in as starters without heavy competition then we failed on the online in 2019.

 

EDIT: so is Clarke

[LinvilleGorge]

5 minutes ago, The Lobo said:

Mane let him walk then and draft one? 

Back to my "quality OTs don't grow on trees" point. We went forever with trash at OT. Now we have to quality young ones if Williams is healthy. We can't fug this up.

[kungfoodude]

A lot will hinge on what we do on the OL. The DL is lacking but with one or two additions it can improve whereas the OL, depending on how you look at it, could need as many as three starters. 

If we cut Kalil, sign D. Williams and plan on keeping Larsen/Van Roten as starters, you are pretty much done except adding depth guys. If you cut Kalil, don't resign Williams and don't view Larsen/Van Roten as starters, then you need three starters.

If it were ME making those decisions, I would resign Williams so our tackle situation is settled(hopefully). Cut Kalil for cap. Pursue one of the free agent centers if they are available at a reasonable price, pursue a quality free agent guard if they are available at a reasonable price. If I strike out on both positions, look for a center and/or OG in the 2nd to 5th rounds to compete with Larsen/Van Roten. 

On the DL, I think it will largely hinge on whether they view DE and DT as dire needs. I suspect the team does not. Even so, we need to be adding someone to rotate in at DE and DT to replace Peppers, and be eventual replacements for Short, Horton, Addison, etc. I personally would not break the bank on the DE's available in free agency because I am not sure I view any of them as worth the price they will likely command. If an option exists to get a guy on a reasonable deal, that is obviously preferable to drafting a guy at 16 from an instant production standpoint. If not, we need to get young through the draft. There should be some really good options available in the 1st-4th round of the draft. If we are able to fill other major needs(OL, FS, LB) then I don't see a good reason we wouldn't double dip in those first four rounds.

[coralreefer_1]

I was all up on the OL. But now I worry Cam may not even be healthy enough to get resigned...or may even retire, or go to another team when his contract is up. This franchise  has used him in a bad way ever since he came here. I will repeat this team has treated him like a field slave and sacrificed all the moving parts of decent OL and receivers all these years. They just banked on his physical prowess as a means to neglect all those. 

Now suddenly he has weapons, but really no OL to protect his aging and injured self. And frankly even now I do not believe this franchise cares about him enough to put those parts around him NOW...knowing his contract will come up for extension soon.  I said it years ago at the end of his rookie deal..and I will again: I believe this franchise purposely didnt give him a decent oline then so his numbers would be less than stellar and help with negotiation is contract. Since then they have neglected him again and again season after season. 

I say roll DL. No point to invest in a good or even moderator elite OL after years of neglect and a banged up QB that might not even be able to finish a season....or willing to resign with us!

[MHS831]

Since I used to coach OL back in the day (High school) II  learned to watch the OL, not  the ball. While I am not sure about schemes, etc, I can tell you that Larsen was not real good--Van Roten  was hit or miss--basically average at the easiest position on the  OL to play. I like Van Roten's motor, frankly, so I expect him  to be  better this  season.  He needs a good player on each side  of him.  I would not enter the season with Larsen at C.

Personally, I would move Moton to LT, but I saw no indication that  the Panthers think he can play LT last year.  Another option--what if Williams is  a question mark and they are going to cut Kalil?  How much cap do you want to spend on Tackles who are not producing?  He has said he would test the market anyway.

We will know more in mid March.