Solid depth on OL

[kungfoodude]

9 minutes ago, theinstrumental said:

Yep. Brown's still a theory, Brady actually has to take the spot, and Elflein and Erving are both real, real rough when they actually get PT. If someone gets hurt it's better to be able to throw Elf or Erving into whatever spot opens up than have to re-shuffle the whole line, but it still creates a serious weak spot at whatever position they have to play.

If the rookie LT works out, that means we have upgraded to a fairly bad offensive line. If Bozeman ALSO works out, we have probably upgraded to a slightly below average offensive line. If ONE of the OG spots ALSO works out, then we probably have upgraded to an above average to good OL. If BOTH OG spots work out, we are probably a good to great OL. 

And IF alllllll that works out, you are going to be getting worse with each injury, because the bulk of our backups are probably going to be guys that weren't good last year. 

It's not impossible that we could be a top 15 OL unit, but it isn't a clear path. A lot of things need to break our way to be an upper half OL unit and even more need to break our way to be an elite OL unit.

[ThPantherFan]

4 hours ago, stbugs said:

We just need a G and a future C. This could still be Bozeman at C and G could actually be on the roster. If not, our 2nd round pick next year is likely in a sweet spot to get one of the top Cs or Gs. Both tackles and G should be set for 3-5 years and hopefully getting solid results.

I can see that.

[KillerKat]

5 hours ago, MHS831 said:

If we could use Tremble as a FB and TE, we could free up 2 roster spots.

I would agree however he's also our #1 TE and moving him into the backfield would hurt our "safety valve" help and would also increase the chances of the defense knowing when we are going to run. I would watch out for Babicz to take Ricci's spot if the staff still wants to keep Thompson as the 3rd TE.

[KillerKat]

4 hours ago, 45catfan said:

Starting LG is the only 'problem' spot.  If someone can take command of that position, the OL will be solid.  As I have said about LG earlier, I'd prefer a salty veteran next to Ickey.  I'm not sure he's on this roster.   I'd be content to wait to roster cut downs at the end of camp to maybe find this guy.  Unlike center and tackle, guards are the easiest position to pick up quickly on the OL.  I wouldn't be worried about the late arrival as much as I am concerned about getting the right guy in that spot.

God damn man, can you imagine if we just drafted Trey Smith instead of getting cute and drafting a fuging long snapper?

[kungfoodude]

7 minutes ago, stbugs said:

I have faith that Bozeman, Corbett and Iky will be better than what we had, just not so sure how much. Also, it will take time to gel, hence letting Sam take the early lumps seems smart.

Our depth is very suspect. All the vets are below average to sucky and the rookies/second year guys are still question marks. You can feel a little confident about BC at backup tackles but what if he is starting? Mays would be a great find if he Norwell’s his way into the lineup like Smith would have done last year. I have 0 faith in Brown. He’s got a lot to prove IMHO based on what we saw in the pre-draft events. You could easily say we only have 5 NFL caliber OL right now and a lot of question marks. I mean if we had a 2016 level OL injury crisis, ooh wee mayne, I wouldn’t let Corral on the field.

I like Ekwonu, Bozeman and Corbett better than what we added last year but I need to see results at this point. I just can't trust this staff/FO anymore. Let them prove it on the field and I will buy in.

I said a couple of offseasons ago it would probably take 3-4 years of consistent investment in the OL to build a decent unit that had depth. Given that we have not consistently or intelligently invested, I still think we are probably still another 3-5 years away from being a good unit with quality depth(based on level of investment from 2020-2022). 

The QB situation will be extremely interesting if we don't add anyone or have an injury. I fully expect this will be a 4-6 win team but the QB battle alone should be worth the watch.

[ForJimmy]

1 hour ago, kungfoodude said:

If the rookie LT works out, that means we have upgraded to a fairly bad offensive line. If Bozeman ALSO works out, we have probably upgraded to a slightly below average offensive line. If ONE of the OG spots ALSO works out, then we probably have upgraded to an above average to good OL. If BOTH OG spots work out, we are probably a good to great OL. 

And IF alllllll that works out, you are going to be getting worse with each injury, because the bulk of our backups are probably going to be guys that weren't good last year. 

It's not impossible that we could be a top 15 OL unit, but it isn't a clear path. A lot of things need to break our way to be an upper half OL unit and even more need to break our way to be an elite OL unit.

All new starters except one means we will probably start off shaky, but I think by year end our OL will be in the top half of the league treading up with Campen developing them.  Corbet and Bozeman should be decent starters as their history shows and Icky's potential alone makes him better than any LT we played last year.  

[iamhubby1]

If a cockeyed optimistic Homer views the team through rose colored glasses?

 

What color glasses do the Cult of Negativity wear? Blacked out welders glasses? Peaky Blinders?

 

The former see this Oline as Vastly improved. It has gone from a marked weakness, to an obvious strength.

 

Not sure what the later see, at all? Besides Rhule that is.

[kungfoodude]

7 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

All new starters except one means we will probably start off shaky, but I think by year end our OL will be in the top half of the league treading up with Campen developing them.  Corbet and Bozeman should be decent starters as their history shows and Icky's potential alone makes him better than any LT we played last year.  

I am going to start out pretty skeptical but what I hope to see is gradual improvement over the course of the season. My bar for success is that Ekwonu shows he is the future and we get at least one other average caliber starting OL from the interior. If that happens, it's at least forward progress and something to build on in 2023. Anything beyond that is a big victory.

 

[kungfoodude]

9 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

If a cockeyed optimistic Homer views the team through rose colored glasses?

 

What color glasses do the Cult of Negativity wear? Blacked out welders glasses? Peaky Blinders?

 

The former see this Oline as Vastly improved. It has gone from a marked weakness, to an obvious strength.

 

Not sure what the later see, at all? Besides Rhule that is.

Yeah well you said the same thing last offseason despite the OL signings being obviously terrible. 

Your opinion is basically just full delusion. Which, don't get me wrong, is highly entertaining. 

[iamhubby1]

3 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

All new starters except one means we will probably start off shaky, but I think by year end our OL will be in the top half of the league treading up with Campen developing them.  Corbet and Bozeman should be decent starters as their history shows and Icky's potential alone makes him better than any LT we played last year.  

 

IMO, when you put a talented smart line together, as we have, they won't take long to gel. Olinemen are a special breed. When you get the right group together, they absolutely will work their butts off to get better. 

 

We have solid coaching, with proven Vet leadership. Throw in some smart talented kids. And that is a recipe for success. 

[Carl Spackler]

1 minute ago, iamhubby1 said:

We have solid coaching, with proven Vet leadership

[iamhubby1]

3 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

Yeah well you said the same thing last offseason despite the OL signings being obviously terrible. 

Your opinion is basically just full delusion. Which, don't get me wrong, is highly entertaining. 

 

So...I'm really sorry if my being an optimist over the new year upsets you so. But I think I will just go about being excited over the coming year. 

 

Unlike you, who is so negative, you cannot answer a post without throwing in an insult. 

 

I'll go with the former. As I think life is so much nicer when you enjoy it.

[iamhubby1]

4 minutes ago, Carl Spackler said:

 

So you are one of those; "Yada yada yada, sucks, rabble, rabble" kinda guys?

[kungfoodude]

13 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

So...I'm really sorry if my being an optimist over the new year upsets you so. But I think I will just go about being excited over the coming year. 

 

Unlike you, who is so negative, you cannot answer a post without throwing in an insult. 

 

I'll go with the former. As I think life is so much nicer when you enjoy it.

Lol. I think recent history has proven I am not the one emotionally overwhelmed by a message board and a lack of team success, given your recent hiatus after successive meltdowns.

The Panthers sucking impacts me in terms of being frustrated that my season tickets are pointless to own. Other than that, if they keep sucking I will just keep watching with friends and roasting the team during the game. It's entertaining enough when the team is as bad as we have been for the past four years.

There is little to no reason to be optimistic, hence why this board has turned so negative. You act as if that is the fans fault when in reality it is the fault of the franchise.

This is what you get when you lose for this long. If you get out much, which I suspect you don't, you would rub elbows with some other suffering fanbases that are just as negative if not more than ours. Anytime you stink this bad for this long, that's the result. 

Unless you want a parade in downtown CLT for winning 6 games in 2022. 

Edited May 31, 2022 by kungfoodude