Will The Ol Hold Our Offense Back?

[panthers55]

I am hoping our new fb should help in blocking but have little faith that Otah can get healthy enough to play a whole season.If Gross goes down I think we will have real problems.To me a great running game helps the defense as well.Last year was good but not to the level it has been.

Instead of saying we have a ton invested in the running game you should have said we have a ton invested in the offensive line already. Just Gross aand Kalil account for almost 20 million in cap room. Add the dead cap space from Wharton and the rest of the guys who are still cheap and what we have now accounts for almost a 1/5 of the total cap. I don't think we need to bring in muchh else at this point. Besides there will be a lot of decent guys who could play who won't even offered a contract atall this year and could come in if needed later in the year.

We have other positions that need to be upgraded like corner, safety and linebacker as well as adding another DE before we need to do anything about the OL.

[panthers55]

I doubt Tolbert wil be a blocker in a Brad Hoover type role. I think he will be a pounder in the redzone and actually catch lots of passes in the flats.

[mick eye]

I think what could hold the offense back is if Gettis has a slump paired with lasting effects from his injury. Lafell is our ONLY other option after Smith. AE, Pilares, Legs, Tutu, etc.etc. are non factors. Yes, we have Olsen. Just saying that we need to start thinking about adding a BIG TIME WR to pair with Cam for the long term.

[jarhead]

Instead of saying we have a ton invested in the running game you should have said we have a ton invested in the offensive line already. Just Gross aand Kalil account for almost 20 million in cap room. Add the dead cap space from Wharton and the rest of the guys who are still cheap and what we have now accounts for almost a 1/5 of the total cap. I don't think we need to bring in muchh else at this point. Besides there will be a lot of decent guys who could play who won't even offered a contract atall this year and could come in if needed later in the year.

We have other positions that need to be upgraded like corner, safety and linebacker as well as adding another DE before we need to do anything about the OL.

That is true but those are sunk cost .My point is our rbs are capable of producing over a 2000 yard season if they have the blocking.

[pantherclaw]

So you think Bell is fine at rt

bell isn't an issue.

He won't even be the starter.

Would bet Bell will improve over his pretty decent rookie year.

There will be more additions before training camp.

[rayzor]

I doubt Tolbert wil be a blocker in a Brad Hoover type role. I think he will be a pounder in the redzone and actually catch lots of passes in the flats.

agreed. i don't think tolbert would be as good at blocking downfield as hoover, but he would more than make up for it in the number of other ways he could be used as an offensive weapon. total wild card. i think he's going to be on the field a ton for blocking purposes, but he'll also be someone that defenses have to watch because they know what he can do when he's got the ball in his hands.

[carolina-chuck]

No. I like how our OL is right now.

Loss Wharton but replace it with pollack.

Otah coming back again.

Bell and hang played good last year.

If any rookie going to improve his game for us from last year, it is bell.

[MadHatter]

If Otah is back healthy (I know...I know), then I am happy with our OL.

Between Pollack, Hangma, Bell, Williams....we will be fine at G and have good depth.

[pantherclaw]

That is true but those are sunk cost .My point is our rbs are capable of producing over a 2000 yard season if they have the blocking.

they already get good blocking. Averaging almost 5 ypc.

While the blocking can improve on the right side, I expect it will.

You expect it to be terrible.

[pantherclaw]

So you think Bell is fine at rt

bell isn't an issue.

He won't even be the starter.

Would bet Bell will improve over his pretty decent rookie year.

There will be more additions before training camp.

[panthers55]

That is true but those are sunk cost .My point is our rbs are capable of producing over a 2000 yard season if they have the blocking.

If you count Newton's runnng which is a big part of our offense, then having all of them only get 2000 yards would be a step back from what they did last year after they gained more than 2400.

[PanthersAlv]

I think the OL will be be than last season. And the options being added in "weapons"... well, some need to be proven in game...(Like Gettis and Tolbert) I think with a season and an off-season/full TC under them,, along with any other FA moves (if needed) it will be fine.

My question is, reading some of the comments from SD fans, that Tolbert won't be consistent as a FB blocking. They say he is a bowling ball with the ball, but what about without?

[natty]

A lot is resting on Otah shoulders. Bell was horrible last year, though it was a hard situation for him. Everything points to Otah having a good year but we'll see. If money can't motivate the guy then Hurney has his first 1st round bust.

[rayzor]

I think the OL will be be than last season. And the options being added in "weapons"... well, some need to be proven in game...(Like Gettis and Tolbert) I think with a season and an off-season/full TC under them,, along with any other FA moves (if needed) it will be fine.

My question is, reading some of the comments from SD fans, that Tolbert won't be consistent as a FB blocking. They say he is a bowling ball with the ball, but what about without?

from what i've seen he'll be good enough.

he's not really meant to be a blocking FB, imo. he'll be asked to do it and he'll be about as good as shockey or any TE/FB/RB we've had not named hoover. the real benefit, though, is the added dimensions he brings.

you don't add him because of his blocking, which is good, you add him because of the total package he is...blocking, running, receiving, and special teams...and because defenses are never really going to know if on any given play if he's supposed to be just a blocker, safety valve, or the featured player.