The Battle in the Trenches Offense

[DaveThePanther2008]

Starting with this mini camp there are going to be some epic battles for position on the 2009 Carolina Panthers.

The below list is of the players outside the starters with only 1 or 2 years headstart. I am not including DE because we actually only added 2 and one is Brown. The OL and DT's battles are going to be incredible and I know the cream will rise. The front office has done a great job assembling talent to battle for these spots.

Offensively the incumbents (minus the starts) Only have 1 year under their belts as Panthers. M. Bernadeau 6'4" 308, J. Palmer 6'5" 335, and G. Schwartz 6'6" 331.

The writeup is through the sporting news. I know it is a long read and even longer with ALL players but one of the best articles I have read. This guy sounds like he did his homework

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Carolinareb632/190358

Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma

Drafted #163

6-5, 335, 5.27

Robinson is the best player the Panthers have picked up this year. This pick was the best pick in the draft. The value at 163 is through the roof. I couldn’t be more thrilled we got him. I would have been thrilled if the Panthers took him in the first round, yet they managed to pick him up at the bottom of the fifth. Wow! On day two of the draft, all I could think about was Duke Robinson falling past the second round and the possibility that the Panthers might get him. Every round I looked at the teams who may take Robinson and they were the only ones I paid much attention to. When the Panthers passed on him in the third and twice in the fourth, it just about killed me. I even posted a blog about it! Well, they got him with the 27th pick of the 5th round, and you can imagine my reaction… I can’t believe he fell that far. I thought there was no way the Panthers would get him, since they’d be addressing the D-line and cornerback on day one. Well they got him! He should be starting by next year, even as good as the Panthers O-line is already. Robinson is one of the best guards to come out of college in awhile. He is dominant in all facets of the game and could be a ten time Pro Bowler. He fits the Panthers offense perfectly. His ability to play guard and tackle brings extra value. He’s big, powerful, strong, mean and nasty. He is extremely quick, fast, and athletic for his size, and for guards in general. There is no real weakness in his game. I have no idea how he could have fallen so far and had so many guards taken before him. Robinson will drive his man back in the run game if he doesn’t pancake him. He rarely if ever gets beat in the passing game. He and his line mates made Sam Bradford a Heisman candidate. He is quick and shows good technique. Doesn’t show signs of doing anything but getting better. There is no one way to beat him. Fires off the ball and can smash a defender before he can react. Can pull and trap, can reach the second level, and can even reach the third level at times and block the safety. All he needs is a little technique work which Dave Magazu will gladly help with and he’s an all pro caliber player. A little time in the weight room and film room, and some time on the field with the Panthers, and goooooood Lord!!!

Gerald Cadogan, OT, Penn St.

Undrafted Free Agent

6-5, 309, 5.05-5.15

Many people had Cadogan (Cuh-DOE-gun) going as high as the third round, so getting him as an UFA was great value for the Panthers. He’s got tons of potential, but I doubt that he’ll ever realize it. Very lazy in his technique and is not intense. Lacks a mean streak. Not tough. Plays very upright and doesn’t bend his knees. Doesn’t have a solid base. Lacks awareness and can be late reacting. Does not play strong at all and is easily bulled. Not a factor in the run game. Despite his tremendous athleticism and strong build that should have made him a great successor to former top 5 pick Levi Brown, Cadogan went where he should have in this draft- not at all. Potential is through the roof. Must be motivated and vastly improve his technique, which may be too much for even the Panthers coaching staff. He just doesn’t have the will in him. May make a better career in music, so he probably won’t stick to football for long.

Garry Williams, OT, Kentucky

Undrafted Free Agent

6-3, 289, 5.3

One of two undersized OTs the Panthers brought in, and I’m really not sure why. The Panthers spent last offseason bringing in oversized O-lineman, and the results were outstanding. Of course, Travelle Wharton was a somewhat undersized OT whose best asset was his straight line speed coming out of college, and now he’s a dominant run blocking 315 lbs. guard. Williams on the other hand doesn’t have the speed Wharton showed, but he does have the quick feet and athleticism Wharton lacked. Williams has good technique and is an excellent pass blocker. He lacks the strength and punch needed for most NFL teams, especially the Panthers. If he can really bulk up and get stronger (much stronger), he may move inside to guard. That’s not an option right now but it would be the best fit for his frame. It’d be hard to take his pass blocking skills away from the LT position though. I’m not sure what the Panthers see him doing for them, but we’ll see. Will he be the next Travelle Wharton or Evan Mathis? He’s not nearly as fast as either, so I don’t like his chances.

Patrick Brown, OT, Central Florida

Undrafted Free Agent

6-5, 292, 5.10-5.20

Brown is the other undersized offense tackle the Panthers signed. However, unlike Garry Williams, Brown brings the nastiness to the table that helps him to overcome his lack of great size. He also has the height and straight line speed that Williams lacks. Brown has excellent feet and is very mobile. He is an excellent pass blocker who has shut down some of college football’s top pass rushers, but never got much credit for it since he plays at a smaller school. Also a good enough run blocker to have helped former UCF RB Kevin Smith (now the Lions starter) nearly break Barry Sanders’ division 1 rushing record. Played in a zone blocking scheme in college, so would probably fit better on a zone blocking team in the NFL than a pure power team like Carolina. Shows great mechanics. Good character. Was occasionally dominant in college despite his lack of size and strength. Really needs to get bigger and stronger, but could have a good future in the NFL, just maybe not with the Panthers. Jerry Simmons would have to work a miracle. Brown does have the frame to pack muscle without losing speed or quickness.

C.J. Davis, OG/C, Pittsburgh

Undrafted Free Agent

6-2, 308, 5.53

I love this signing. Davis is a great guy and a very smart player. Was a tough leader who made line calls before he even switched from guard to center. Versatile and tough inside, similar to Geoff Hangartner. His lack of height keeps him from playing tackle. Ran slow 40s, but is very quick in small spaces. Strong and powerful, mean and nasty. Finisher. Fits the Panther mentality.Great compliment Hard worker who’s willing to do anything to help his team. Great at trapping and making the short pulls required in the power running game. Has great “natural” technique (how to hit people), but could use a little coaching on the finer points of the game. Great first punch. Not good in the open field, but the Panthers won’t need him to be. The Panthers have done great things with unknown guards in the past. Was a great blocker in college who fell because of his lack of great measurables. Often criticized for his lack of height, but since when does that really actually matter for a guard? Terry Long was a great player for East Carolina and the Pittsburg Steelers power trapping scheme, and I could swear he’s not an inch over 5-10. 5-11 272 was his listed size.Actually on 1983 team schedule he was listed 5-10, 285( That didn’t stop him and it won’t stop Davis. Davis is very strong and will get even stronger. He was one of the top forces in the college running game, and was no slouch as a pass blocker. If players were drafted for how they performed in college, Davis would have received first round consideration. Adds needed depth and versatility to the Panthers interior O-line.

(Went to ECU at the time Terry Long was there "God Rest His Soul")

Keith Grey, C, UConn

Undrafted Free Agent

6-2, 272, 5.15

Yet another undersized lineman brought in by the Panthers, Grey is by far the smallest. He’s built more like a fullback. Grey may lack the aggressiveness and mean streak necessary to make up for his lack of size. Grey is extremely quick with great feet and leverage. But you would expect that from a lineman his size. Gets manhandled by bigger DTs and will be destroyed by NFL NTs. I can’t imagine the Panthers would put him on the offensive line. He can definitely contribute on kick and maybe punt teams. He may even be used as a blocking TE or FB. I know Jerry Simmons and the rest of the strength coaches are great at bulking players up, but 272 lbs.? Really? I think Grey would be great is a “personal protector” type role, but I don’t think that’s worth a roster spot. He’d also be a devastating lead blocker in short yardage, but I don’t know that that’s worth keeping him either. What Grey will have to do is all of the above. He’s got to play multiple roles to make the roster. He may be able to stick on a zone blocking team like the Texans, but for the Panthers, unless they plan on using him in a radical or unconventional role, I don’t think he’s much more than a body for camp.

[Fireball77]

I didn't realize they brought in so many "undersize" type guys. People were wanting Cadogan, so I was surprised to read what this guy said about him.

This guy did obviously put in a lot of time & effort on this. It's nice to read something like that about the Cats.

Just from my initial read, he's not right about Fiammetta. The next FB went off the board a mere 17 picks later to GB.

[rayzor]

that was a good write-up.

filling in the depth for the Oline isn't going to be an easy task because i think there is a ton of potential there. i love that we have magazu in charge of it, though. he will be able to pick the best of them and make them solid.

the knocks on cadogan and robinson that i have seen so far i don't see as being things that magazu can take care of.

seems like we have something good in c.j. lewis as well. i hope he's the second coming of the hangman. it sure sounds like he could be.

[Mattiekrome]

Reading that Robinson write up brings a smile to my face

[DaveThePanther2008]

I like that too. Magazu IMO is one of the best OL coaches in the league. I think as long as we give him good tools to work with he'll get them playing well. Look what he did with Frank O. The guy was on the P.S. Got a start and made a nice pay raise. I wanted us to keep him badly. Unfortunately for us we didn't have the funds to keep him.

Overall I like what we have giving both offense and defense to work with.

[TerriblePizza]

Even if Robinson doesn't start this year, he's GREAT depth and should start in the next few years.

[Urrymonster]

Even if Robinson doesn't start this year, he's GREAT depth and should start in the next few years.

Just screams Toniu Fonoti to me. I have a feeling that this guy is not REALLY into football. There is an equal chance he doesn't take it seriously and bounces around the league with weight issues.

I would be hesitant to get to enamoured with him just yet, that is the major reason why he fell. Teams just did not believe his head was in the right place.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I believe I would put Cadogan as Fonoti. Hopefully $$$ will motivate whoever isn't motivated.

[Carolinareb32]

Wow, cool to see my blog here. I agree it is long winded though.

Me and several other Panthers fans are breaking down all the major position battles over at sportingnews.com. We use the blog by the member profile "Carolina Panthers Roundtable" if you're interested.

Go Panthers!