Interesting stats from PFF on Wharton

[jtnc]

This article was when he was with the Bengals and they were comparing him and another Bengals guard. 

 

 Given his strong finish to the 2011 season it was mildly surprising the Panthers had let Wharton go, but their need for cap room outweighed their paucity of options at guard.

 

 

Pass Protection

Although predominantly a guard, Wharton has the ability to slide outside to left tackle and has been perfectly serviceable, if hardly dominant, when called upon to do so. However, it’s his ability as a guard that interests us here and in that regard he’s been remarkably consistent. Since 2008 he’s graded +6.5 in pass protection and allowed over two QB disruptions on only five occasions, and never more than five in one game (only once). Given his skill as a tackle this is probably not surprising.

Run Blocking

Similar to his work in the passing game, Wharton has been a consistently decent, if not great, run blocker. Apart from getting killed by Justin Smith playing the 49ers in Week 7 of 2010, he’s never graded lower than -2.4 as a run blocker. He is the epitome of consistency, never being dominant but also rarely dominated. In Carolina he was used more as a pull blocker than someone who could get to the second level, but was usually OK when asked to take on linebackers in space.

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/06/20/neils-nfl-daily-june-20-2013/

 

[Kurb]

He fit the need very well. Cheap, Serviceable, Familiar.

 

Gettleman (IMO) is on a 3 year -> consistent playoff team plan.

 

First step, Clean up or start to clean up the cap mess. This is even harder than usual b/c of the truck loads of guaranteed money in many of the deals.

 

Second step, band-aid positions with several rough edge/older vet/jouneyman players (See WR/CB/LB Depth)

 

Third Step, start long term fixes to 1 and 2 with smart aggressive drafting See (2x DT, Klien as back up -> starter LB, Barner as a Future starter at RB, Kug as future OG)

 

He has some leeway with me, likely till this time next season. We should start getting really dangerous by the time Cam gets ready to sign his 5 yr extension :)

 

 

 

 

Wharton fits this plan. He can plug the leak in the dam until help arrives (draft picks, Kug next season) and could even stay around after this season at an affordable rate.

 

 

[Kuech the Sneak]

Happy he's back, he needs to start

[PhillyB]

if he can pick up where he left off performance-wise we'll be sitting pretty.

[PiratePanther189]

Definitely glad he's back...still think we need to find someone to push Bell at RT...if not just someone who can serviceably play tackle for depth purposes. We're still slim on the line even with Wharton we just need bodies at this point.

[TheRed]

The only thing that concerns me is him being out for a full year, stemming from a season ending injury.

 

That and shifting our already struggling OL around. I'm expecting one more guy to be brought in.

[Peppers90 NC]

right or left side?  that is the question.

[SOJA]

Few good things about this singing: 

 

a. familiarity is key to an o-line's success. 

b. flexibility- Wharton has played both the guard and tackle positions

c. cheap and short-term

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

...also another good thing is he lives next door to Gross...so he can carpool. GO GREEN or GO HOME!!

[Razeyfingers]

The only thing that concerns me is him being out for a full year, stemming from a season ending injury.

 

That and shifting our already struggling OL around. I'm expecting one more guy to be brought in.

 

 

I think big guys tend to hold well in those scenarios as long as the damage done wasnt too bad. It would take a while for his lungs and legs to regress to the point where he's too far out of shape. As long as he's been walking around, he ought to be fine after a year at his age/position. It may have helped him in some ways but in others its gonna suck for him. He'll be rusty for 2 playing weeks at least but after that he should be back to his old self.

 

Reliable, thats the word I think of when I think of Wharton.