Part 5 of a position-by-position Panthers’ training camp preview. Who’s a lock, who will be in a battle and who’s a long shot?
Multiple retirements, led by franchise left tackle Jordan Gross, plus a rash of injuries, combined to make the Panthers’ offensive line a mess in 2014. It was worst during the middle of the season when seven different combinations were forced to start seven straight games. Now Carolina hopes some notable names and a key draft pick can improve stability in front of quarterback Cam Newton.When the Panthers made final cuts last year, undrafted rookies Andrew Norwell and David Foucault remained on the roster. While Norwell turned into a surprisingly solid starter, the hope is whoever emerges from this group will provide much better depth:
| Position | Name | Year | Games/Starts | Age | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Brian Folkerts | 3 | 26/0 | 25 | 6-4 | 310 |
| C | Ryan Kalil | 9 | 103/100 | 30 | 6-2 | 300 |
| G | Ricky Henry | 3 | 2/0 | 27 | 6-4 | 310 |
| G | Jordan McCray | 1 | 0 | 23 | 6-3 | 320 |
| G | Andrew Norwell | 2 | 10/9 | 23 | 6-6 | 325 |
| G | Chris Scott | 4 | 20/8 | 27 | 6-4 | 340 |
| G | Amini Silatolu | 4 | 25/25 | 26 | 6-4 | 320 |
| G | Trai Turner | 2 | 13/9 | 22 | 6-3 | 320 |
| T | Nate Chandler | 4 | 37/19 | 26 | 6-4 | 315 |
| T | David Foucault | 2 | 5/1 | 26 | 6-8 | 320 |
| T | Jonathan Martin | 4 | 38/32 | 25 | 6-5 | 315 |
| T | Michael Oher | 7 | 91/91 | 29 | 6-4 | 315 |
| T | Mike Remmers | 3 | 6/5 | 26 | 6-5 | 305 |
| T | Martin Wallace | 2 | 1/0 | 25 | 6-6 | 330 |
| T | Daryl Williams | R | 0 | 22 | 6-6 | 335 |
Locked In
Ryan Kalil, Mike Remmers, Daryl Williams, Norwell, Trai Turner, Michael Oher Kalil’s experience at center is a huge asset to have next to young guards like Norwell and Turner.The battle for right tackle wasn’t much of one during offseason workouts when the Panthers kept their post-draft promise of keeping Remmers with the starters. But Williams, the behemoth fourth-round pick, has the upside and physical tools to pass Remmers with a strong training camp.The Panthers have put a lot of faith in Oher’s reunion with offensive line coach John Matsko. If it works, that’s great. If it doesn’t … uh oh.
Facing a Fight
Jonathan Martin, Foucault, Amini Silatolu, Nate Chandler, Chris Scott, Brian FolkertsLike Oher, Martin’s familiar name is much less important than his game. If he can play, the Dolphins and 49ers castoff could be a nice backup option at either tackle spots. Same with Chandler: If he can make an argument that injuries held him back last year, last year’s starting right tackle should have a spot.You could say Foucault fits better in the group below, but the Canadian project lived in the weight room this offseason, and coaches will give him a chance to show the hard work has paid off.At guard, this is a big camp for Silatolu, who played just 10 games the past two seasons and lost his starting job to Norwell. The Panthers may cut bait with their 2012 second-round pick if he doesn’t perform in Spartanburg. Meanwhile, Scott’s chances are boosted by his ability to play guard and tackle.Folkerts’ fight for a roster spot could hinge on Remmers, who saw snaps at backup center this spring. If Remmers can prove he’s capable there, that flexibility may make Folkerts expendable.
Long shots
Martin Wallace, Ricky Henry, Jordan McCrayWallace, who spent some of the spring ahead of Foucault, could land back on the practice squad. That seems to be the ceiling for McCray and Henry as well.
Coming Wednesday: Defensive line
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Anyone think Gettleman will take a shot on Isaiah Battle in the supplemental draft? I know Richardson likes the Homegrown talent, not sure how much roster tinkering he does.
I didn’t think they would, when he was listed at only 290 pounds (G-man only want’s big guys), but he weighed in yesterday at 312 pounds, with long 35 3/8″ arms, so they might. They could offer as much as their 3rd or 4th round pick, though drafting in the last 3rd of each round, another team (Falcons for example) may draft him before he reaches the Panthers, and I doubt they would give up their 2nd round pick. However, Battle is a LT, and this year (like most) the good LT’s go in the 1st round, or top half of the 2nd round, so even a 2nd round pick might be worth it. Of course that all depends on if he checks out off the field (failed drug test and coachability), and how they view his on field talent.
I think if he’s there in third he’s worth the risk, if they can get a character rider in the contract.
Battle is considered a project from what I’ve read. He’s projected to become a real good tackle but at the expense of taking a year to train and beef him up. I don’t think he’d last of the practice squad so he’d be taking up a roster spot while riding the bench all year. He’s also had some character issues and we’d lose that draft pick next year so I’ll be surprised if they drafted him before round 5.
Henry Hodgson mocks the Bucs taking him in the 4th.
You can’t depend upon your starting RT (Remmers) to be the primary backup C, but as the 3rd C it’s OK. This almost locks Folkerts into a roster spot, unless they pickup another C from among the final roster cuts.
The starting G’s are locked in, LG Norwell was ranked as the 16th best G in the NFL, and RG Turner was ranked 26th. They also ranked Silatolu at #44 (better than 20 other starting G’s), so he’s a great backup, who makes around $1.6 million, and it would only save slightly over $1 million to cut him, so his roster spot seems safe. Chandler’s contract situation probably locks him in as the backup RG (maybe Silatolu is the top backup at both G spots) and as a backup OT (maybe they should try him at C as well), because if he’s cut, then he will count a little over $1 million in “Dead Money”, while only saving around $50,000 (even a rookie minimum contract to replace him would cost around $450,000, so it would likely cost around an extra $400,000 to cut him).
RT Remmers (don’t be surprised if he’s not the starting LT by the end of the season), LT Oher “The Swing Door” (only God knows why), and Williams (4th round picks are almost never cut) are roster locks. If they find themselves in a roster crunch, that could be where it stops, with Chandler (or maybe G/T Scott) being the 4th OT, if they decide to only carry 9 O-Linemen, rather than their usual 10. If they do carry 10 O-Linemen, then that 10th roster spot is a fight between Martin and Foucault (who could go to the Practice Squad), or maybe sign someone from amoung the final roster cuts.
Of course, this all depends on everyone being completely healthy, with no sudden drop off in talent, and them not coming to their senses about Oher.