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Is there a plan to upgrade the offensive line, now that most pieces are in place to be a playoff team except for that one weak link? — Ron, High Point, NC
How much longer before this team makes a change to the offensive line? Five sacks and 11 QB hits Sunday just isn't going to cut it. IMO, this team is still a solid offensive line away from being a contender. — Jeff, Henderson, NV
Do you think the Panthers would look to upgrade the offensive line via free agency/trade at this point in the season? More importantly, do you see them making it a priority this offseason? — Gastric Beerpass, Winston-Salem, NC
Are there any trade options for our offensive line or are we stuck in place for the rest of the season? — Gary, Summerville, SC
I sense a trend. I also sense that at least one of you isn't using the name your momma gave you (I'm looking at you, Gary).
Where to begin?
Yes, it is fair to say that the state of the Panthers line after the Dallas game is not ideal. That's based on all the pressure, as well as the blueprint it gave opponents. Quarterback Sam Darnold acknowledged as much after the game.
It also doesn't help that a couple of guys are kind of beat up at the moment. Left tackle Cameron Erving (knee) and right guard John Miller (shoulder) have been on the injury report, but continued to play, and Panthers head coach Matt Rhule suggested Monday that physical availability will be a factor in the construction of the offensive line this week.
There are things they could do, but almost all of them are internal. Almost.
I stopped at Harris Teeter this morning on the way to work, and the aisle where they keep Pro Bowl tackles and guards was as empty as the milk-and-bread section when Brad Panovich calls for snow flurries around here. As we've referenced in this space previously, there aren't veteran free agents sitting on the street waiting to be signed of the level they need.
Trades are another story, and as long as Scott Fitterer (Mr. "In On Every Deal") is general manager, I think it's a good thing his phone has an unlimited plan.
The demand outstrips the supply at the moment, though. So it's not as easy as wanting to.
The league's trade deadline is Nov. 2. That leaves time. Offensive linemen can't slide into a lineup with a new team with the same ease a running back or a wide receiver does. Communication and cohesion within a line are as important as the talent of the individual components sometimes. So even if they're able to swing a deal, these things aren't always quick fixes.
And it's worth keeping those last two words in mind when considering making a trade.
The Panthers didn't trade for cornerback CJ Henderson simply because Jaycee Horn is injured. They did it to acquire what they believe to be a future asset.
So if some non-contending team was just trying to unload salary of a guy they don't want to pay before he becomes a free agent next offseason, the Panthers likely wouldn't automatically be interested — unless they thought keeping him around next year was worthwhile.
Again, we're a month ahead of the trade deadline, and four weeks into the season. So it's a little soon for teams to completely surrender and start auctioning off players. But I would expect calls are being made. And the Panthers are far from the only ones looking.
The other option the Panthers have, and again, this could depend on the health of players involved, would be to make some changes with the guys on hand.
Throughout training camp, they experimented with right tackle Taylor Moton playing on the left. Rookie Brady Christensen got reps at tackle and guard on both sides. Veteran Trent Scott has four-position versatility, and appears to have been the top backup option in recent weeks. Rookie Deonte Brown has gotten himself in much better shape, getting to the 335-pound range after showing up at the Senior Bowl at 364 pounds.
There are buttons the Panthers can push, if they need to (which could be the case) or want to (which would be justifiable based on results).
As to the future, yeah, they know this is an issue they need to address. That's part of the reason they've tried to structure contracts to give themselves flexibility for this season and subsequent years, so if they need to add a big-ticket free agent or an existing contract, they can.
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October 06, 2021 at 01:49AM
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Ask the Old Guy: So many offensive line questions - Panthers.com
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