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Carolina Panthers are being specific in search of offensive lineman

By Danny Jaillet

SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 05: Head Coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers looks on while his team stretches during practice prior to Super Bowl 50 at San Jose State University on February 5, 2016 in San Jose, California. The Carolina Panthers face the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on February 7. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - FEBRUARY 05: Head Coach Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers looks on while his team stretches during practice prior to Super Bowl 50 at San Jose State University on February 5, 2016 in San Jose, California. The Carolina Panthers face the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50 on February 7. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Credit should be given to the Carolina Panthers here.

At the offensive line position, where there were so many moving parts in 2018, you would think the Carolina Panthers would not be too picky about what they would expect from potential newcomers to the unit in 2019. Truthfully, the offensive line did not play that badly. They ranked 26th in the league with 32 sacks given up on the season. That is a very good number, and one of the only instances where being that low on a list is a good thing.

Nevertheless, the Carolina Panthers are looking at a potential reshuffling of the line. With Matt Kalil retiring among other things, that should lead to a lot of competition. At a position that is so crucial to the successful functioning of the offense, Ron Rivera made it clear on what the Panthers were looking for in an offensive lineman. As told to Jordan Rodrigue and Marcel Louis-Jacques of the Charlotte Observer, they are being very specific in what they want from the next batch of lineman. Particularly for an interior lineman, the Panthers have a vision on how they want him to fit on the team.

"Carolina’s ideal interior offensive lineman is a guy who can play both guard and tackle. But their ideal center has to be a little something extra — a natural leader who is confident and well-versed in the type of control a starting NFL center must have over the offensive calls and game plan."

Do I think what they’re looking for is a lot to expect out of a rookie who is transitioning over from the college ranks? Yes, I do. Do I think they are asking for too much in general in terms of skill set? No, the fact that they are looking for a lineman with such specific qualities is a very good thing. They want someone that pays attention to detail. They want someone who is confident in how he plays the game, and is alert and focused in what he is doing. Those qualities are exactly what the Panthers should be looking for, and I applaud them for being so specific.

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To me, this tells me they have a vision for what they want their line to be not only right now but in the next couple of years. They want to make sure that they are trotting out the offensive unit with full confidence in the lineman . That is a far cry from where things are now, and it’s certainly a reachable and positive goal on the part of the organization. At very least, they have identified a plan that they can execute come draft time. This vision will be particularly  good for quarterback Cam Newton and running back Christian McCaffrey. Those two are going to have the keys to the offense for the foreseeable future. To have a confident lineman that those two can trust and who the team can trust putting out there is  great all around.

It will be interesting to see how the Carolina Panthers address the offensive line. They definitely need help there. Judging from Rivera’s comments, one thing seems to be certain: they will not accept mediocre lineman. That is certainly music to the ears of Carolina Panthers fans everywhere.

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