Carolina Panthers could be looking at future in Dennis Daley
The Carolina Panthers rookie is in line to make his first start on Sunday.
This week has been one of firsts for the Carolina Panthers. Sunday, cornerback Ross Cockrell got his first start since 2017, and it appears that offensive lineman Dennis Daley will get his first start of the season as well.
He has the ability to fill in for the Carolina Panthers at many positions. My bet is that he will replace Greg Little on the left side of the line. Regardless of where he plays, Sunday will be a big day for him. He has been known to play well against excellent pass rushers, and he will certainly have his hands full with the likes of Calais Campbell among others. Regardless, I would definitely consider this a successful gamble on the part of general manager Marty Hurney.
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Drafted in the sixth round (212 overall), Daley could certainly be considered a low-risk, high-reward pick. Playing one year at South Carolina, his experience in the SEC should definitely be able to translate into the professional ranks. Measuring in at six-foot-six, 325 pounds, Daley certainly has the size to be an effective NFL tackle. As with all rookies, he still has a lot to learn. Nevertheless, he is proving to be a valuable depth piece already. Especially when you consider where he was drafted, that is certainly good news.
On Sunday, I will definitely be looking to see how he does. Specifically, I want to take a look at his leverage. As soon as the ball is snapped, does he get the upper hand on his man, or is it vice-versa? In reading some of his scouting reports, his leverage was one of the top things that made him so successful. However, college football and the National Football League are two entirely different entities. Daley is about to find that out on Sunday.
If he can just maintain the upper hand on his man for most of the game, I would consider that a successful day. Obviously, there are going to be some snaps where he is beat off the ball. It’s going to happen, he’s human. However, as long as he stays in front of his man, he should have a good day. I am excited to see what he can do, because I feel like we are looking at the future. With his size and talent, he should be able to become a part of the Carolina Panthers offensive line sooner rather than later.