Carolina Panthers: Analyzing the offense before buying into the draft hype

Tight Ends

Ian Thomas, a former fourth-round pick, has one of the greatest opportunities of his life ahead of him. Him and Chris Manhertz have the opportunity to become the Panthers’ new safety blanket. That is, unless, another fourth-round pick comes in and steals the glory.

Consider how great of an impact Greg Olsen had on this team. Now consider the shoes that his protégés have to fill. He wasn’t just a tall guy who waited in tight spots to make the tough catches, he was a vocal leader who wasn’t afraid to call people out if need be. Having a new kid on the block to train up and correct his mistakes is something that people notice and it can help build credibility in the locker room.

When you have nine productive years with the same organization under your belt people know it and you develop that sense of seniority. Thomas and Manhertz are a little behind, but now they both have a fair chance of living up to the standard of accountability and productivity that Olsen left behind.

This group is somewhat at a disadvantage because Angelichio hasn’t worked with Rhule in the past, but that shouldn’t be much of an issue for someone who’s been working with tight ends for fourteen years. Rhule will appreciate having a tight end specialist after the loss of a special tight end.