When it comes to Ikem Ekwonu’s slow start, the Carolina Panthers and its fanbase must exercise patience with the rookie offensive tackle in 2022.
Since the retirement of Jordan Gross after the 2013 season, the Carolina Panthers continuously failed to address one of the premier positions in football. Players such as Byron Bell, Matt Kalil, Michael Oher, Mike Remmers, and Russell Okung have started at left tackle for the organization since the All-Pro’s retirement, failing to provide the consistency needed.
The Panthers’ lack of effort to address the position during Cam Newton’s first tenure frustrated many fans and media alike. Former general manager Dave Gettleman, known to have a knack for taking “hog mollies” in the trenches, failed to find or attempt to find Gross’ successor during his time in Carolina from 2013 to 2017.
Even Marty Hurney in his second stint couldn’t identify a formidable talent at left tackle that would be a cornerstone piece for years to come.
It wasn’t until this past offseason that the Panthers’ front office finally looked to address the position. With the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL Draft, head coach Matt Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer had plenty of options when it came to selecting an blindside protector.
The decision was ultimately made to draft North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu with other tackles such as Alabama’s Evan Neal and Mississippi State’s Charles Cross available.
Ekwonu showcased immense physical ability with incredible raw power at the point of attack during the player’s time in college. His calling card was his ability as a run blocker, mauling defenders at the line of scrimmage and when moving to the second level.
There is no doubt Ekwonu has high-level traits and adequate movement skills. The physical and functional athleticism alone made him a high, top-10 draft pick.
However, in pass protection, he was still coming along. There were instances where Ekwonu would hit his landmarks and display a stout anchor.
Even so, Ekwonu still had room for growth. Through two games this season, the rookie left tackle has struggled in pass protection. Even so, the Charlotte native should be given the benefit of the doubt despite the high expectations.
Carolina Panthers should remember rookies tend to struggle
Ikem Ekwonu’s struggles shouldn’t be a concern to the casual eye and local media alike until it needs to be. After all, the transition from being a star college offensive tackle to an NFL starter as a rookie is always a steep one.
The playbooks are more expansive with each play having a certain language with multiple assignments and responsibilities for each player. The strength and conditioning programs are different. The adjustment from being a college student to a professional athlete is a big one, to say the least.
Most offensive tackles entering the NFL Draft are not trained or prepared during their college years to be refined and sound technicians who offer great physical and athletic traits for the position. Some may have flaws with their footwork in pass sets, as does Ekwonu. Others may come from a college offense that rarely ran the ball and would require more growth as a run blocker.
Charles Cross, who was an outstanding pass protector at Mississippi State, did not offer the functional strength to be a reliable run blocker, though he had room to grow and develop in this area. Through two starts with the Seattle Seahawks, however, he has shown a lot of growth.
There are rare expectations that an offensive tackle prospect enters the league and success right away. Especially considering the Carolina Panthers have been crying out for improvements at left tackle for almost a decade.
Tristan Wirfs and Rashawn Slater – two top-10 talents – entered the NFL in their respective rookie seasons and became premier players at their positions almost immediately due to their refinement in almost all facets.
Even so, in most cases, rookie offensive tackles typically take at least one to two years to fully develop into what their ceiling is expected to be. In general, most draft prospects don’t fully progress until Year 3.
This also applies to Ekwonu and other raw tackles that have entered the NFL in recent years. The likes of Kolton Miller and Andrew Thomas found life difficult early on before coming of age into valuable contributors over time.
Carolina Panthers must give Ikem Ekwonu the benefit of the doubt
There is an argument that has flown around different social media platforms, especially Twitter, that the raw Ikem Ekwomu should be moved to left guard to help hide his flaws in pass protection. This would allow Brady Christensen to move back to what some consider his “natural spot” at left tackle.
However, it feels detrimental to Ekwonu’s development as a left tackle. It is unclear whether or not having him inside with Christensen at tackle would further his growth and hide any flaws on the Carolina Panthers’ offensive line.
As I mentioned in this week’s mailbag, the offensive line hasn’t been terrible by any means. The group is still developing chemistry and continuity following Matt Rhule’s competition stunt during training camp and throughout the preseason.
Better communications on stunts and twists as well as calling out different pressure points of opposing defenses will strengthen this group. This also appears to be early-season rustiness.
Ekwonu should be allowed to learn on the fly and grow from his experiences. That is and should be one of the key objectives for the rookie tackle.
Every snap he gets is another lesson. The early season struggles of Ekwonu may last the entire season and in some cases, it may even cost the Panthers games.
While this may seem harsh to say, it’s all about the new experiences and lessons gained for Ekwonu. The footwork in his pass sets should improve and his balance will get better along with other key areas such as hand placement and strikes.
Fear not with Ekwonu. He has all the physical gifts to be the Panthers’ answer at left tackle for years to come.
His rookie season could and may very well be rocky. Even so, it’s all about Ekwonu’s growth, the display of flashes, and the lessons learned throughout the season that could lead to a breakout campaign in 2023.