Who starts at RG next season

[hepcat]

I don't expect Vincent to be resigned and the RG position will probably be a camp battle between the aforementioned players, and possibly a FA or rookie pickup.

[Wither]

I don't expect Vincent to be resigned and the RG position will probably be a camp battle between the aforementioned players, and possibly a FA or rookie pickup.

A free agent actually seems highly likely. Don't know why, just sounds likely.

[zebrainz]

Pretending that Otah and Gross didn't get hurt, the end of season o-line depth chart would have looked like this:

LT - Gross, Wharton

LG - Wharton, Bernadeau

C - Kalil, Bernadeau

RG - Vincent, Bernadeau

RT - Otah, Schwartz

I'm not talking about that propaganda they call a depth chart on panthers.com. I'm talking about the players who would actually go in the game if an injury occurred.

To me, plan A should be to retain Vincent. Unlike "skill" positions, more o-linemen and d-linemen are effective into their 30s. They can play longer because losing half a step isn't as critical to their positions. Unlike speed, strength and flexibility can be maintained longer as people get older. It's more a matter of desire for linemen once they reach their 30s IMO. There are always exceptions at other positions, but I'm speaking generally here. In my mind, Vincent still qualifies as a "road grader" and should not be that expensive. This is one time that keeping the veteran isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Plan B should be to have the guy we drafted for the position (Robinson) step up and start now that we have 2 established backups that can cover all the positions in the line (with a little help from Wharton). If Robinson has the potential to be better than Schwartz or Bernadeau at the spot, and isn't so far behind on his development that he's a complete liability, then he should start if Vincent leaves. I would hope that he pushes Vincent for the starting spot if he stays.

Plan C is a the wild card. Schwartz definitely has the skillset to play LG, but look how long it took him to adjust and be effective in a pro stance. Is he even as far along as Robinson in his development at RG? I know he's has some reps there, but Bernadeau and Robinson have had more (pretty sure, going by what I've read about practices and the one day of camp I attended). He could be a bigger beast at the position than Vincent, Bernadeau or Robinson. He's certainly the biggest of the lot and it's a lot easier to find a backup RT than most other o-line positions.

I don't like plan D (Bernadeau). We finally have a new Hangman that can play all the interior line positions (LG,C,RG). Unless he is significantly better that the other competitors for the position, I would rather keep him in the versatile backup role. I think he's more valuable to the team that way.

I like plan E even less. Even without Vincent, our current linemen are talented enough to cover the position and back it up. I don't think we need a big name FA or high draft pick. We are versatile enough to add some talent with best lineman we can find through the draft or FA. I rank this as a low priority, even if Vincent leaves. I would rank the following positions higher, #2WR, #3WR, QB (backup/competition), CB (taller, #31 and #41 are natural nickel corners doing a good job stepping up, but they have trouble with taller receivers), DT (get rid of Hayden, please!), DE (more Pep insurance), FS (Godfrey is too mistake prone, inconsistent), SLB (Diggs backup). TE, RB and FB are the only positions where we are more solid. Draft and develop late round o-line talent has been the plan and I say we stick to it.

[prowler2k8]

Or we could take Mike Iupati with our second rounder. Rather get him with the third but he won't be there then. He will be much cheaper than Vincent.

Iupati would be an ideal addition to our OL - great size @ 6'6" 330 and could play either G spot. I'm just not sure we draft him that high with the other needs we have. If he somehow fell to the 3rd or 4th, I could see the Panthers going for him.

[stirs]

Understood about the draft pick being high, but we seem to draft better O Lineman than we do WR. Draft your G, then use the Vincent money to get a WR in FA. Just a thought, way too early to know anything currently with the Pepp, Fox, Delhomme situations. Fun to surmise though.

[Woodie]

I think it would be Bernadeau, but a lot depends on how much Robinson has developed in his redshirt year. How they feel about Robinson will probably also be a key factor in whether or not they bring back Vincent. Even if they do bring back Vincent, I think it will only be as a backup. While he was solid in the run game, he was the biggest weak link in passing game on the OL. So I think Bernadeau is still the likliest candidate to be our starting RG, unless Robinson has improved his pass blocking and demonstrated an improved work ethic.