The Evolution of the Panthers OL (2023 - 2025)

[Icege]

Several Huddlers mentioned the states of other position groups in the WR evolution thread, so I figured... Why not? Let's throw something about the OL together.

Snap counts btw include ST, but JJ Jansen is not included because it would be an insult to the GOAT for him to not have his own thread (which I'm not making).

 

2023: Revolving Doors

• Projected OL: Ikem Ekwonu, Brady Christensen, Bradley Bozeman, Austin Corbett, Taylor Moton
• Week 1: Ikem Ekwonu, Brady Christensen, Bradley Bozeman, Chandler Zavala, Taylor Moton
• Week 18: Ikem Ekwonu, Gabe Jackson, Bradley Bozeman, Nash Jensen, Taylor Moton
• Snap Counts: Ikem Ekwonu (1,201), Taylor Moton (1,201), Bradley Bozeman (1,149), Calvin Throckmorton (544), Cade Mays (486), Chandler Zavala (403), Nash Jensen (334), Austin Corbett (261), Gabe Jackson (205), Justin McCray (84), Brett Toth (80, Brady Christensen (79), David Sharpe (24), Ricky Lee (24), J.D. DiRenzo (14)
• What Happened?: OL Hell. Corbett was out most of the season and then was reinjured shortly after returning. BC only got to play week one (finishing the game with a torn biceps). The interior became a weekly shuffling of overwhelmed rookies, emergency vets, and waiver claims to try and survive the season. BY9 ended up being the second most sacked rookie QB of all time (now third after Caleb Williams' rookie campaign). The team ended up starting 6 LGs and 7 RGs (in total, they played 8 different LGs and 9 different RGs). There was constant interior pressure, missed stunts, and zero chemistry. This was an insane fall off when the OL looked to be a strength at the end of 2022, but there was a scheme shift from a power run game to a lot more zone.
• Verdict: Icky and TMo were the glue while Bozeman was stuck between a turnstile and a parking cone. These three did their best to be the glue, but there was only so much that could be done with the injury issues and catastrophe that would end up being the coaching staff.

2024: Changing of the Guards

• Projected OL: Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton
• Week 1: Ikem Ekwonu, Damien Lewis, Austin Corbett, Robert Hunt, Taylor Moton 
• Week 18: Ikem Ekwonu , Damien Lewis, Cade Mays, Chandler Zavala, Taylor Moton
• Snap Counts: Robert Hunt (1,022), Damien Lewis (999), Ikem Ekwonu (963), Taylor Moton (899), Cade Mays (502), Brady Christensen (448), Austin Corbett (292), Chandler Zavala (259), Yosh Nijman (255), Jarrett Kingston (25), Andrew Raym (4), Brandon Walton (4)
• What Happened?: Solved the LG + RG issues by reuniting Lewis with Canales and paying the best RG in free agency (Hunt). Corbett again didn't finish the season, but Cade Mays was brought back and he filled in admirably. BC played almost every position on the OL and provided a valuable back-up + OL6. Zavala even looked better and more comfortable. Icky continued to show promising development as well, earning himself the team picking up his bonus option. The team churned the bottom of the group a bit, using special teams as a way to evaluate them.
• Verdict: The team has four of the five OL spots now occupied with true starters for the following 2 - 3 seasons. The results showed on the field as the offense became who carried the team through the season. The team was left in a position to develop depth and find a long-term solution for the center position.

2025: What 2023 Should've Been?

• Projected OL
  • LT: Ikem Ekwonu 
  • LG: Damien Lewis
  • C : Austin Corbett/Cade Mays
  • RG: Robert Hunt
  • RT: Taylor Moton
• What Might Happen?: The biggest question mark is obviously the center position and who comes away as the starter? Icky and TMo have been the only constants on this OL, but there was rumours this offseason that TMo has knee issues. Icky is going to be due a payday soon as well. BC provides a high-quality second-stringer at every position, but the team still needs to develop some young backups. Zavala and Kingston both provide depth at guard, but the team looks a little thin at tackle with Nijman and Walton being the next two up there. If the starting unit can remain healthy, especially the tackles, the team can continue to build off of the progress that they made in the second half of the 2024 - 2025 season.

 

[rayzor]

i think next year we start adding more to the OL in the draft. 

[rayzor]

good job with the write up, btw! 

[Bear Hands]

I’m gonna go out on a limb to say this bc he doesn’t get enough recognition — Hunt is the best player on our team and one of the most impactful locker room guys in the league.

I think he has been a huge reason for how things have changed. Even if the grades you find online aren’t world beating, he is proving to be worth it from what I’ve gathered and seen. And watching how different Miami looked last season without him helps see this as well.

Really hope he can lead this offense into a well tuned machine for 2025. Paving roads for Chuba, giving Bryce time to hook up with McMillan.

[frankw]

Hunt and Lewis were two big swings we hit big on. Credit where it's due. We have Icky on the left and Moton holding down the right and our interior depth is solid. Unfortunately Center looms large. If we are to rewind back to just a few years ago things were pretty damn dicey at that position. While they have improved we are basically hinging the development of the offense this season on Cade Mays because at this point it's only a matter of when not if Corbett misses some time.

Edited 6 hours ago by frankw

[kungfoodude]

6 hours ago, frankw said:

Hunt and Lewis were two big swings we hit big on. Credit where it's due. We have Icky on the left and Moton holding down the right and our interior depth is solid. Unfortunately Center looms large. If we are to rewind back to just a few years ago things were pretty damn dicey at that position. While they have improved we are basically hinging the development of the offense this season on Cade Mays because at this point it's only a matter of when not if Corbett misses some time.

I think we will be forced to finally address it when Corbett gets injured again this season. Hate to predict that but it has been very constant.