Priority Number 1 - Offensive Line

[Car123]

I'm not a Nicks fan so bringing in Nicks really doesn't solve anything in my eyes. Plus i doubt he accepts a one year prove it type deal.

I didn't watch the DG press conference. Did he say we'll be doing the 1 year contracts thing again?

[Zod]

Giving Shula elite receivers is like letting your grandmother drive a Ferrari.

 

We need to give him a stout offensive line. He will utilize that.

[Peppers90 NC]

So put rookie offensive lineman in front of Cam while at the same time giving him nobody to throw to? 7-9 at best.

Hakeem Nicks better be on his way to Charlotte if we aren't drafting a wr.

Boldin took over for Baltimore in the playoffs last season they trade him and don't sniff the playoffs, meanwhile he tore us apart without him we beat San Fran.

If you want me to buy in to this team not drafting a WR again, fine but we damn sure better not go into next season with Steve Smith as our only legitimate receiving threat.

Decker and Nicks are the top two wr's i believe that may be available, if we could land one of those guys we would be in good shape, with Smith and Ginn still here.  Draft another if one falls to #28(that we can't possibly pass on) or good value in rounds 2-4.  I would like to think we will get a lineman in FA as well.  I suspect WR will be a hot commodity early in this draft like OT was this past draft, so I doubt we get a blue chipper with our first pick so OL seems the obvious way to go.  Of course we can't forget some help in the secondary.

[carpanfan96]

They likely wont be in position to take a OT or elite OL prospect in the draft unless they move up. So likely you'll be looking at the 2nd and 3rd tier of OL being left at the 28th pick. There will probably be a better player at CB or WR at that spot in the draft. 

[Guest shitposting]

Our line will be more solid as long as we resign a few guys and get back our injured players. I would much rather invest in playmakers now, and shore up any deficiencies with competent FA acquisitions. Wouldn't it be much easier to repair the O-Line than our WR core? Especially considering the cost of good offensive playmakers that come out of FA.

[GreatPoupon]

if shula is a grandma in a race car then he'll be gone sooner or later. whoever comes in next needs a race car to drive. get. cam. weapons. 

[Zod]

They likely wont be in position to take a OT or elite OL prospect in the draft unless they move up.

 

I believe they could improve on what we had this year anywhere in rounds 1 and 2. Not elite, but better than what we got by with.

[AceBoogie]

I feel like picks 1 and 2 will be OL and WR/TE

I think we will see a good amount of movement on the OL in free agency.

Fair enough

[*FreeFua*]

I didn't watch the DG press conference. Did he say we'll be doing the 1 year contracts thing again?

Said something along the lines of it not being ideal to have so many one year deals.

There's been many times this year where Cam's standing in the pocket and waiting for someone to get open and the defense ends up getting a coverage sack. There's been times I've seen (@atlanta, @Miami) where Cam has alot of time or has extended a play and BOTH Ginn and Lafell have stopped running and are watching Cam.

From the same Atlanta game we saw the OL and Deanglo poo the bed before Cam who had Ginn open down field could get the ball away.

So... I know i come across as someone who only wants a WR and doesn't see the other side but I do. There's lots examples of both. Both alot of you are saying to double dip at OL. We don't have that luxury, we have to many holes. I want to find out stud WR in the first, address OL in second and come back to WR in third. We have Amini and Kugz comin back next year.

There needs to be a balance, and from what I heard today and now seeing on here, everyone is screaming OL. Cam needs playmakers. Look at what Hilton does for Luck, Crabtree and Boldin for Kap, Smitty is a great 10-15 yard guy but isn't going to be breaking no 80 yarders anymore.

[dos poptarts]

1st round: OL (if they have first/secound round grades on one)

2nd round: WR/stud receiving TE in the second (I want to see a receiving endzone target)

3rd: OL again

 

Yea, we have Olsen, but a big body that will go get the ball would get Cam's trust in 1-1 matchups. He had no problem taking the endzone shot to Smitty, but he doesn't do that much with LaFell, Ginn, or Hixon.

 

I think Jake was successful with big plays to Moose and Smitty because they would go get the ball even if they were covered.

 

 

[Udogg]

We need both OL and WR.  Steve Smith looked good the first quarter and a half then got noticeably slower and gimpier.  I would be fine with either WR or OL in the first. But no lower than second rd on a WR.

[Happy Panther]

Couldn't agree more.

 

Good lines make the other weaknesses fade.

 

I guess we can still hope that Kugbilla is a factor.

[Johnny Rockets]

So just recently as yesterday Pro Football Focus released their 2013 Offensive line rankings and the Panthers were rated as the 8th best in the league. Now they do mention that upgrades could be made on the right side but overall they give praise to the Panther Offensive line performance.

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/13/2013-offensive-line-rankings/4/

 

They are not the only one's that seem to think highly of them. Many analysts (and ones I respect such as Greg Cosell) have also given praise to the O-line throughout much of the year. This won't go over well with some but one thing that is mentioned is that Cam is holding on to the ball too long even when receivers are getting separation and are open. They also mention that he has to improve when it comes to "throwing open" his receivers. They aren't saying this in a negative Cam bashing way, but just giving assesment of what they see when breaking down film. They of course point out his abilty to extend plays with his legs and overall strength when protection breaks down.    

 

I am not a big football stat geek and especially not when it comes to offensive line but it's odd when many people seem to have such a negative view of the o-line while the very few "experts" I take seriously that spend all their time breaking down film tend to see other issues (not just Cam) with the offense  that are not O-line related.  

 

I don't pay close attention to O-line play and really don't have on opinion on the subject but I just thought I would throw that out there because I have heard so many others praising the O-line for overachieving in many ways throughout the year.

 

 

[Jackofalltrades]

WR in the first, RT in the second, WR in the third, OG in the fourth, CB, CB, CB, CB.