The best term you can use to describe the 2014 Carolina Panthers guard play is... sporadic.
"Good God, he just blew his defender off the ball, AND got a piece of the linebacker!"
"Jesus H. Christ, he just let that DE stunt across his face and didn't even think about blocking him!"
Unfortunately, all too often last year, you could use those sentences on consecutive plays, and many times per game. And calling upon a deity was par for the course when watching the Panthers offensive line.
Let's take a look at the 2015 Carolina Panthers offensive guards and take a guess at how things might shake out.
Andrew Norwell
Norwell took over at LG in week 7, and after a shaky start, would provide the Panthers with the most consistent play they have seen from the guard position in the last couple of years. Norwell graded positively in 8 of 12 games, all while playing beside (thank goodness this is the last time I'll ever type this name) Byron Bell. Norwell provided excellent run blocking, both straight up and as a pulling guard to the wide side of the field, paving the way for a resurgence from Jonathon Stewart late in the season.
100% Chance to make the roster, 75% Chance to start at LG
Trai Turner
The massive rookie out of LSU started the season at LG. While making his share of rookie mistakes, he didn't look overwhelmed at any point, and put up a lot of tape that showed flashes of being a dominant NFL Guard. Turner graded positively in 10 of 15 games in which he played, missing 3 to injury in the middle of the season. Turner excelled more as a pass blocker, absolutely stonewalling opposing defensive tackles many times during the season. With quarterback Cam Newton struggling more with pressure up the middle, having Turner anchor part of the interior is going to be a good thing in 2015.
100% Chance to make the roster, 95% Chance to start at RG
Amini "Not Alshon" Silatolu
Coming out of Podunk University, Silatolu was thrown to the wolves as a rookie in 2012, due to camp injuries and lack of depth. It was too big of a step up in talent level and it showed, big time. However, by the end of the year, he was starting to come together and do some good things. Then the injury bug bit. Losing almost all of 2013, and most of 2014, I still don't think we know what we have in Silatolu.
Silatolu has drawn more than his fair share of ire from the fan base, simply because the front office passed on what has turned out to be one of the best WR's in the league in Alshon Jeffries. But the old axiom in sports is "You don't lose your starting job due to injury" (unless you are Drew Bledsole). So we could see a camp battle where Norwell has to unseat the incumbent in Amini Silatolu.
100% Chance to make the roster, 25% Chance to start at LG
Chris Scott
Scott was getting starter reps in camp in 2014, and then his 963rd NFL injury occurred. Scott was able to get on the field when Trai Turner was out and he wasn't horrible. He didn't do anything either good or bad that leaped off the screen, and the Panthers seem to like what they see, because they keep bringing him back.
50% Chance to make the roster, 5% Chance to start at RG
Nate Chandler
DT, OG, OT, OG? With the addition of rookie Daryl Williams, the Panthers may move Chandler back to guard, where he started games in 2013. He could make the roster as a backup to Trai Turner. He and Chris Scott may be battling for a final spot.
50% Chance to make the roster, 5% Chance to start at RG
Ricky Henry
Another UDFA trying to find a home, Henry has bounced around to several NFL practice squads, most recently with the Kansas City Chiefs. I'd like to tell you I cared enough to go back and watch preseason games featuring Henry, but I didn't so I can't. Flip a coin 20 times and if it ends up tails every time, he'll be the starting LG, if heads comes up at least once, he'll be asking if you want fries with that soon.
1% Chance to make the roster, 0% Chance to start anywhere
Jordan McCray
McCray was a try-out player from this year's mini camp, after getting cut from the Minnesota practice squad. Matsko saw enough that they brought him in for camp, but don't expect a lump of coal to turn into a diamond just yet.
1% Chance to make the roster, 0% Chance to start a nuclear war by accident
Edmund Kugbila
So long, Yeti, so long.