Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus has released his ranking of all 32 offensive lines in the NFL, and the Panthers are ranked right around where we would expect them to be. Let’s take a look at what PFF thinks about our offensive line in 2018.
21. Carolina Panthers
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Left Tackle: Matt Kalil, 50.8 overall grade
Left Guard: Jeremiah Sirles, 45.2
Center: Ryan Kalil, 46.6
Right Guard: Trai Turner, 76.7
Right Tackle: Daryl Williams, 86.52017 season-end rank: 10th (-11)
The loss of Norwell is going to hurt. While the backup plan currently looks like some combination of Jeremiah Sirles (45.2 overall grade in 2017) or Amini Silatolu (40.5), it will be interesting to see if they kick Taylor Moton into guard eventually. He was one of the highest-graded guards in the country as a junior for Western Michigan before switching to tackle as a senior. Moton was also one of PFF’s favorite offensive linemen in last year’s draft yet saw only 70 snaps as a rookie.
The Panthers are ranked No. 3 in the NFC South, just slightly ahead of the Buccaneers (No. 22). Atlanta is ranked No. 3 overall, and New Orleans comes in at No. 6 overall.
My take
I can’t argue with that analysis. The biggest key to Carolina’s success in 2018 is going to be who wins the starting left guard job. Right now Amini Silatolu is penciled in as the starter, but hopefully Ron Rivera’s pencil has an eraser on it because keeping his name in the starting lineup is an excellent way to ensure the offense doesn’t produce anything of note this year.
For Cam Newton to succeed in Norv Turner’s system, he has to have time in the pocket. For him to have time, the offensive line has to be good enough to give it to him. With Silatolu at left guard, that becomes an iffy proposition at best. Hopefully someone is able to beat him out in training camp, and hopefully Newton can have adequate protection to run the offense and lead the Panthers to success this year.
What do you think about PFF’s ranking, Panthers fans? Is it too high, too low, or just right?
Poll
How accurate is PFF’s ranking of Carolina’s offensive line?
This poll is closed
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15%
It’s too high
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27%
It’s too low
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57%
It’s just right