These words from Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox should scare the crap out of Jake Delhomme."If we go into the draft and don't get an offensive tackle somewhere, we might be best-served to stay where we were last season."
Translation: If Carolina doesn't get a good starting tackle in the draft, it could be another season of Travelle Wharton at left tackle, and another season of speed-rushing defensive ends having no trouble reaching the quarterback.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Wharton's inability to stop John Abraham end Delhomme's season and ultimately doom the Panthers in 2007? Wouldn't it make sense for this team to find someone who can actually protect a quarterback's blind side?
Wharton was expected to move to left guard with someone new left tackle. Jordan Gross could move back to left tackle, but he tends to play better on the right side. However, if Carolina ends up drafting a right tackle prospect like Jeff Otah, Gross would have to shift to the left side, wouldn't he?
Fox says he feels good about his quarterback situation. He won't feel quite as good about it in October if Wharton starts letting defensive ends by him again next season.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-05-2008 @ 3:39PM
Patrick said...
John Fox has been ,and still is an idiot !
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4-05-2008 @ 4:19PM
Jg said...
You obviously dont know much about the Panther Football do you? Jake Delhomme had that injury prior to last season as far back as the Philly Game of the 06 season. I also remember Travelle Wharton doing a decent job there the season before his knee injury,not spectacular but decent.
Also in case you havent noticed the Panthers have Beefed up the Guard position,With Vincent,Fonoti and Brown who will help out Kalil at Center as well as the Tackles.
It would be a reach to draft a Tackle in round 1 who is going to go to the right side and keep flip flopping Gross around,because where the Panthers pick (13) the premire Lt will be gone.
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4-05-2008 @ 6:35PM
Harrison said...
I don't know about your comments regarding "the premier LT" in the draft being gone at pick #13. Any number of things could happen in those first 12 picks before the Panthers' turn. Maybe the player we need will fall into our laps. Another point to consider is that at this point, all those kids are just "prospects" and equally liable to be a bust as a help to the team. The Panthers have had a lousy draft history the past five years, but really did a good job last year with Jon Beason. Let's just see what happens in the draft. May ghe force of Mel Kiper be with you.
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4-05-2008 @ 10:39PM
Justin said...
Delhomme is 33 years old, he can't be taking shots like the one John Abraham gave him. So, it would be a good idea to draft a tackle in the first round.
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