Position Analysis: Offensive Line
The offensive line was one of the top priorities during the 2005 off-season for the Carolina Panthers. A solid front in 2003 had been one of the keys to their successful season, but they entered 2004 with three new starters and four starters new to their positions. Thus, the keyword entering 2005 was stability.
Guard Mike Wahle made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his first season with the Panthers. (AP Photo) In that vein, Carolina signed free agent guard Mike Wahle. They moved second year guard Travelle Wharton to his college, left tackle, inserted Wahle at left guard, kept veteran Jeff Mitchell at center, moved Jordan Gross back to right tackle (after one season at left tackle) and started Tutan Reyes at right guard.
All five players started all 16 games, a first in the franchise's 11-year history. This stability led to the unit surrendering just 28 sacks, the second fewest in team history, and allowed the offense to gain momentum as the season progressed. I wasn't surprising that their best performances came late in the season, during a 44-11 victory at Atlanta that clinched a playoff spot, a 23-0 NFC Wildcard playoff victory over the New York Giants, and a 29-21 NFC Divisional playoff victory over Chicago and the Bears second-ranked defense.
The key to the whole strategy was Wahle. The Panthers felt that Wharton would take his lumps at tackle playing against some of the best defensive ends in the League, but having Wahle next to him would serve as a safety net of sorts. They didn't sign Wahle just for his mentoring abilities, though. He also brought a considerable amount of skills to the table.
"Mike Wahle went to the Pro Bowl, so it was obviously a good fit for him," said Maser. "Mike did some good things for us. It was a period of adjustment for him getting used to the offense, the other guys, and me. All of those types of things that go into a new relationship. But I thought he got through it well.
"I'm looking for great things from Mike next year as far as continued performance. I thought Mike being there was very beneficial for Travelle. Mike was a steadying influence. He's a real student of the game who really pays attention to a lot of small things, which I think helped Travelle out in the long run. Travelle's got a good work ethic. Having a guy next to him is extra diligent about the little things makes a big difference. I think that will help him in the long run as well."
The Panthers trusted tackle Travelle Wharton with guarding Jake Delhomme's backside. (Getty Images) A third-round draft choice from South Carolina, Wharton's ability to play the all-important left tackle position was a sink-or-swim gamble that the coaching staff felt was worth the risk. Looking back, one would have to say that it worked out fine.
"Travelle had a good season, I thought," said offensive line coach Mike Maser. "Maybe it wasn't a Pro Bowl season, but I thought he did a capable job for us. I thought he held up well under the circumstances and got a year under his belt from a learning standpoint. I think that's going to help him out in the long run. Travelle has a lot of ability. He just has to learn to play with a little bit more aggressiveness. He needs to play a little bit more nasty. We kind of answered a question, though, with him playing that position."
Manning the center position was Mitchell. The nine-year veteran once again provided a refuge for his fellow offensive linemen in training camp by bringing his recreational vehicle to Wofford College. It was a move symbolic of his leadership abilities, as Mitchell drove the bus, so to speak, by making calls at the line based on defense recognition.
"Jeff played the whole year and did a nice job for us," said Maser. "He was very capable. He directed traffic well and did a good job of getting everybody going in the right direction. Jeff handled himself well and we were very pleased with his performance."
Reyes provided a veteran presence at right guard. Even though he only had 12 starts under his belt when the season began, he was very familiar with the system and overcame some nagging injuries to provide another rock steady player on the front line.
"Tutan did a good job," said Maser. "Very steady. He held up. He played every game. He didn't get as much practice time as we would have liked him to have because of (nagging injuries), so the younger guys got a lot of work, which was good. Both (Geoff) Hangartner and (Evan) Mathis developed and played some different positions because of that situation. I think that's going to benefit us in the long run as far as getting those guys ready to perform."
At right tackle, Gross picked up where he left off in 2003. The move back to the position where he earned All-Rookie honors seemed to be a beneficial one for the third-year player from Utah.
"Jordan Gross was very steady," Maser said. "His move back to right tackle was not a problem. He picked it up very well. He got back into the framework of things and I was very happy with his performance all year long. I felt like he was a steady guy. He's definitely got things going in the right direction and I'm hoping for better things from him in the future."
As for depth, aside from Hangartner and Mathis, the main man off the bench was veteran Todd Fordham. A versatile player, Fordham's value to the team shone through in several ways.
"Todd has always been an excellent depth guy for me," said Maser, who coached Fordham in Jacksonville previously. "I've known Todd forever. He's kind of like a security blanket in that he can play any one of the positions along the line and fill in at a moment's notice. The great thing about him is his mentoring ability with the younger players. Bringing those guys along and spending time with them, talking to them about different aspects of what to look for."
Guard Mike Wahle made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his first season with the Panthers. (AP Photo) In that vein, Carolina signed free agent guard Mike Wahle. They moved second year guard Travelle Wharton to his college, left tackle, inserted Wahle at left guard, kept veteran Jeff Mitchell at center, moved Jordan Gross back to right tackle (after one season at left tackle) and started Tutan Reyes at right guard.
All five players started all 16 games, a first in the franchise's 11-year history. This stability led to the unit surrendering just 28 sacks, the second fewest in team history, and allowed the offense to gain momentum as the season progressed. I wasn't surprising that their best performances came late in the season, during a 44-11 victory at Atlanta that clinched a playoff spot, a 23-0 NFC Wildcard playoff victory over the New York Giants, and a 29-21 NFC Divisional playoff victory over Chicago and the Bears second-ranked defense.
The key to the whole strategy was Wahle. The Panthers felt that Wharton would take his lumps at tackle playing against some of the best defensive ends in the League, but having Wahle next to him would serve as a safety net of sorts. They didn't sign Wahle just for his mentoring abilities, though. He also brought a considerable amount of skills to the table.
"Mike Wahle went to the Pro Bowl, so it was obviously a good fit for him," said Maser. "Mike did some good things for us. It was a period of adjustment for him getting used to the offense, the other guys, and me. All of those types of things that go into a new relationship. But I thought he got through it well.
"I'm looking for great things from Mike next year as far as continued performance. I thought Mike being there was very beneficial for Travelle. Mike was a steadying influence. He's a real student of the game who really pays attention to a lot of small things, which I think helped Travelle out in the long run. Travelle's got a good work ethic. Having a guy next to him is extra diligent about the little things makes a big difference. I think that will help him in the long run as well."
The Panthers trusted tackle Travelle Wharton with guarding Jake Delhomme's backside. (Getty Images) A third-round draft choice from South Carolina, Wharton's ability to play the all-important left tackle position was a sink-or-swim gamble that the coaching staff felt was worth the risk. Looking back, one would have to say that it worked out fine.
"Travelle had a good season, I thought," said offensive line coach Mike Maser. "Maybe it wasn't a Pro Bowl season, but I thought he did a capable job for us. I thought he held up well under the circumstances and got a year under his belt from a learning standpoint. I think that's going to help him out in the long run. Travelle has a lot of ability. He just has to learn to play with a little bit more aggressiveness. He needs to play a little bit more nasty. We kind of answered a question, though, with him playing that position."
Manning the center position was Mitchell. The nine-year veteran once again provided a refuge for his fellow offensive linemen in training camp by bringing his recreational vehicle to Wofford College. It was a move symbolic of his leadership abilities, as Mitchell drove the bus, so to speak, by making calls at the line based on defense recognition.
"Jeff played the whole year and did a nice job for us," said Maser. "He was very capable. He directed traffic well and did a good job of getting everybody going in the right direction. Jeff handled himself well and we were very pleased with his performance."
Reyes provided a veteran presence at right guard. Even though he only had 12 starts under his belt when the season began, he was very familiar with the system and overcame some nagging injuries to provide another rock steady player on the front line.
"Tutan did a good job," said Maser. "Very steady. He held up. He played every game. He didn't get as much practice time as we would have liked him to have because of (nagging injuries), so the younger guys got a lot of work, which was good. Both (Geoff) Hangartner and (Evan) Mathis developed and played some different positions because of that situation. I think that's going to benefit us in the long run as far as getting those guys ready to perform."
At right tackle, Gross picked up where he left off in 2003. The move back to the position where he earned All-Rookie honors seemed to be a beneficial one for the third-year player from Utah.
"Jordan Gross was very steady," Maser said. "His move back to right tackle was not a problem. He picked it up very well. He got back into the framework of things and I was very happy with his performance all year long. I felt like he was a steady guy. He's definitely got things going in the right direction and I'm hoping for better things from him in the future."
As for depth, aside from Hangartner and Mathis, the main man off the bench was veteran Todd Fordham. A versatile player, Fordham's value to the team shone through in several ways.
"Todd has always been an excellent depth guy for me," said Maser, who coached Fordham in Jacksonville previously. "I've known Todd forever. He's kind of like a security blanket in that he can play any one of the positions along the line and fill in at a moment's notice. The great thing about him is his mentoring ability with the younger players. Bringing those guys along and spending time with them, talking to them about different aspects of what to look for."
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