Anti-Spam Discussion Forums

[chenyan94]

The NFL season is one quarter of the way finished. If “first-quarter-of-the-season MVP” was an award I’d give it to the five men who have made up the offensive line. Their unexpectedly high level of play has been nothing short of stunning. Through Week 5 the Carolina Panthers are sporting a 3-1 record despite the fact that the five offensive linemen with the most snaps played are two unheralded journeymen (Chris Clark and Greg Van Roten) [url=https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Devin-Funchess-Jersey]https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Devin-Funchess-Jersey[/url] , a guy who’s too young (Taylor Moton), a guy who’s too old (Ryan Kalil), and a backup center playing out of position (Tyler Larsen). Football OutsidersAnd yet, here we are. This ragtag group of overachievers has put Christian McCaffrey on pace for over 1,300 rushing yards on a healthy 5.2 yards per carry while also doing a respectable job keeping Cam Newton clean. It’s truly incredible how well this unit has performed.While there is no perfect way to accurately judge the production of offensive lines, two of the most trustworthy sites that track advanced NFL stats are Football Outsiders and Pro Football Focus. Let’s see what they have to say:Football OutsidersThrough Week 5 Football Outsiders ranks the Panthers offensive line No. 2 in run blocking and No. 15 in pass blocking. Just let that sink in for a moment. Chris Clark was unemployed until after Week 1, got signed by Carolina, then started for the Panthers in Week 2. Neither Greg Van Roten nor Taylor Moton had ever started an NFL game before this season. Ryan Kalil looked well past his prime last year. Tyler Larsen is a perfectly serviceable player, but he’s far from being a Pro Bowler. Football Outsiders incorporates a number of variables such as down, distance, and opponent when evaluating offensive line performance. Based on their analysis, the Panthers offensive line is an elite run blocking unit and above average in pass protection. Incredible. Pro Football FocusWhile Football Outsiders shows what the offensive line has accomplished as a unit, Pro Football Focus evaluates individual performance. Here is how PFF has graded the five Panthers offensive linemen with the most snaps through Week 5:PFF grades through Week 5NamePFF GradePosition RankPFF RatingNamePFF GradePosition RankPFF RatingThe individual PFF grades jive with the Football Outsiders data in showing an above average offensive line. Watching Taylor Moton morph into one of the best tackles in the NFL is the single most pleasant surprise of the season. I think most of us are probably looking ahead and salivating over the prospect of Trai Turner getting fully healthy after clearing the concussion protocol and for Daryl Williams to hopefully return in the second half of the season. Throw a healthy Turner and Williams into the mix and the Panthers offensive line could be downright dominant by the end of the season. But for now, here’s to the ragtag group of overachievers who have saved the start of the Panthers 2018 season - Taylor Moton, Greg Van Roten, Ryan Kalil, Tyler Larsen, and Taylor Moton. You guys are my first-quarter-of-the-season MVPs. Welcome back to the 2018 edition of Step UP or Step OUT [url=https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mario-Addison-Jersey]https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Mario-Addison-Jersey[/url] , a series on CSR that is intended to look at players who are playing well and highlight a few that need to step their game up. Think of it as a heat index for the Carolina Panthers; guys who are playing well are stepping up and those who aren’t need to improve their game or. . . step out.This week we’ll look at some guys that really popped off the screen during week two and need to maintain that intensity heading into our week three contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. The others mentioned, well. . . they need to play better or maybe just step out of the way and let someone else take over.Steppin’ UPChristian McCaffreyHeat Rating: A pizza roll, between two bagel bites, inside a pepperoni hot pocket.Through two weeks of the season, Christian “Deuce Deuce” McCaffrey has 234 yards from scrimmage, and has proven to be the most useful weapon Cam Newton has. More importantly, he has put to rest any kind of doubt in his toughness. This past week, the man steamrolled multiple defenders while fighting for first downs on more than one occasion, including pushing through the bear hug of a Falcons defensive line for a few extra clicks. It was impressive to see for a man his stature, and it’s only a taste of things to come.Cam Newton“Drip” level: Post Hurricane Florence humidity type drippin’Cam Newton was brilliant Sunday in a losing effort that was brought up through no fault of his own. He did take a couple of risky passes under pressure that were ill-advised and gladly didn’t end up as interceptions, but by and large, his receiver corps needs to play better. Cam found most of his success over the middle, and turned in an elite level completion percentage of 71%, despite five drops, gaudy enough to make even the most discerning hater take notice. If the offensive line can do their best Hodor impression against the Bengals, there is no reason to believe that Cam won’t have another really good day.Chris Clark and Taylor MotonHeat Rating: The grilled cheese sandwich in the middle of your panini pressFor two guys not expected to have starting jobs as tackles in the NFL at the beginning of the preseason, this was an impressive outing for these bookends. Particular kudos go to Chris Clark for only allowing two pressures on less than a week of practice. Taylor Moton didn’t allow a single one, even while having to switch back to the right side [url=https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/Marquis-Haynes-Jersey]Marquis Haynes Jersey[/url] , and if you ask me, he is currently the team MVP. Steppin’ OUTTorrey SmithCold Rating: The hands of an outdoor wedding ice sculptureWhile he did catch a touchdown pass on Sunday, it doesn’t really make up for letting at least two passes slip straight through his hands earlier contributing to stalled drives. This has been a knock that has followed him his entire career, and it doesn’t look like the veteran has suddenly changed his ways. I expect that DJ Moore is going to start poaching some snaps from him sooner than later, or better yet, the added heat will bring out the best in him.Julius PeppersCold Rating: Currently frozen pot stickers that will soon unfreeze in my frying panWe have to remember that Julius is only currently heading into week three of the preseason, so at least this is going to be the dress rehearsal game, right? The future hall of famer’s impact has been extremely limited during the first two bouts of the year, and it’s time for him to wake up and step UP. Cameron Jordan seems to think a whole lot of him, and I know we all do as well, but if he’s going to continue his storied career, we need to start seeing something soon. Greg Van RotenCold Rating: Eh... more like a cold beverage that is starting to approach room temperatureI’ve got a lot of love for Greg Van Roten. He’s never given up on his dream, and has finally earned a starting job as a left guard for the Carolina Panthers through his determination. That said, he still has a lot to learn technique-wise. He has a tendency to get flat footed and lean his midsection in toward the defender he is blocking sometimes. What that does is ruin his power base, and the moment it happens you usually seem him go flying backward straight toward Cam Newton. It happened twice against the Falcons, and Geno Atkins will be terrorizing the interior for the Bengals. Greg will really need to be on his game for the Panthers to have a shot.
_________________
http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/