by Matt Shetler
With a little under two weeks remaining until the Panthers’ season-opening game against Buffalo, several positions on the depth chart are yet to be determined by head coach Todd Graham.
One of the most important questions that Graham faces is what the offensive line will look like for said season opener.
He answered that question in announcing the starting five, which contained a surprise or two.
One name not every Panthers fan may be familiar with is new left tackle Juantez Hollins.
Hollins, a sophomore from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, beat out redshirt senior Greg Gaskins for the job. Gaskins began camp at right tackle, but shifted to the left side when it was determined that Jordan Gibbs would be the Panthers’ starter there.
After Gaskins moved to the left side, it created the only real competition for any job on the line between Hollins and Gaskins—one that was clearly won by Hollins. One thing that had to catch the coaching staff’s eyes was the constant improvement from Hollins during camp.
However, while the Pennsylvanian had to fight for his job, others were already pencilled in. Lucas Nix and Chris Jacobson, among these. Only, nobody knew exactly where the two veterans would play.
Both men started every game a season ago, and even though Graham maybe initially thought about using Jacobsen at center, it was felt he would best be used at guard (his natural position) this season.
While Jacobsen is pencilled in as the left guard, Nix will remain as the right guard.
Nix has had 16 starts at right tackle for the Panthers and nine at right guard. All nine of his starts at guard came at the end of last season and the coaching staff thought highly enough of his performances to leave him there.
That brings us to the starting center, Ryan Turnley. Considering how camp began for Turnley, this could be viewed as a mild surprise. One of the main knocks on Turnley early on in camp was his inconsistency in snapping the ball.
However, apparently he’s improved enough as camp wound down to give the coaching staff enough confidence in him to do the job.
So, that’s likely your five men who will anchor what the Panthers will do offensively this season. If they are up for the challenge, the Panthers may be able to surprise some people in 2011.
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