Matt Rhule on Panthers’ guard situation: ‘I feel good about that position’

Coach Matt Rhule on Panthers’ guards: ‘I feel good about that position.’

Last year, the Panthers started Trai Turner and Greg Van Roten at the guard spots when they were healthy. This year, the team will need to find two new starters after some dramatic turnover this offseason. Despite losing Turner, Van Roten and Daryl Williams, coach Matt Rhule says he feels good about this spot.

Here’s what Rhule said about the guard situation when he spoke with the media in a Zoom call yesterday, per the team website.

“I feel good about that position. We have some young guys and we have some vets that could all get in there and battle it out.”

Rhule singled out several guards on the roster, beginning with Michael Schofield, who joins left tackle Russell Okung and offensive line coach Pat Meyer as the former Chargers now leading this group.

“Schofield to me is a guy that can play tackle, can play guard. . . To me, he’s a guy that’s still young as an offensive lineman. He’s really smart, really tough. Brings a ton of versatility.”

Rhule also likes what he has in Dennis Daley, Chris Reed and John Miller.

“We see Dennis Daley, a guy that really played well at times last year — his best football is right there in front of him. . . Another guy that was on the roster last year, and you go back and watch the tape and say he’s got a chance to be a really good player if we can do it right on our end is Chris Reed. And obviously, we signed Johnny (Miller).”

How will it all shake out?

Our best guess is Schofield will wind up starting at left guard and John Miller at right guard, but they could also switch. After that, it’s possible the team sees Daley as the primary backup for both spots. As a rookie, he trained to play every position except center.

We will get a better idea of where everybody is at when training camp begins. Rhule told reporters he expects it to begin around July 28.

[lawrence-related id=625043]

[vertical-gallery id=623181]

If Michigan was fielding a starting team based on current NFL players, here’s what it would look like

Creating something of a fantasy football situation selecting from nearly 40 Wolverines who are currently on NFL rosters to form a team.

[jwplayer bx1nhJG7-XNcErKyb]

According to ESPN, while not all of them are actively playing, Michigan has 40 players currently in the league, bolstered by the 2020 haul with ten draft picks — though it lists Charles Woodson as active, and we’re pretty sure that’s no longer the case.

So, as our colleague over at BuckeyesWire asked, what would an NFL team look like if comprised solely of the players who graduated from one school? Naturally, a Michigan contingent had our interest piqued.

Given that there are a variety of schemes, offensively and defensively, and some players perhaps played a different position in the NFL than they did at Michigan, we came up with our starting maize and blue team in the pro ranks, taking a look at what could be if all of those who wore a winged helmet joined forces to create a Wolverines super team.

Especially with the man leading the charge under center, we’d put this team up against anybody.

Offense

There’s an obvious player to start with, and lots of solid linemen. But otherwise, Michigan is lighter than in recent years with skill position players.

Regardless, with the top choice overall — a man that many pick in the first round of their fantasy drafts — the Wolverines NFL team could be formidable.

Quarterback – Tom Brady

The most obvious selection of the bunch is the greatest of all time.

If you have Tom Brady as your quarterback, you’ve got a chance to win it all. He’s won more rings than anybody with six in his time with the New England Patriots.

While he wasn’t as beloved during his time in Ann Arbor as much as he is now, if you’re building an NFL team out of former Michigan players, the former team captain and over-achieving sixth rounder from the 2000 NFL Draft is like getting the No. 1 pick in your fantasy league — it’s just good business.

In his career, Brady has amassed 74,571 yards in 285 games, with 541 touchdowns to just 179 interceptions.

Brady is No. 2 on the NFL’s all-time passing yards leaders list, behind Drew Brees — but literally ahead of everyone else. He’s also just behind Brees at No. 2 in passing touchdowns, just six away from the top, however.

NEXT: The starting offensive line

Pages: 1234567891011121314151617181920212223

Panthers confirm Michael Schofield signing, cut a RB

Schofield has several connections with his new team.

The Panthers have confirmed the signing of former Chargers offensive lineman Michael Schofield, which was first reported by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN on Thursday.

Schofield has several connections with his new team, including offensive line coach Pat Meyer and two other starting offensive linemen. Meyer was his position coach on the Chargers. Schofield also previously played with left tackle Russell Okung and center Matt Paradis when he was in Denver.

There’s no official word on what position Schofield will be playing for the Panthers, but our best guess is he will take Greg Van Roten’s place at left guard. John Miller is another possibility. However, he seems like a better fit replacing Trai Turner at right guard.

In any case, we now know who will start along the front line. The team’s best lineman is currently right tackle Taylor Moton, who deserves a contract extension. He rounds out the starting five.

In a corresponding move, the Panthers released running back Marcus Murphy. The recent signing of Minnesota’s Rodney Smith might have made him expendable. We’re predicting Smith will be third on the depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey and Reggie Bonnafon.

[lawrence-related id=622089]

[vertical-gallery id=621958]

Report: Panthers signing former Chargers OL Michael Schofield

The Panthers are signing former Chargers guard Michael Schofield to a one-year deal, according to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN.

OG Michael Schofield is signing a one-year deal with the Panthers, per source.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 30, 2020

The Panthers are signing former Chargers guard Michael Schofield to a one-year deal, according to a report by Jeremy Fowler at ESPN. Schofield has a connection via Carolina’s offensive line coach Pat Meyer, who was Schofield’s position coach the last three seasons.

Schofield (6-foot-6, 301 pounds) was originally a third-round draft pick by the Broncos in 2014. After three years in Denver, he moved on to the Chargers.

All together, he’s played in 76 NFL games, with 66 starts. He has mostly played right guard in the pros, but he has also put in time at right tackle and he came up playing left guard at Michigan.

Most likely, Carolina sees Schofield as the new starter at left guard to replace Greg Van Roten, who signed with the Jets.

[lawrence-related id=621996]

[vertical-gallery id=621958]

5 free agent guards to replace Marshal Yanda

The Baltimore Ravens will have to replace Marshal Yanda this offseason following his pending retirement. They could find help in free agency

With guard Marshal Yanda set to retire this offseason, the Baltimore Ravens find themselves desperately needing an answer to his replacement. While the team could turn to their own roster to remedy the problem, free agency is about to begin and the Ravens could instead look for a more experienced option on the open market.

Sadly, finding an exact replacement for Yanda is likely going to prove impossible. Yanda was one of the best offensive linemen last season and has been consistently among the best throughout his entire career. After creating a Hall of Fame level resume over the years, matching that level of production and locker room presence is something very few teams have ever managed to pull off before.

But for Baltimore, there are a handful of options that make sense for them to look at. A few former first-round picks are set to hit free agency as well as a former member of their own team. While the best option might still be from within, the Ravens are likely to explore free agency for some competition at the position at least.

Here are five free-agent options Baltimore would be wise to consider this offseason.

Brandon Scherff

If the Ravens want an immediate plug-and-play replacement for Yanda, Scherff is likely the guy they’d look to. The problem here is that the Washington Redskins really don’t want to lose their top offensive lineman and could turn to the franchise tag.

On the off chance Washington lets Scherff hit the free-agent market, he’s going to have plenty of suitors as the top guard available. That means he’s going to cost a fortune with $15 million a year a possibility on a long-term contract.

But there isn’t a better free-agent guard on the market this offseason and there’s little doubt Scherff would come in as a direct replacement to Yanda. According to Pro Football Focus, Scherff earned a 75 overall grade last season. Though it’s a good deal lower than Yanda’s 2019 grade, Scherff’s continued success proves he’d be a viable option, albeit an expensive one.

Pages: 12345

4 right guards the Jets should target in free agency

Joe Douglas needs right guard support if he decides to cut Brian Winters. Here are five solid options in free agency.

The Jets currently have Brian Winters as their starting right guard, but Joe Douglas could easily look for his replacement this offseason following another injury-plagued year. Cutting Winters would save the Jets $7.28 million this offseason, money that could be used at multiple positions or for a more consistent and durable lineman.

The market for right guards is incredibly top-heavy this offseason. There are really only two players who will command big contracts, and they’re really the only ones worth the money to upgrade over Winters. If the Jets aren’t willing to grab either of the top two right guards, they can keep Winters, downgrade for a cheaper player, trade for a replacement or look to the draft.

Here are the top five right guards in free agency the Jets should consider.

Brandon Scherff

The Jets need a mauler up front and Scherff provides that both in run-blocking and pass protection. He finished 28th in pass-blocking and was top-six in run-blocking in gap and zone protections. Scherff is consistent with his ability, grading out between 75.0 and 81.4 in four out of five of his NFL seasons and at least 70.0 in all five.

When’s he’s healthy, Scherff is one of the best right guards in the league. That’s a big “if,” though, as Scherff hasn’t played a full season since 2016 and missed 13 games over the past two seasons with various injuries. Despite his injury history, his age and size – 28, 6-foot-5, 351 pounds – as well as his production make him arguably the best right guard on the market. His value is around $12.4 million per year, according to Spotrac.

Pages: 1234

Poll: Which free agents should Chargers re-sign in 2020?

If you were the general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers, who would you re-sign this offseason?

The Los Angeles Chargers have a ton of impending free agents when the new league year begins in March. It’s unclear how many of these players the team will be able to keep, but they will have to be selective during the process.

Even though they have the most salary cap available that they’ve had in years, they need to make sure that they have enough to bring in unrestricted free agents from other teams.

There are several of these players that will likely get attention on the open market because of their success in the blue and gold. Some are already being considered as top free agents by analysts.

Three Chargers’ players were listed in ESPN’s top-50 free agents in 2020: tight end Hunter Henry quarterback Philip Rivers and running back Melvin Gordon. There are other notables including guard Michael Schofield, safety Adrian Phillips, fullback Derek Watt and defensive tackle Damion Square.

If the decision was up to you, which free agents would you have the Chargers re-sign in 2020?

While our poll only lists seven, you can find the full list of Chargers free agents below.

[polldaddy poll=10496738]

[vertical-gallery id=32689]

Scott Quessenberry capable of being full-time starter for Chargers

Scott Quessenberry is capable of being the full-time starter for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 and beyond.

Scott Quessenberry had a dream growing up.

Quessenberry, the La Costa native, grew up as a Chargers fan, watching his favorite player, Nick Hardwick on a weekly basis at Qualcomm Stadium with the hopes of suiting up in the blue and gold one day.

That dream became a reality when he was selected in the fifth-round of the 2018 NFL draft by his favorite team. He chose the number that Hardwick wore in No. 61 in hopes to have a big impact just like his role model did.

Entering the season, Quessenberry was listed as the third-string center, but injuries happened that resulted in him shooting up the depth chart rapidly.

Mike Pouncey suffered a season-ending injury in Week 5, putting Quessenberry as the backup and then Forrest Lamp’s season came to end two weeks later, which meant that the former UCLA product was now the starting center.

Quessenberry made an impact early on that many may have not been expecting from him when handing him the starting duties. But it became evident that the second-year player benefited from learning from the four-time Pro Bowler.

He’s played very well. I think a lot of it is because he was able to watch Pouncey for a year and a half essentially and learn from arguably one of the best centers in the league. So I think that was a big thing for him,” guard Michael Schofield said about Quessenberry.

Quessenberry has kept pressure away from quarterback Philip Rivers on the inside, using his high football IQ to recognize blitzes and staying true to his technique in pass protection, along with using his stubborn mentality to pave the way for running backs Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler.

Quessenberry’s play has been promising enough that he could very well be the starting center when the 2020 regular season begins.

Pouncey is slated to become a free agent after the 2020 season, which means that the Chargers could move on from him earlier than anticipated to save some money. That is unless Pouncey’s injury is more severe, which could force him to retire, thus likely penciling in Quessenberry as the Day 1 starter.

Chargers ready to say farewell to Dignity Health Sports Park

After spending three seasons in a soccer stadium, coaches and players of the Los Angeles Chargers are ready to move on.

The Los Angeles Chargers will play their final game at Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly knows as StubHub Center, this Sunday when they take on the Oakland Raiders.

After moving from San Diego to Los Angeles in 2017, the Chargers used the stadium that served as the main home to the L.A. Galaxy as their temporary home for three seasons.

The stadium that held 27,000 didn’t seem like home for the Bolts as the stands were flooded with fans to the opposing team, where their cheers outnumbered the Chargers fans and quite often booed them, too.

The high cost of tickets made a habit of selling their tickets for profit. But it’s been tough for the Chargers to build a market as there hasn’t been a football team in Los Angeles for two decades and because of it, those seats were filled with colors other than blue and gold.

For many of the players and coaches, they’re ready to start a new era when they move into SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA with a seat capacity of 78,000, which will be shared with the Rams starting in 2020.

“I’m pretty excited for the new stadium to open up. Look at the game last week, 90 percent purple, maybe. That’s tough. Hopefully when we go to the new stadium it’s a lot better. Hopefully we have a decent fan base, a decent following,” guard Michael Schofield said.

Coach Anthony Lynn compared it to a high school football stadium in Texas, while punter Ty Long felt like it was similar to the stadiums in the Canadian Football League where he played before signing with Los Angeles.

“We’re going to miss the place. You never are going to play someplace like that again, I believe, in that type of intimate environment. We’ll miss it, but we’re looking forward to going to our new home,” Lynn said.

The Chargers lost their first three games there before winning the final five home games of the 2017 season. They have an 11-10 home record compared to being 14-9 on the road during the three-year stint.

Fans that paid the hefty price to watch their favorite team at Dignity Health Sports Park were able to get an up-close experience as it appeared to be a lower level view no matter where they sat.

But players are excited to move into a new stadium that will give them the feeling like they’re actually playing in the National Football League.

“There’s something about that bigger stadium that feels like, ‘OK, now I’m on the big stage. I feel like a Roman gladiator, a rock star, all that. It’s just part of the experience,” running back Austin Ekeler said, per Orange County Register’s Gilbert Manzano.

[lawrence-related id=32078,32067,32064,32059]

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler expects ‘frenzy’ with free agency coming up

Running back Austin Ekeler expects a ‘frenzy’ around the Los Angeles Chargers with free agency near.

When the Chargers take the field on Sunday against the Raiders, it could be the last home game in the blue and gold for some notable players.

On Wednesday, running back Austin Ekeler acknowledged that it’s not just those social media that are wondering who’s going to be on the team when they move into their new stadium next year.

“I think upstairs they’re trying to keep that on the down low until the season’s over because it’s about to be a frenzy in our locker room, especially on the offensive side with all the contracts that are coming up.

Everyone’s kind of looking around like, ‘Hey, what do you guys think is going to go on?’ None of us know. We don’t know what they’re going to do upstairs. We know what we want. But that’s a different story,” Ekeler said.

After this season, quarterback Philip Rivers, running back Melvin Gordon, guard Michael Schofield, tight end Hunter Henry, and fullback Derek Watt will all become unrestricted free agents.

Ekeler is among the few who will be a restricted free agent.

Rivers is the member that will be monitored the most. The veteran quarterback, who’s started 233 consecutive games in his 16-year stint, knows that this could be his last two games with the Bolts.

His remarks regarding his future following the loss to the Vikings raised eyebrows, but he clarified what he meant while stating he’s still focused on the rest of the season.

“I think I was just acknowledging the obvious. I think in anybody’s circumstance you better focus on the present. It’s not like I’m in Year 2 of a six-year contract.

You want to approach every week like it could be your last because you never know. Anything can happen. You never really want to take anything for granted. But you can’t over-dramatize each week based on the ‘what ifs,'” Rivers said.

[lawrence-related id=31972,31964,31959,31952]