Ron Rivera: “We Will Look For Offensive Lineman Everywhere”

Carolina Panthers’ fans experienced one very frustrating year. They didn’t see the playoffs, Cam Newton was constantly injured, and the awful finish of the season made everything even more uncomfortable for them.

Though, it didn’t look like that in the beginning, as their team opened the campaign with 6 wins and 2 losses. But as time went by, the Panthers showed many weaknesses. One was particularly obvious.

Cam Newton’s protection. It is something which gave a lot of headache for coach Ron Rivera. Despite the fact that when looking at all of his seasons spent in Charlotte, Super Cam was sacked a career-low 29 times, his protection this year was more important than during the previous ones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liDOe0ysR2k

Newton’s constant problems with his right throwing shoulder and the pain he felt were disabling him to throw the ball downfield, and they were limiting his rushing game. That made him more vulnerable, and more suitable for strong hits.

Coach Rivera spoke earlier today, that his and team’s primary mission in this offseason would be to select and create worthy protection for the 2015 NFL MVP.

“We know we’ve got to continue to protect our quarterback, so going into free agency we will look at offensive linemen. Going into the draft, we will look at offensive linemen.” Panthers HC stated.

Rivera was explaining the basic philosophy of his team which is to protect the quarterback at all costs. Now, it seems that designing strong protection for Newton is going to be a hard and difficult process having in mind the current situation in North Carolina.

Only two players from the offensive line will be here next year for certain. The four-time Pro Bowl OG Trai Turner, and OT Taylor Morton. All others are highly questionable. C Ryan Kalil indicated his retirement, LT Matt Kalil’s health condition is not clear enough, while T Chris Clark becomes a free agent.

It pretty much means that the Panthers will have to trade and make deals in order to do something right. According to most experts, there won’t be many quality offensive linemen on the upcoming free agency market, and that makes the whole process more problematic.

Rivera also explained that his quarterbacks’ safety also depends upon other players from the offense. They need to create good positions fast, helping Newton to throw the ball early on and avoid the risk of getting sacked or hit.

“We’ll look at playmakers,” Rivera began his explanation. “We’ll look at guys that when the ball gets in their hands, they take the pressure off the quarterback. Whether it be a runner, a receiver, a tight end, somebody like this”

According to his words, Panthers’ GM Marty Hurney and himself already have a strategy on how to act on the market. They’ve located the weak spots in each of the teams.

Of course, the whole next season will depend upon Newton’s recovery. If everything goes well, then the Panthers will be a top team again. If not… Well, we aren’t going to talk about that.

The fantastic quarterback gave an interview earlier this week on the matter of his surgery, and everything linked with it. What made the biggest impression on Super Cam is the doubt of the people in his comeback.

He said that all the uncertainty about his qualities and his abilities to get out of this situation would just give him an extra motive to be even better than before.

Will Cam Newton change his style of play following shoulder surgery? 👀

📺: @gmfb pic.twitter.com/s0aMaeKYE2

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 8, 2019

“I feel this is going to make me even more dangerous.” the former No.1 pick stated, “When it’s all said and done, I can look back at my life, and I know this particular time in my life propelled me to that next point. I’m excited about what the future holds.”

Newton had the arthroscopic surgery on January 24th. Dr, Patt Connor, and his team were repairing his cartilage erosion.

Some sources predict his return for the training camp.