Hakeem Adeniji, OT (Kansas, Senior); 6’5 310lbs
Photo Credit: Nick Krug
While training camp has been something of an up and down affair for Greg Little to this point, there should be little doubt that having spent a high second round pick on the tackle, the Panthers plan to start him at left tackle at some point, probably sooner rather than later. Given that, and with Taylor Moton having made the right tackle spot his own, it would be a surprise to see the Panthers be in the market for a backup tackle once again next offseason. However, depth is important, and while Daryl Williams will likely start in 2019, he is a free agent this offseason and the Panthers probably can’t afford to keep him if he is able to stay healthy and the only other tackle option is Denis Daley, and he looks to be more a guard first and a swing tackle second than an out-and-out tackle. Given all this, the Panthers will likely be on the lookout for tackles who might still be available on day three who have some development potential.
As has been said several times both here and elsewhere, when looking for developmental prospects, it is important to at least consider what justifications there might be for a player being underdeveloped. This doesn’t have to be some deep psychoanalysis, but rather a cursory look at what in their background might have led them not to develop as much as other players. In the case of Adeniji the potential explanation is pretty straightforward – Kansas isn’t exactly known as being a football powerhouse. Of course, this doesn’t mean that his technical issues can be ignored, but rather that there is more hope that he will be able to improve with NFL coaching than a similarly limited played coming from a school that has a more consistent track record of producing NFL tackles.
Having said all that, it is worth talking about what Adeniji does well. He has fast feet which he is able to pair with good hip flexibility, allowing him to cover speed rushers around the edge without having to sacrifice balance. His hand usage is far less consistent from a technical point of view but he shows good hand speed and location and has the length needed to keep defenders at bay. From an athletic point of view, he has all the athleticism needed to be a good NFL tackle, but needs to show far more consistency in his technique and learn how to make the most of his athleticism.
Any team that drafts Adeniji isn’t going to get an immediate impact player, as with Little, Daley or Moton, there is likely to be a period of development before a team is able to reliably put him on the field. However, given that the Panthers needs hopefully won’t include a starting tackle for 2020, but rather longer-term depth and an option if they are unable to resign Moton, being able to develop Adeniji for a year has the potential to provide them with cheap quality depth with the potential to start down the road if things come to that.
Shane Lemieux, OG (Oregon, Senior); 6’4 316lbs
Photo Credit: Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire for Associated Press
With Greg Van Roten’s contract up after this season and Dennis Daley still developing, the Panthers may be in the market for a quality guard come the 2020 draft.
Lemieux shows good lower-body power on tape, allowing him to move most defenders in the run game while also having the foot speed to be effective as a pulling guard or on screens. Crucially, he also combines these athletic attributes with good balance, allowing him to effectively block players on the run, rather than simply getting to the spot only to whiff on the block. Unsurprisingly, he also works very effectively to the second level off of double teams, with the control to consistently engage second level linebackers consistently.
While all this is good and well, Lemieux is also very good at the core of what a guard has to do – namely, maintaining and controlling blocks in the run game and preventing pressure in the passing game. As a run blocker, while he does have the power to move people, he is used best when asked to block zonally; this allows him to make use of his excellent hand locating and good hand speed, consistently establishing inside hand position on the frame of a defender, making it both very difficult for the defender to shed the block and very easy for Lemieux to direct the defender in accordance with the play design.
As a pass blocker, he shows good foot speed and while he could do with improving his knee bend, or at least the consistency of his knee bend, when he stays low and is patient enough to wait for the defender to come to him he has the foot speed to cover laterally while having the core technique to force defenders to go through him rather than being able to work around him. There are, of course, areas where he could be better, most of which come down to consistency of technique more than anything, and while it’s unlikely that he ends up being a first round pick, Lemieux’s talent is such that if the Panthers do end up targeting him in the draft then they are likely going to have to do so on day two at some point.
Coming Up In Part Two: Five Defenders To Keep Your Eye On
