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Monday, May. 05, 2008

Gross, Kalil 'little' guys on ravamped offensive line

CHARLOTTE -- For all the talk about the big guys and the new guys, the two most important spots on the Carolina Panthers' offensive line happen to be occupied by the two smallest, who were already here.

With the additions of all the giant guards and massive first-round pick Jeff Otah, the key to the latest makeover of the line hinges on left tackle Jordan Gross and center Ryan Kalil, two of the runts of the litter.

"I'm still over 300 pounds, so I don't think that's a small guy by any means," Gross cracked. "But around here, I am."

At least he's on the right side of 300. Kalil, listed at 295 pounds, may get asked to order off the kids' menu when the linemen dine together.

"That's the thing, I'm a little deceiving in the body type," Kalil said with a tone of mock defensiveness. "Obviously I'm the smallest guy on the line, but I try to play as big as the rest of them."

That's the key for the Panthers this year as they try to become the physical unit they've always talked about. There have been such discussions before, but then they tried moving forward with finesse guys like Mike Wahle, and center Justin Hartwig, who never had the same lower-body power after groin surgery last offseason.

All will say it's not the fault of those two, and some blame clearly goes to the front office for putting together a mismatched cast. At least now, after adding guards Keydrick Vincent, Toniu Fonoti and Milford Brown (all at least 325) along with the 339-and-growing Otah, the plan and the people match.

"I think just physics says a bigger mass is going to get more knock-off," Gross said of the new theme. "We've really preached being more physical in the last year. Obviously we got away from a lot of that because we were behind a lot. I don't think it says anything about the guys we had, I just think it's more of a preference for who (offensive line coach Dave) Magazu likes, and be more physical and knock the D-line around a little more.

"The guys we have should be a little more capable."

Still, it will start in the middle with Kalil.

One of the knocks on him coming out of Southern Cal was that his stature might not allow him to hold up in the middle. If that contributed to his slide to the late second round, it works for the Panthers, because they view him as a smart, tactical correct blocker in the mold of Jeff Mitchell, who used technique rather than mass.

"He does play with good leverage, he has good quickness," Panthers coach John Fox said of Kalil. "Center is probably the most unique and maybe the most difficult offensive line position, because they've got to snap the ball and then block, so quickness is paramount. You don't see a lot of huge centers in the National Football League."

Kalil shrugged off the questions about size, knowing the most important part for him is taking the big step from his rookie season to his second, with the added responsibilities of running the line.

"The bottom line is getting the job done," he said. "I try to bring another aspect of making sure I'm on top of everything, and making the calls the way they need to be made. For the most part, they seem to be happy with what I'm doing."

Kalil at least has the benefit of playing his natural position, while Gross can't even know what that is anymore.

Since it's an even-numbered year, he must be back on the left side, though he's been more successful on the right. The Panthers think he's still an ascending player, and can make the same improvements on the left as he did on the right last season. They figured that was going to be the plan, but neither he nor they knew for sure until the Panthers traded back into the first round for Otah.

"Well, after the first pick I thought it was going back to the right side -- an hour later, I knew I was going to be on the left," Gross said. "Nothing's ever set in stone with the season, as far as injuries and whatever, but it's great to know that Kalil and (left guard) Travelle (Wharton) are permanent fixtures, and barring any unforeseen stuff, I should be able to stay on the left and I can work at it and get better."

Toward that end, even the team's franchise player was getting in extra work after minicamp practices, staying behind to take a few more drops from a left-side stance.

"It's familiar," he said. "I feel better than I thought I would. You get so specialized at one thing, and it's the same, ... just backwards. For instance, you try to be inside hand-heavy, and I'm using my outside hand more because when I was on the right that was my inside hand. But it's definitely doable."

Gross said he's resisted the temptation to eat more just to fit in, and at a hair over 300, he's still one of the lightweights. "I've gotten heavier before in college and I didn't feel like it did anything but slow me down a little bit."

But with the rest of the bulk around Gross and Kalil, the goal is to get faster. Running back DeAngelo Williams, who'll pair with first-round bull Jonathan Stewart, said he thinks this year's line moves better than last year's, which increases the opportunities for him.

"I definitely think they went out and got some guys they thought would have an attitude about them, would be real physical; that's what we're going for," Kalil said. "From what we've seen so far, and it's hard to tell so far, but guys have done real well so far. Obviously, you want to be balanced offense, a balanced football team. You've got to run and pass. With the guys they brought in, the bigger, more physical linemen, you can tell. And the downfield runners we've got across the board, in the draft and (LaBrandon) Toefield.

"We definitely have an attitude about establishing the run this year, and we're right on track for it, and I think we're going to develop that."