One of, if not the biggest priority for the Carolina Panthers this offseason was to bolster their offense for second-year quarterback and 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. And the way they’ve done so, at least in one particular spot, has been quite interesting.
The organization’s reconfigured front office signed over a combined $150 million to guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis this past spring. Those weighty additions essentially demoted last year’s starters, Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett.
But with latter widely considered one of the NFL’s better interior lineman, new head coach Dave Canales has made the decision to keep him on the field.
The move? Switching the former 2018 second-round selection from right guard to center, a position Corbett has never recorded a regular-season snap at as a pro.
Along with the inexperience and recent injury history of Corbett, the transition has little insurance to speak of. General manager Dan Morgan and company have gambled by not signing or drafting a player at the position, leaving them with undrafted rookie Andrew Raym as the only natural center on the current roster.
So now, as the end of training camp approaches, the project has been a bit rough to watch.
Numerous fan videos and accounts throughout summer practices have shown Corbett missing the mark with snaps on multiple occasions.
Corbett with the low snap #panthers pic.twitter.com/9uqwU4Y1e1
— 2FansInTheStands (@2FansITS) August 11, 2024
Another bad snap from Austin Corbett. Forced Bryce to throw it away. #KeepPounding
It’s officially a problem.
— For Panthers Fans Only (Podcast) (@FPFO_Podcast) August 10, 2024
Low snap again on 3rd down, Brown batted the Bryce Young throw shortly after.
— Not Dave Canales (@NotDaveCanales) August 11, 2024
There have also been lapses in pass protection as a whole, perhaps reminding those watching of the troubles from the disastrous 2023 campaign.
If you’re an optimist, you may view this as a transition period for Corbett—a former guard playing a new position on the offensive line and still trying to adjust. With his high football intelligence, Corbett could become a quality starter.
If you’re pessimistic on the move, or with the team in general, you may view this as an another miss. Perhaps you’re wishing the team just drafted a natural center such as West Virginia’s Zach Frazier or Arkansas’ Beaux Limmer to provide some competition for the veteran interior lineman.
Frankly, it’s too early to say whether the Panthers made the wrong choice of not selecting a center during the draft. It’s also too early to say whether Corbett will or won’t work out at his new digs.
There are some unknowns, driving up the anxiety of fans wanting to see competent line play from the offensive front. The reason for this anxiety, of course, is the concern about keeping Young upright after he ate 62 sacks as a rookie.
Nonetheless, Corbett should be given the benefit of the doubt, as playing center is different than playing guard or tackle.
The blocking angles and leverages are different, the responsibility is greater with protection calls and the pass sets themselves are different. Instead of a kick step, you’re dropping backward in a straight line at times, and not exactly dropping into a kick slide to block pass rushers up an arc.
It’s fair to acknowledge the mistakes Carolina may have made in not finding legitimate competition at a crucial position. Again, there are plenty of unknowns with the Panthers offense, including at center.
This year should be about growth and adding the building blocks for a successful future. That should apply to Corbett, and patience should be required in this process.
