FanHouse TravelleWharton

Every week we look at some aspect of line play around the league with our Between The Lines feature.

As the playoffs get closer and closer, the Panthers may supplant the Plaxico Burress-less Giants as the NFC's No. 1 seed. If they do, a lot of the credit will go to an offense that can run (with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart) and pass.

But an even bigger reason the Panthers are 6-1 over the past seven games is because they have finally gotten their starting offensive line playing together.

Early in the season, injuries wrecked the Panthers' line. First guard Travelle Wharton missed two games with a knee injury. Tackle Jordan Gross missed a game with a concussion. Then ankle injuries sidelined tackle Jeff Otah (four games) and center Ryan Kalil (four games). Because of all the injuries, right guard Keydrick Vincent is the only lineman to start all 14 games this season, and three different Panthers' substitutes have started a total of 11 games this year.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Jake Delhomme is coming off Tommy John surgery so no one knows what to expect. At the end of 2006, some fans wanted someone new at quarterback. Before he was injured in 2007, he was off to a white-hot start. How he recovers will go a long way to a successful Panthers season. Matt Moore filled in nicely late last season and may be the team's future. Brett Basanez isn't ready for prime time. No more Vinny or Mr. Mittens. Heat Index: 5

Running backs: The Panthers have been looking for a Stephen Davis type back and may have found one in rookie Jonathan Stewart. He's the kind of bull coach John Fox likes to center his offense around. DeAngelo Williams will be more efficient as a change-of-pace back. Brad Hoover is back again as an effective fullback. Nick Goings is always around to back up anybody. Heat Index: 5

These words from Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox should scare the crap out of Jake Delhomme.

"If we go into the draft and don't get an offensive tackle somewhere, we might be best-served to stay where we were last season."

Translation: If Carolina doesn't get a good starting tackle in the draft, it could be another season of Travelle Wharton at left tackle, and another season of speed-rushing defensive ends having no trouble reaching the quarterback.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Wharton's inability to stop John Abraham end Delhomme's season and ultimately doom the Panthers in 2007? Wouldn't it make sense for this team to find someone who can actually protect a quarterback's blind side?

Wharton was expected to move to left guard with someone new left tackle. Jordan Gross could move back to left tackle, but he tends to play better on the right side. However, if Carolina ends up drafting a right tackle prospect like Jeff Otah, Gross would have to shift to the left side, wouldn't he?

Fox says he feels good about his quarterback situation. He won't feel quite as good about it in October if Wharton starts letting defensive ends by him again next season.

Someone smarter than I am needs to explain to me why the Carolina Panthers signed Travelle Wharton to a six-year deal today.

Seriously, am I just giving Wharton too hard a time for his complete inability to block Falcons defensive end John Abraham, thus leading to Jake Delhomme's season-ending (and season-killing) elbow injury in Week 3 last season? Is he really good enough to warrant a six-year deal? And why exactly weren't terms disclosed? How much are they giving this guy?

The only reason I can see Wharton staying in Carolina is if they move him from left tackle to left guard and put Jordan Gross, who is expected to be franchise tagged any day now, at left tackle. That's where Gross and Wharton played in 2004. That O-line gave up 33 sacks that season -- the exact same number of sacks it gave up in 2007.

Which begs the question: shouldn't John Fox and Marty Hurney be trying to make this O-line better? How exactly does preserving the status quo do that?

UPDATE (2/15): Darin Gantt is reporting that Wharton is getting $35 million over 6 years. He calls it "Mike Wahle money" and thinks Wharton will only remain at tackle if the Panthers can't get one in the draft. Otherwise, he's a guard now.

Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.

New York Giants:

Out: Wide receiver Amani Toomer (knee), wide receiver Plaxico Burress (ankle), linebacker Gerris Wilkinson (knee), center Todd Londot (ankle), long snapper Ryan Kuehl (calf), safety Michael Stone (hip), cornerback E.J. Underwood (hip), cornerback Aaron Ross (glute) and defensive tackle Fred Robbins (calf)

Probable: Tight end Jeremy Shockey (leg) and defensive end Osi Umenyiora (hip).

Playing: Lots of rookies and free agents. (Kidding, obviously. But seriously, can this team ever escape the injury bug?)