Mason's Minutes: O-line on guard against complacency

Ryan Kalil (67) knows there are advantages to returning a starting offensive line intact, but cautions that the group must guard against complacency. (PHOTO: ANDREW MASON / PANTHERS.COM)

CHARLOTTE -- Individual and team drills were done and only weightlifting remained after a recent summer-school session at Bank of America Stadium when the offensive linemen gathered to be reminded of one overriding message of organized team activities -- a six-word summation of their mindset:

"If you've got it, you don't."

They broke their post-practice huddle with that mantra on Wednesday, a friendly reminder to all -- but especially the veteran players -- that their craft punishes complacency, no matter how glimmering the praise or golden the accomplishments.

"You don't ever think, 'Oh, I've figured it all out,'" said center Ryan Kalil. "The moment you do that, that's when it all goes downhill. "

The mantra helps keep the first-team quintet on a sharp edge during a summer school that has the line working under a different dynamic than 12 months ago. Then, there was a competition at right guard, a rookie to break in at right tackle and shuffling all around the unit.

This year, there's an established starting five that just came off a season in which it blasted open holes for franchise records in rushing touchdowns and yardage. Instead of getting used to each other, the group can focus on polishing its work.

"There's always something to get better on; there's always something to improve," Kalil said. "You might think you understand something, and somebody might say something, and then it all goes out the window."

There is little reason for the group to rest on its laurels, anyhow. Only one member of the starting five has passed his 30th birthday -- right guard Keydrick Vincent -- and forty percent of the starting five (Kalil and Jeff Otah) are still quite young, in their third and second NFL seasons, respectively.

With an average age among the linemen of just 27 years, 15 days, the group remains defined by their potential as much as their performance. Learning how to maximize that potential is their focal point now.

"It's just constantly building on what you know from the year before," Kalil said. "You just try to further understand something that maybe you could get away with the year before, but maybe it'll help your game that much more if you understand it a little better."

SO FAR, SO GOOD:

With seven organized team activities down and seven more on the horizon, Thursday's work offered a chance for head coach John Fox to reflect and assess his team's progress to date.

Fox

Head coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney have been encouraged by what they've witnessed the last two weeks. (PHOTO: ANDREW MASON / PANTHERS.COM)

"I like our guys. I think we've got a good group," he said. "They are not afraid to work; they're enthusiastic. Whenever you've got those two (factors combined), you've got a chance."

SPLIT SECONDS:

Weakside linebacker Thomas Davis missed a fourth consecutive day of practice for "personal reasons," Fox said. James Anderson continued to fill in on the first team ...

... Tight end Dante Rosario is "on target" for a return to the field by training camp after undergoing back surgery last month. "We've had no setbacks, knock on wood, but so far so good," Fox said ...

... Running back Jonathan Stewart and wide receivers Ryne Robinson and Kevin McMahan were in uniform, but did not take part in team drills during the 75-minute session. Robinson practiced fully on Monday and Wednesday after sitting out the first week of summer school to give his knee some rest ...

... The Panthers reconvene next Monday morning at Bank of America Stadium.

SNAPSHOTS:

With tackling and full contact forbidden at OTAs, there is an emphasis placed on the cerebral side of the game -- including signals at the line of scrimmage, as Jake Delhomme shows.