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July 26, 2008
Fonoti's the starter -- for now
SPARTANBURG -– When the first whistle blew for the first Carolina Panthers’ training camp practice Saturday morning, offensive guard Toniu Fonoti found himself on the field with the first-team offense.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t see my name anywhere,” said Fonoti, one of three free-agent signees who will compete for the starting spot at right guard. “You wait until practice and just hear what the coach says.”
Drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2002, Fonoti (6-foot-4, 340 pounds) has struggled with his weight the past few seasons, serving brief stints in Minnesota, Miami, Atlanta and Tampa Bay.
But when he was at his best, Fonoti was among the league’s premiere blockers and was one of LaDanian Tomlinson’s lead blockers in San Diego.
“There’s a lot of kinks I need to work out here,” said Fonoti. “It will take a little getting used to. But the coaches want us to be physical. You’ve got to be big and mash people.”
Fonoti, an American Samoan who left his home of Hauula, Hawaii, to play at Nebraska, is in his sixth season in the NFL. He’ll compete with Keydrick Vincent and Milford Brown for the starting spot alongside rookie right tackle Jeff Otah.
“Jeff and I are brand new guys on the right side,” Fonoti said. “We’re still getting used to each other. But eventually we’ll get things settled and be ready to go.”
The rest of the line is also revamped, with guard Travelle Wharton and tackle Jordan Gross moving to the left side and Ryan Kalil taking over at center.
And Fonoti certainly hasn’t won the job at right guard yet.
“You’ve got to start somewhere on the depth chart,” said coach John Fox. “These guys are learning. If (Fonoti’s) the guy, he’ll be there.” -– David Scott
Posted by Observer Sports on July 26, 2008 at 03:53 PM | Permalink
Comments
Go get'em, Toniu! I'd love for this to be one of many turnaround stories for the veteran free-agents that have joined the team this season. Mash people, indeed!
Posted by: NSpicer | Jul 26, 2008 4:26:27 PM
I think its way overly exaggerated that just because on the first day of training camp a guy who begins on the first team at the most uncertain positioin on the team, he should be dubbed a "starter"
Posted by: matt | Jul 26, 2008 4:55:10 PM
If Toniu can return to his pro bowl form with the Chargers I think this will be one of the biggest steals on FA 8) Go Toniu!
Posted by: Nate | Jul 26, 2008 5:04:42 PM
Fonoti should be the one to win the job...at the top of his game, he was much better than any of our other candidates for RG. And it sounds like he's got his weight under control now, so I could see him being almost as good for us as he was for San Diego.
Posted by: DB | Jul 26, 2008 5:54:31 PM
New Foxism: If he's the guy, he's the guy.
There should be a book by now.
Posted by: JAT | Jul 26, 2008 5:56:23 PM
Where is Jeremy Bridges? What happened to him? Is'nt he the projected starter? Well anyway I like Fonoti, I still have some vivid memory of him terrorizing all DE in the Big 12 while he was playing here in Nebraska.
Let's Go Panthers....
Posted by: Chief Omaha | Jul 26, 2008 7:42:39 PM
Do not turn a blind eye to Foniti. He was one of Tomilson's blockers in his early career. Even though he's overweight if he loses 20 or even 10 pounds and gets in shape, he could be in the same league as Jordan Gross.
I just hope that the line does good, so that John Fox can settle down and let them play for a few years. I mean, is anyone on the line playing at the same position they were last year?
Posted by: Revshawn | Jul 26, 2008 8:04:15 PM
Now if only that was what he actually said, JAT. Sweet reading.
CO, Bridges has not been a projected starter at any position this offseason.
Rs, no, no one is (unless you include Kalil.)
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 26, 2008 8:38:58 PM
Sweet critiquing, Procton. I believe the exact quote was, "If (Fonoti's) the guy, he'll be there..." Usually, when quoting, you replace pronouns like "he" with the player's actual name in print. So I think it's safe to assume what Fox said was "If he's the guy, he'll be there..."
All JAT was saying is, "If he's the guy, he's the guy..." And that's a fair paraphrasing of Fox's statement. After all, if "he" is "there" then that would obviously imply "he's the guy." So knock it off with the literalism and belittling of others. It impresses no one (except you)...and it perpetuates a tone of arguing and quibbling over nothing.
Posted by: NSpicer | Jul 26, 2008 9:37:00 PM
actually fellas, Bridges has
http://www.catscratchreader.com/2008/3/6/232048/7826
Posted by: matt | Jul 26, 2008 9:53:15 PM
Neil, STOP arguing with Procton! You know he is an omnipotent demi-god and you shouldn't mess with him or he could strike you down with lightning!
He knows all...
He sees all...
He reads ALL blogs...
He knows the ESPN.com stat page like the back of his hand...
He is Procton, and he will own you.
*shaking head* What an idiot...
Posted by: Steve | Jul 26, 2008 10:36:10 PM
This is Funoti's job to lose I think. I really hope he's up for the task. I don't want to see Vincent in at RG. I also don't want to see Holt in at FS for that matter. I'd rather see Nate Salley or Godfrey.
Posted by: Christian | Jul 27, 2008 12:57:07 AM
Spicer, well said. Fonoti is a BEAST.
Matt, playing with the ones is important, it is however up to Fonoti to stay there.
Nate and DB, you hit the nail on the head. Steal of the year.
JAT, LOL
Chief, see Nate and DB.
Revshawn, love your enthusiasm. Not enough people see the true value of Gross.
Procton, do you delight in being an insufferable know-it-all?
Spicer, BURN!
Matt, nice find.
Steve, Ouch.
Me, my excitement level over this years team, is only exceeded by Proctons' knowledge.
GO CATS! and JAKE!
Posted by: iamhubby | Jul 27, 2008 1:10:10 AM
Neil, I'd prefer that people lay off the belittling of the best coach we've ever had when they can't even do it accurately.
Matt, the cat scratch reader positional updates are hardly gospel. No one from the team has ever had him starting this year.
Steve, I don't use ESPN.
Christian, it's been hard to find places that they've even talked about Holt as being in a competition to start at FS. No worries on that one.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 27, 2008 12:08:14 PM
Proc, you were wrong, avoid the spin.
Posted by: matt | Jul 27, 2008 12:44:53 PM
Hey Guys...Bridges was filling in for Otah yesterday at RT during the evening practice, so I guess he's going to be backup RT. He's been lining up at tackle for all the drills as well, so unless something changes, looks like he's playing RT.
Posted by: JT | Jul 27, 2008 1:43:24 PM
JT, that's obviously the plan...he's basically the only depth we've got at OT. However, they'll keep him knowing he can be a backup at OG, too.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 27, 2008 3:42:05 PM
They're resting Otah (and Stewart) and giving them just one-a-day's rather than two sessions. But having Bridges fill in for him obviously shows he's factoring in as a potential backup at that position. Versatility is key for the Panthers staff when evaluating who to keep. As long as Bridges doesn't get into further off-the-field problems, he's probably got a roster spot.
Posted by: NSpicer | Jul 27, 2008 9:44:33 PM
Well technically Procton, I would say Travelle Wharton provides pretty good depth at OT. I mean we only have about 50 guards on the team, so even though he will be playing LG this year, I doubt the coaching staff would have a problem switching him back to OT if one of the starters went down.
Posted by: Steve | Jul 27, 2008 11:55:49 PM
Wasn't that the whole point of giving up a king's ransom for Otah? Because Wharton is so 'awful' at OT and an All-Pro caliber player at OG? Why would they kick him back out if he's so much worse on the outside?
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jul 28, 2008 8:57:35 AM
Procton,
I don't believe the "king's ransom" given for Otah was because Wharton was so "awful" at OT. They wanted a beast of a lineman. Otah's got that going for him and plenty of upside and room for growth. He's too inexperienced to slam him in at LT, so they're starting him at the less demanding RT position for now.
That displaces Gross...who, in most everyone's opinion, IS a better LT than Wharton...or, if you disagree with that, Gross is obviously more suited to play OT than OG. And you're not going to sit him while Wharton continues to play LT and they give Otah playing time at RT.
In the meantime, we know Wharton can play OG. He's paired with Gross in the past at the LT-LG spots. They did adequately in that pairing. And with the right side of the line looking really good this season (whether it's Otah/Fonoti, Otah/Bridges, Otah/Vincent, or whomever), that makes the whole line look better because Stewart or Williams can pick their spots rather than running behind only one side most of the time.
I think the Panthers are positioned really well on the O-line this year. Better than most years, at least. There's a lot to prove, of course. That's why they play the games. But it's training camp and preseason right now. So it's okay to be optimistic.
--Neil
Posted by: NSpicer | Jul 29, 2008 12:36:07 PM
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