Bucs-Panthers preview Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer? ? September 5, 2014 
At the heart of the Bucs-Panthers game is a pair of offensive lines trying to come together quickly after major changes in the offseason. While the Bucs have four new starters (they cut three and traded a fourth), Carolina is recovering from the retirements of left tackle Jordan Gross and left guard Travelle Wharton, who combined for 278 starts. Having cut major salaries, the Bucs had the cap space to sign left tackle Anthony Collins and center Evan Dietrich-Smith then trade for six-time Pro Bowl pick Logan Mankins from the Patriots, paying a combined $15.8 million to three new starters. Strapped by salary cap limitations, Carolina had to shift from within. Last season's right tackle, three-year starter Byron Bell, takes over for Gross at left tackle with right guard Nate Chandler (eight career starts) sliding to right tackle. The left guard is Amini Silatolu, who started 15 games as a rookie in 2012 but played just three last season. Can they protect Cam Newton? Carolina's sacks have increased in each of the past two years, and ESPN research has Newton being hit a total of 467 times over his three seasons — more than double any other quarterback. During the preseason, he suffered a hairline fracture in his ribs, reminding how important his health is. "They've come together pretty well," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said of the line. "It's not as if these guys haven't started in the NFL; everybody but (right guard) Trai Turner for us. I'm excited about the fact that we still have a mainstay at the center position in Ryan Kalil." REVISIONIST HISTORY If you're a Bucs fan who wanted the team to take a guard in the third round instead of running back Charles Sims, you'll have a chance to second-guess that move. Panthers right guard Trai Turner was taken 23 picks later out of LSU and will be counted on as an immediate starter. The Bucs likely will have a starting right guard making his NFL debut as well in Patrick Omameh. He was on the Bucs roster for most of last season as a rookie but did not play a down. BRAND NEW GROUP Much has been made of Carolina's entirely new receiving corps with franchise staple Steve Smith off to the Ravens, Brandon LaFell to the Patriots and Ted Ginn to the Cardinals. Replacing them are first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin, the 6-foot-5 standout from Florida State, and veterans Jerricho Cotchery, 32, and Jason Avant, 31. Cotchery had 10 touchdowns last year in Pittsburgh but just four over the previous three seasons combined. Avant has four over the past four seasons. Benjamin's size should make him a red zone star, but what might be missing most from the group is big-play ability. Neither Avant nor Cotchery has a catch of 40 yards or longer since the 2010 season. Cam Newton's big pass target looks to be tight end Greg Olsen, who has been ultra-reliable: at least 40 catches and five touchdowns in each of the past six seasons. What makes things interesting is his first four seasons were in Chicago under new Bucs coach Lovie Smith, who should know him well. CHANCE TO GET … EVEN The recent history of the Bucs-Panthers series is strange. One team has swept the regular-season meetings in each of the past five years. What's more, the teams have politely alternated which one gets the sweep: Carolina in 2009, 2011 and 2013 and Tampa Bay in 2010 and 2012. This being an even-numbered year, things bode well for the Bucs. THREE QUESTIONS With Bucs rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins 1. You were recruited by everybody in high school but stayed home at Washington. Who came the closest to stealing you away? "University of Texas. I was about to go there. Coach Mack Brown is a great coach. My mom loved him. I loved him. Real honest guy. Just didn't end up going there. I Skyped with (Alabama's Nick) Saban a few times. That was interesting." 2. What was the strangest question you were asked by a team during the draft process? "The Cleveland Browns asked me how many things I could do with a paper clip. Had to figure out as many as I could in 60 seconds. I came up with like 10. Can't remember all of them. I was prepared for it, though. People were talking about it." 3. You've had four months in Tampa since the draft. Favorite place to eat? "Maggiano's Little Italy. So good. I go with the mozzarella marinara and Chef KB's lobster carbonara." Greg Auman, Times staff writer
