The daily waltz of the offensive linemen, 300-pounders with dainty feet moving in perfect unison, looks like a winning combination for Carolina with its blend of experience and talented youth.

Recently acquired left guard Mike Wahle, starting his eighth season, and left tackle Travelle Wharton, undergoing a change back to his college position, appear to be a natural duo.

"He's certainly got the body for it and he's got very, very good feet with real choppy steps," Wahle said. "When you see him moving out there, he does everything.

"He moves right and just looks like a left tackle."

Seems like old times for the former Hillcrest High School standout, except this time the stakes are raised with high dollar quarterback Jake Delhomme's blindside now Wharton's responsibility.

"When I go under center, I'm honestly not worried about him doing his job," Delhomme said.

"I trust him to do his job like he trusts me to drop back and not hold onto the ball too long.

"I watched him all spring and he started four years in the SEC at left tackle. I know this isn't college, but he'll be fine."

Wharton's plight is aided by Wahle and nine-year veteran center Jeff Mitchell flanking each side, not only providing a solid base but also cluing the youngster in to the many tricks and tells they've accumulated over stellar careers.

"It's a big help, them seeing some things in a stance that kind of tip us off on what the defensive line is trying to do, things like that," Wharton said.

"The main thing is we have such good communication and everything's fitting in like a puzzle. Our thing is taking it from the meeting room onto the field and it helps in being able to step back and just play at a full speed pace."

The 6-foot-4, 312-pounder lasted until the third round (the 94th player chosen) of the 2004 draft and was quickly propelled into a starting role when injuries decimated the line on the heels of three previous starters departing in the off-season.

The line yielded just 33 sacks, third lowest total in franchise history, but the upheaval shouldered a chunk of blame for the team's 1-7 start as it searched for chemistry and continuity, a pair of ingredients that eventually helped the Panthers' late season surge.

Wharton's play fostered enough confidence in his ability that the Panthers were comfortable with moving him back to his college position and the great responsibility that comes with it.

"He's a very talented young player," coach John Fox said. "He did a fine job at guard, but we knew he could play left tackle because he did for four years in college. He's just going to continue to grow."

"Even at guard, you could just tell he was more suited for tackle," Mitchell said. "It would be a waste to leave him at guard. Watch him play, watch his feet, watch him recover if he ever gets out of position, which he doesn't a lot. He'll be back in front of a guy, like that."

Wharton said he's "just going with the flow" in reacquainting himself with left tackle and is appreciative of the praise he's received from teammates and coaches. He also knows it all means nothing if he can't produce on the field.

"My theme is to work hard and get better every day," Wharton said. "That's been our goal the whole time. What we did yesterday doesn't really matter. You just want to build from it, learn from it and continue getting better.

"The main thing is putting in the work every day and not letting myself or my teammates down."