Yesterday reporters heard from cornerback Eli Apple for the first time since he signed a one-year deal with the Panthers in late May. Now with his third NFL team since he was drafted by the Giants in 2016, Apple says he’s embracing a fresh start in Carolina. If he’s going to stick around, Apple will need to benefit from coaching in a way he hasn’t yet at this level.
The Panthers have an almost totally different coaching staff this year, as Ron Rivera took many of his assistants with him to Washington. His successor Matt Rhule has already made an impression on Apple, who says that he demands perfection as he should, per the team website.
“He’s a fiery coach, has great energy out there on the field. He’s everywhere, and he demands perfection like he should. . . I feel like he’s a great person and great leader.”
This echoes the same sentiments we have heard from Carolina’s players all offseason. Free safety Tre Boston said in early June that the team trusts Rhule.
It doesn’t hurt to have the respect of your players. In any case, it’s certainly more difficult to win with a locker room that’s tuned out their head coach. Rhule has a long way to go to rebuild this Panthers team into a contender, though. They have the worst odds to make the playoffs of any NFL team this year.
