Tag: Panthers cornerbacks

Analysis: Where does Eli Apple fit into the Panthers’ cornerback rotation?

After three weeks on the injured reserve list, the Carolina Panthers activated cornerback Eli Apple early Saturday morning.

After three weeks on the injured reserve list, the Carolina Panthers activated cornerback Eli Apple early Saturday morning. Under normal circumstances, Apple would be gearing up for a full game of starting cornerback duties opposite Donte Jackson. Now, his role is less clear.

So far, Carolina’s secondary has significantly outperformed the pre-season projections that ranked them as the second-to-worst unit in the league heading into 2020. That started with the improvement of third-year cornerback Donte Jackson, who has two interceptions and has only allowed a 64.7 passer rating when targeted, down from over 100 last year.

However, most of the offseason concern was about the other side of the defense, where no clear starter had emerged until very recently. The late arrival and early returns on Rasul Douglas have changed everything.

Douglas was thrown into the fire fast after Jackson suffered a toe injury early in Week 1 against the Raiders. The fourth-year corner came in and balled out despite having only a few days to learn the defense. He deflected two passes and made a few key tackles in his debut. Douglas has kept up the good work and is currently ranked among the league’s top-10 cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus going into Week 4.

Given the team’s success in the secondary so far, Apple’s role is more in question than when he first signed. We had projected him as the starter before Douglas was picked up. Now, we’re expecting Eli to play a backup role as he works his way into the rotation.

It would be foolish to take away Douglas’ starting job given how he’s performed from Weeks 1-3, and just as silly to pull Jackson given his hot start. Perhaps the injury to Apple was a blessing-in-disguise for the depth chart, since the Panthers are now faced with a good problem: having three starting-caliber outside corners on the roster.

This week’s matchup with an injury-plagued Cardinals team seems favorable for Carolina to keep the surprise momentum going, with two of Arizona’s top receivers in DeAndre Hopkins (ankle) and Christian Kirk (groin) listed as game-time decisions on their final injury report.

For now, expect to see Douglas keep his place in the starting lineup, but don’t be surprised if Apple steps in if either Jackson or Douglas has a rough game.

[lawrence-related id=629490]

[vertical-gallery id=629308]

Analysis: What are the Panthers getting with CB Rasul Douglas?

The Panthers made a splash on the waiver wire on Sunday, signing CB Rasul Douglas. Let’s take a look at what he can contribute in 2020.

The Panthers made a splash on the waiver wire early Sunday afternoon. Following a slew of roster cuts the previous day to trim their roster down to 53 players, Carolina was tied with the Giants for being the NFL’s most active team on waivers, signing three players from two different teams. The biggest name of the three was Rasul Douglas, the fourth-year cornerback from the Eagles.

Douglas (6-foot-2, 209 pounds) shone in his college football days at West Virginia. In his senior year, the flashy outside corner outdid all cornerbacks in that year’s class with eight interceptions, adding 10 pass breakups and 70 total tackles. Leading up to the draft, Douglas drew high praise for his reliable open-field tackling, off-ball coverage and run defense.

After Douglas was picked by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft, he immediately found a rotational role with the team, playing in 14 games his rookie season and then all 16 through the next two seasons. Over these three years, Douglas totaled five interceptions, 25 pass breakups and 118 combined tackles.

Not all went well, however, as the third-year corner was on the wrong end of a handful of highlight plays by opposing receivers that drew plenty of brutal criticism on social media.

So, what does Douglas bring to the table?

Here’s a few clips, starting with a near perfect tackle on a short pass to Tyreek Hill.

Douglas showed some good coverage awareness on this interception of Cam Newton from 2017.

And here are a few more highlight plays, including a perfectly executed interception.

Douglas joins a thin defensive backfield in Carolina and thus has a chance to compete for a serious role in Phil Snow’s defense sooner rather than later. All it could take is a few mistakes from Eli Apple to get Douglas onto the field with the starters.

[lawrence-related id=628348]

[vertical-gallery id=628518]

Eli Apple on Panthers coach Matt Rhule: ‘He demands perfection’

Panthers cornerback Eli Apple on head coach Matt Rhule: ‘He demands perfection.’

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.

[lawrence-related id=627340]

[vertical-gallery id=627230]

Phil Snow comments on Panthers’ cornerbacks: ‘They have talent’

Phil Snow comments on Panthers’ cornerbacks: ‘They have talent’

Cornerback is a critical position for success in today’s NFL. Teams that are wanting at this spot are usually going to get toasted by opponents who have any firepower at wide receiver and a competent quarterback. In the NFC South, that’s everybody.

The 2020 season is going to be a rough one for the Panthers for a lot of reason, but their lack of depth and inexperience at cornerback is probably at the top of the list. In addition to having to lean on unproven DBs or those trying to bounce back from bad seasons, they may be facing the most brutal string of oponents at wide receiver in the league this year.

Defensive coordinator Phil Snow knows he has his work cut out for him, but he has faith in his young corners. Here’s what he said about them earlier this week, per the official team website.

“If you look at how fast they are, and their size, they have talent. So it’s our job as coaches to get them to play at a level that we want them to play. That’s our job as coaches. We can use excuses and do all that stuff, but that’s not what Coach (Matt) Rhule’s about. When we get a player, we need to develop the player. And we picked these players for the most part. We picked Eli Apple, and you look at his size and speed, we expect him to play good.”

The most talented of this group is probably third-year corner Donte Jackson, who was benched late in the 2019 season. Snow shared some thoughts on No. 26 as well.

“First of all, Donte’s really tough for his size. He’s physical, which I love. In today’s football, everybody’s getting in the tight formations to run the football and make the corners tackle. He can do that. So I’m excited about that. You look at how well he runs — he has catch-up speed. The problem is, is he needs to get a little more detailed. We’ve talked to him about that, and with our DB coaches, they’re working well with him, and I think he’s got some real talent to him.”

It’s nice that Snow has faith in his guys, but every NFL cornerback has talent. They wouldn’t have made it this far without it. The challenge will be getting Jackson, Apple and rookie Troy Pride Jr. to live up to their potential.

[lawrence-related id=625560,625556]

[vertical-gallery id=625569]

Analysis: Panthers roll the dice on a potential rebound for Eli Apple

Obviously, Apple has some work to do to repair his reputation. Signing him is a gamble that could pay off for both sides.

Yesterday Panthers general manager Marty Hurney admitted on the radio that signing a veteran cornerback was his top priority right now as far as adding to the roster. Today, Hurney followed through. The team has agreed to terms with former Saints cornerback Eli Apple, who was a first-round pick by the Giants back in 2016.

In some ways, Apple was Hurney’s most logical choice. The top cornerback on the market was Logan Ryan, but with very limited cap space the Panthers couldn’t afford to sign him. Apple was the next-best name on a very short list of corners who could possibly help out the depth chart.

Then again, adding Apple at this point in the offseason has a slight hint of desperation to it. The safer move would have been to bring back Ross Cockrell. By taking a chance on Apple – who has baggage both on and off the field – Hurney made another admission: the Panthers were absolutely desperate to add more talent at this position.

Apple hasn’t always lived up to his potential, but there’s a reason why the Giants were willing to use a top-10 pick on him. He will arrive as the most physical gifted cornerback on the roster outside of Donte Jackson. At the combine, Apple ran a 4.40 second 40-yard dash. Bringing him in continues the speed theme Matt Rhule has been building on the back end of his defense.

We don’t know how much Apple is signing for yet. According to the Charlotte Observer, it’s a one-year deal, though.

We can probably safely bet this is a prove-it type of contract, especially since Apple is coming off a rough 2019 season, easily the worst of his career. He was targeted 76 times last year, allowing 48 completions for an uncomforably high 63.2%. Opposing quarterbacks posted a 100.9 passer rating on those attempts. Most of Apple’s career that number has been in the 70s. He also gave up 200 total yards after the catch, the most since his rookie season.

Obviously, Apple has some work to do to repair his reputation. Signing him is a gamble that could pay off for both sides.

[lawrence-related id=623178]

[vertical-gallery id=623232]

Panthers GM Marty Hurney says veteran cornerback is the priority

Cornerback remains a major problem, even after the team picked Notre Dame’s Troy Pride Jr. in the fourth round of the draft and Stantley Thomas-Oliver in the seventh. 

The Panthers roster is mostly set for the 2020 season. There are still a few spots that need to be addressed, though.

Cornerback remains a major problem, even after the team picked Notre Dame’s Troy Pride Jr. in the fourth round of the draft and Stantley Thomas-Oliver in the seventh.

On WFNZ today, general manager Marty Hurney admitted that bringing in a veteran cornerback is the priority right now as far as adding to the roster. He also mentioned defensive tackle and the offensive line, per the Charlotte Observer.

Problem is, there’s not many options at this point in the offseason. The Panthers would be in better position now if they had signed a corner in the first phase of free agency or drafted another one early on – perhaps after trading down in the first round.

Anyway, the list of names at cornerback is short. Logan Ryan is in a tier to himself but the team doesn’t have enough cap room to sign him. After Ryan, there’s a handful of busts and B-listers like Eli Apple, Darqueze Dennard, Mackensie Alexander and Trumaine Johnson.

The best choice may be somebody else.

Ross Cockrell played relatively well last season and earned 11 starts. He finished the year with two interceptions and eight pass breakups and was solid enough in coverage. Cockrell is probably never going to make the Pro Bowl, but it makes more sense to bring him back than signing these others.

Unless the Panthers find a way to clear enough room for Logan Ryan, Cockrell should get the opportunity.

[lawrence-related id=624782,624761]

[vertical-gallery id=623232]

ESPN: Cornerback still the Panthers’ biggest roster hole after the draft

According to an analysis by ESPN, the team’s biggest roster hole after the draft is still the cornerback position.

The Carolina Panthers picked up four new defensive backs in the 2020 NFL draft. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t still use some help on the back end, though. According to an analysis by ESPN, the team’s biggest roster hole after the draft is still the cornerback position.

“The Panthers made the unprecedented decision to use all seven of their 2020 draft picks on defensive players, and yet the team somehow still has several holes on defense. . . Alongside Donte Jackson, the team will have to rely on some combination of a 2017 fifth-rounder in Corn Elder, an undrafted second-year player in Cole Luke, and a pair of Day 3 rookies in Troy Pride and Stantley Thomas-Oliver. None of those corners has started an NFL game, and yet two of them will need to play first-team reps in nickel situations this season.”

It’s tough to argue with that logic.

At the moment, we’re projecting Donte Jackson and Troy Pride will start outside. Both have question marks. Jackson was benched late in the 2019 season due to repeated mistakes in coverage and Pride might be undersized to match up with some of the NFC South’s longer receivers like Mike Evans and Julio Jones.

There’s also the question of who will inherit the slot corner role from Javien Elliott, who is still a free agent.

Our best guess is that position will be filled by Jeremy Chinn, who is capable of lining up at almost any spot in the defensive backfield. His size and athleticism should allow him to blanket the smaller receivers you typically see playing the slot. That’s only an educated guess, though.

Adding a veteran corner would not be a bad idea. While Logan Ryan is the top slot corner on the market, the team doesn’t have much cap space left.

In any case, starting multiple rookies in the secondary is a risky proposition. This group will either sink or swim.

[lawrence-related id=622250]

[vertical-gallery id=622226]