Carolina Panthers: Rashaan Gaulden ready for what comes his way

Gaulden is turning the heads of some of the Carolina Panthers coaches.

With the starting safety position for the Carolina Panthers looking more like Rashaan Gaulden’s spot to lose rather than one he will have to compete for, it would be easy for him to feel a mix of emotions. For one, he could be nervous as he has never been in a role like this in the National Football League. On the other hand, he could be too relaxed, knowing that he will probably have an advantage over others who try to fill the safety position.

So far, it seems as though he is taking the right approach. This is what I like to hear. As a rookie last year, he didn’t get a ton of playing time and it would be very easy for him to feel discouraged and a little bit timid heading into his second year. However, that does not seem to be the case and that is a good sign for the Carolina Panthers. You want a player who is enthusiastic and ready to play the position, and it seems like Gaulden fills exactly those two traits.

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For those who follow college football, we all saw  what he could do at Tennessee. Sometimes, a player’s skills don’t translate well over to the professional ranks. Now, it appears that we will get a good chance to see what Gaulden is made of. I’m excited, as his athleticism should be able to translate well to the Panthers defense. There are tons of playmakers on that side of the football, and if he can be one of them, he will fit right in.

Head coach Ron Rivera also seems very pleased with what he has seen from Gaulden. Anytime you have the head coach singing your praises, that is certainly a vote of confidence. With Rivera playing a much larger role in the defensive playcalling this year, that is especially a good sign for the player.

"“Very enthusiastic. He’s working really hard. We’ve just got to be careful when we’re out there,” said Rivera of Gaulden. “He’s doing some really good things, and again, he’s showing us what we’re hoping we could see. And he’ll continue to work at both spots.”"

When Rivera was referring to “both spots”, he meant the safety and nickel positions. Personally, I think he would be a better safety, as he has that physical element in his game. However, I could see him excelling at both spots. It will be interesting to see where the Carolina Panthers slot him and how well he adjusts to what will probably be his first continuous game action in the professional ranks. I am curious about what he brings to the table.

Whatever the case may be, it sounds like he is ready for it. The Carolina Panthers have a very raw but talented prospect on their hands in Gaulden. If all goes according to plan, he could be a major surprise (in a good way) for the Carolina Panthers.