New Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Bravvion Roy is relishing the prospect of linking up with his college head coach Matt Rhule in the NFL.
It was almost inevitable the Carolina Panthers would draft a Baylor prospect following the appointment of Matt Rhule as head coach. That player was defensive tackle Bravvion Roy.
The sixth-round product was one of seven new players on defense taken by Carolina’s decision-makers during the NFL Draft. This was the first time in history a team had allocated all picks on the defensive side of the ball.
Roy is an imposing figure on the interior that could eventually become a long-term replacement to Kawann Short. While the veteran is expected to bounce back in 2020 following shoulder surgery, the Panthers now boast a formidable defensive line rotation that could see plenty of changes depending on game situations.
There is little doubt Roy is excited to be reunited with Rhule in Carolina and had this to say on the Panthers website.
"“He knows what I’m about, I know what he’s about. We all want the same thing. I stayed in contact with Carolina a lot. That was probably top three that I stayed in contact with and once we got close to the fifth, sixth round I knew, “Okay, now it’s a real possibility.” “They are like a second family with me. I have been with them the past two or three years. I tell everybody that Coach Rhule is like a second father to me. The stuff that he teaches and the knowledge and the wisdom that he speaks with you just can’t take it for granted. You’ve got to soak everything in that he talks about. You’ve got to listen because most of the times when he tells you something, he means it. He doesn’t just tell you because he is trying to kiss up or nothing like that. He is a real dude. He’s an authentic dude.”"
There is an untold amount of options that the Panthers now have the ability to utilize going forward. But where Roy fits in both long term and next season remains to be seen.
It beggars belief that Bravvion Roy did not get an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine. What the player lacks in length he more than makes up for with solidity and footwork that makes him quick off the block for a man his size.
Like most players on the Carolina Panthers’ defense, Roy is stout against the run. This is down to his exceptionally strong lower body that makes him incredibly tough to move off the line of scrimmage.
The former Baylor star does have some pass-rushing moves to call upon. But he will need some more in his locker if he is going to make an impact in this regard at the next level.
This is a great fit for Roy as Matt Rhule will know exactly what is needed for the player to maximize his potential. With the presence of Kawann Short and Derrick Brown, the pressure will be off the sixth-round pick and he can work on his game as a bit-part player on the rotation during his rookie season.
Knowing what system Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow likes to play will be a useful tool for Roy to call upon. And he gave some insight in terms of what to expect from Carolina’s defense in 2020.
"“You are going to see guys flying around. You are going to see hard-nose defense. You are going to see toughness. You are going to see responsibility. People doing what they got to do. You are going to see no miscommunication or nothing like that. That is just the way Snow and Rhule run it over there. It is just hard nose football. It’s real football.”"
The prospect of putting Roy alongside Brown as the Panthers’ long-term defensive tackle duo is mouth-watering. It all hinges on whether Roy can reach his ceiling. But there is little doubt Rhule has great confidence in the player after working with him in college.
Roy has landed on his feet with a coaching staff he knows and respects. It will now be up to him to make the most of this opportunity.