3 ways that Eli Apple can help the Carolina Panthers
By Dean Jones
How Eli Apple can help the Carolina Panthers: NFC South experience
One way that Eli Apple can help the Carolina Panthers is the player’s experience in the NFC South. The cornerback spent last season with the New Orleans Saints and can use this know-how to good effect in 2020.
Apple enjoyed mixed success with the Saints last season. He was often targeted by opposing offenses and the ball was thrown in his direction 68 times throughout the campaign.
The player gave up 46 receptions on these targets, which was tied-36th in the NFL. Apple was given a modest grade of 63.8 by Pro Football Focus as a result of his contribution to a Saints team that saw their Super Bowl tilt ended by the Minnesota Vikings once again.
His knowledge of the NFC South receivers is something that could benefit the Panthers considerably. Apple will know all about the Saints and how they went about carving open the Carolina defense last term. This will come in handy for new head coach Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow, who are embarking on their first season with the franchise.
Apple has come up against the likes of Chris Godwin, Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones, and Mike Evans last season. This should give him a head start in any preparation to take on these formidable adversaries once again next time around.
Just how much he will be used has probably yet to be determined. But Apple can be a definite help providing he can reinvigorate himself following a campaign littered with inconsistencies.