The pros and cons of starting CB Eli Apple in 2020
By Dean Jones
CON: Becoming victimized
One problem that has been evident regarding Eli Apple over the last two seasons is victimization. Opposing offenses have identified the cornerback as a player of weakness and targeted him consistently. This is something he has found incredibly hard to deal with.
His time with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 saw this turned up a notch. Apple was a clear deficiency in their secondary that played a leading role in the team’s eventual demise. And if the same thing happens during his spell with the Carolina Panthers, things could get ugly very quickly.
Carolina’s cornerback room comes with more questions than answers heading into the campaign. Apple is going to be counted on to deliver the goods when it matters most. But only time will tell as to whether he is capable of this after such a turbulent time in the NFL so far.
Missing a portion of training camp through injury is yet another stumbling block Apple needs to overcome. If he has any lingering doubts regarding his health by the time Week 1 rolls around, then this is going to add even more uncertainty to his game.
Teams are ruthless when it comes to picking on an area of weakness. Apple is going to be facing some premier wideouts consistently given the Panthers’ strength of schedule. And this is a challenge he needs to tackle head-on despite the obvious concerns.