5 things Matt Rhule can take from OTAs and mandatory minicamp
By Dean Jones
What can Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule take from the team’s recent OTAs and mandatory minicamp?
It probably came as a great relief for Matt Rhule to finally get back down to business on the field. The Carolina Panthers were extremely active in terms of player recruitment this offseason, with the former Baylor man playing a leading role in personnel decisions alongside general manager Scott Fitterer in recent months.
Rhule will now be tasked with putting it all together when it matters most. He’ll have the extra benefit of preseason games and a full training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg to call upon. This should enable the Panthers to hit the ground running when they take the field in Week 1 against the New York Jets.
Progression is expected from a team that seems to be loaded with dynamic young talent. Rhule got a pass for his first season thanks in no small part to the number of changes made across the board, but neither fans nor team owner David Tepper will afford him such luxury next time around.
With this in mind, we picked out five things Rhule can take from Carolina’s recent OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Takeaway No. 1
Handling Terrace Marshall Jr. with care
The Carolina Panthers are taking things easy with their second-round pick Terrace Marshall Jr. He is still building his way back up to full fitness and Matt Rhule was keen for the pressure on the wide receiver to be minimal to ensure he is ready to go for training camp.
This was a smart move for the Panthers to make. Putting too much on Marshall’s shoulders initially would have done more harm than good, so airing on the side of caution is the best route to go down at this juncture.
If Marshall is healthy heading into the season, he might be able to make more of an impact. The former LSU standout has everything one looks for in a top wideout at the next level and his previous relationship with Joe Brady is something else working in his favor.
Rhule and Carolina will be monitoring Marshall’s progress and recovery carefully, putting him in the best possible position to contribute right from the outset.