5 things Matt Rhule can take from OTAs and mandatory minicamp
By Dean Jones
An encouraging start for Sam Darnold
All eyes were finally on Sam Darnold as he took the field for the first time following his trade from the New York Jets. The quarterback gets a second opportunity to prove he can be a starting NFL player capable of great things, and the Carolina Panthers placed plenty of faith in his talent to the tune of three draft picks.
Matt Rhule was complementary to the way Darnold approached voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He was solid in terms of production and assumed the role of leader in the huddle quickly, two things that should serve him well for the remainder of the offseason and when competitive action gets underway.
The head coach won’t want to be looking for his third starting signal-caller in as many seasons next spring. That’s not a good look for Rhule or the Panthers.
To avoid this potential complication, Rhule and his staff have to brush up on Darnold’s mechanics, improve his confidence quickly, and make sure that his torrid three years at MetLife Stadium is put to the back of his mind at the earliest possible opportunity.
Darnold couldn’t have picked many better situations.
Carolina’s fortunes will probably come down to whether the former USC star is good enough and Rhule now knows the strong character he is working with following the first few weeks of team drills.
High stakes for all involved. But the potential rewards are substantial.