5 early observations from first Panthers training camp practice
By Dean Jones
What are some early observations from the Carolina Panthers as they took part in their first practice session this morning?
After one of the more eventful offseasons in recent memory, the Carolina Panthers got back down to business on the first day of practice at training camp ahead of the 2021 season. This is the first step in what’s hopefully going to be a strong preparation period before the new campaign, with a quiet sense of optimism surrounding the roster in the second year under Matt Rhule.
It’s important not to gauge too much from the first few days of camp. Players will be put through their paces gradually before things get a little more intense as things progress, with the return of scrimmages against the Indianapolis Colts and Baltimore Ravens as well as preseason games something else that should help the Panthers before competitive fixtures begin.
There are so many elements of the roster to examine at camp. Some that will go a long way to determining just how Carolina will fare this season.
With this in mind, here are five early observations from Day 1 of Panthers training camp to pick apart.
Observation No. 1
First-day acclimatization for the Carolina Panthers
The stifling heat of Spartanburg in South Carolina saw the Panthers kick off their practices with a slow build-up to what is set to come later on at camp. This is something Matt Rhule installed during his first offseason with the team and was prevalent throughout his college career at Temple and Baylor.
It’s going to be a culture shock for many players who haven’t yet experienced a Wofford College camp before, which is most considering the widespread changes to the roster since their last full preparation period.
The tempo is only going to grow as competition for places increases. So it’ll be interesting to see how this new-look roster copes with such demands.