The Panthers brought in cornerback Eli Apple late last week — a former first-round pick with significant starting experience for two teams over his first four years in the league. On Wednesday, head coach Matt Rhule revealed Carolina had targeted Apple during free agency. Two months later, they landed their guy.
"I think the thing about Eli is he has elite, elite traits," Rhule said during a video conference call with reporters. "He's 6-1, he's strong, he's 4.3 (40-yard dash speed). He has all the traits to be a good player. Our job now is to put it all together with him."
During his first four seasons, Apple has made 48 starts between the Giants and Saints, totaling three interceptions and 33 passes defensed.
Rhule hopes that based on Apple's age — he's still just 24 — and traits, the cornerback's best football could be ahead of him.
"I think his talent and, hopefully, his approach will match well with the way we do things and the way that we want to play," Rhule said. "If it works out, I think between he and Donte Jackson and the rest of the guys we drafted and the rest of the guys we have on the roster, that could be a strength for us."
In evaluating Apple, Rhule said he and secondary assistant coaches Jason Simmons and Evan Cooper focused more on the cornerback's skills and how they could translate to the Panthers' defense.
"I don't like to judge people based upon their experiences in other systems with other people," Rhule said. "I love to see what they do for us — if, if, if — I think they have the traits that we need. That's probably the college coach in me feeling like when you recruit, you recruit certain traits and you try to develop them.
"I think when you get players who are 23, 24, 25 — they're still in that stage. Their best football is hopefully ahead of them. When you get to like, 29, 30, 31, they are what they've put on tape. I think these younger guys, we can help them play their best football."
BRINGING IN SCHOFIELD
Wednesday was also the first time Rhule addressed the media since the club brought in Michael Schofield. He is the third player Carolina acquired this offseason that has played under offensive line coach Pat Meyer at a previous stop, joining left tackle Russell Okung and guard John Miller.
"Schofield to me is a guy that can play tackle, can play guard," Rhule said. "To me, he's a guy that's still young as an offensive lineman. He's really smart, really tough. Brings a ton of versatility."
But if Schofield is going to earn a starting spot at guard, he'll have to win what should be one of the tighter position battles this preseason.
"We see Dennis Daley, a guy that really played well at times last year — his best football is right there in front of him," Rhule said. "Another guy that was on the roster last year, and you go back and watch the tape and say he's got a chance to be a really good player if we can do it right on our end is Chris Reed. And obviously, we signed Johnny (Miller).
"I feel good about that position. We have some young guys and we have some vets that could all get in there and battle it out."
VIRTUALLY IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEM
These are unprecedented times as the Panthers continue their virtual offseason program, and as Rhule put it, there isn't a playbook for how to navigate through things.
"It's not like you can call up the other NFL head coaches and commiserate and say, 'How are you guys handling this?' You kind of have to figure it out on your own," Rhule said. "We're all on an even playing field as coaches in terms of figuring out how to manage this."
Rhule admitted that one issue is he hasn't been with the vast majority of his players in person, saying he's met only about 20 of the 90 men currently on the roster. So the coaching staff is spending this time focused on helping players learn as much as possible.
"One of the hardest things about being a good football player or playing in a new system is you have to think. I want to challenge our coaches and our coaches are challenging themselves to teach the system," Rhule said.
"I talk about the four levels of learning for our guys. We're trying to get to level four of mastery of the system. We want our guys to master the system so that when we do get together and the physical part starts, that we are in shape enough to prevent injuries and allow us to practice and spend time together. But most importantly, that we don't have to spend a lot of time learning the system — that we can go out there and perfect our craft, not learn, our craft."
UPCOMING DATES
As we all know right now, most plans for the future are fluid. At this point, the Panthers' virtual offseason program is scheduled to run through June 26, and Rhule said training camp is slated to begin sometime around July 28.
"Those are the dates we know now, and I know every day that something could change," Rhule said. "I appreciate that and I won't complain about it. I just deal with it."
Beyond that, the NFL told teams this week that training camps must be held at their home sites, which means the Panthers will not be heading to Wofford College. Also, to mitigate risk, teams will not be able to conduct joint practices. Rhule revealed Carolina had been discussing practicing with Baltimore prior to their preseason game.
View photos of cornerback Eli Apple's career with the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.
New Orleans Saints defensive back Eli Apple (25) during pregame warmups before a Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints NFL divisional football playoff game in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019. The Saints beat the Eagles 20-14. (Matt Patterson via AP)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) defends during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in New Orleans. The 49ers defeated the Saints, 48-46. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019 in Atlanta. The Saints won 26-18. (Paul Abell via AP)
Tennessee Titans running back Dion Lewis (33) is tackled by New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The Saints beat the Titans 38-28. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) defends during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, in New Orleans. The Saints defeated the Colts, 34-7. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. The Saints won 26-18. (Aaron Doster via AP)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) tackles Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley (18) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) holds the football after an interception that was called back in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New Orleans Saints defensive back Eli Apple (25) looks up from the sideline with his helmet off during a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Los Angeles. The Rams won the game 27-9. (Paul Jasienski via AP)
New Orleans Saints defensive back Eli Apple (25) rests during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019 in Carson, Calif. The Saints defeated the Chargers 19-17. (Greg Trott via AP)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) in coverage during a week 17 NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018 in New Orleans. Carolina won 33-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New Orleans Saints defensive back Eli Apple (25) during pregame warmups before a regular season Week 16 NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. The Saints beat the Steelers 31-28. (Matt Patterson via AP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers did receiver mike Evans (13 (12) looks for a pass during an NFL football game as New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) covers Dec. 9, 2018 in Tampa, Fla. The Saints won 28 - 14. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New Orleans Saints' Eli Apple (25) intercepts a pass intended for Carolina Panthers' Devin Funchess (17) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Jason E. Miczek)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) breaks up a pass intended for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple (25) and New Orleans Saints strong safety Vonn Bell (24) celebrate an interception during an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 in New Orleans. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Eli Apple, left, breaks up a pass intended for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (11) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) during an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Monday, October 22, 2018, in Atlanta. The Falcons won 23-20. (Paul Abell via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) in coverage during a week 6 NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 in East Rutherford, N.J. Philadelphia won 34-13. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) watches from the sideline during a NFL football game against the New York Jets on Saturday August 26, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, October 7, 2018, in Charlotte, Nc. The Panthers won 33-31. (Paul Abell via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) prepares to run into action during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (NFL Photos via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) defends against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Giants Eli Apple (24) during the New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football game in Tampa, Florida, October 1, 2017. ( Tom DiPace via AP)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) covers New York Jets wide receiver Charone Peake (17) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard, right, is tackled New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple during an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
New York Giants' Eli Apple reacts after breaking up a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants' Eli Apple, left, breaks up a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks' Doug Baldwin during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) joins teammates in the tunnel before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) deflects a pass to Detroit Lions' Golden Tate (15) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple (24) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Ladarius Green (89) during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Jared Wickerham)
