Matt Rhule Recaps The Offseason

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Panthers head coach Matt Rhule hasn't had the offseason he or anyone expected with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping through the country. 

Hired in December of 2018, Rhule still hs yet to meet a majority of his players in person and has only been able to interact with the team virtually since March. 

Questions still remain about whether sports will be able to sustain a normal season when things begin to start again in July, but Rhule is focused on what he can control before the team is expected to return in late July.

Rookies are expected to report on July 21, quarterbacks on July 23 and the entire team on July 28. 

Here are notable topics that Rhule touched on Thursday during a Zoom press conference : 

The biggest takeaways from the offseason:

"I think the biggest thing is that it's a team I like. They like to work. They're really competitive. We had a final exam for bragging rights and guys took it unbelievably seriously."

"I feel like our guys have shown up every day and have been really good about it. When you have nice chemistry and guys enjoy working with each other, and you have a strong work ethic, you're starting off in the right direction." 

Rhule also added that some notable guest speakers this offseason virtually were former NFL stars Joe Montana, Julius Peppers and Brian Urlacher. 

His thoughts on the narrative of Teddy Bridgewater not being a down-field passer:

"I haven't heard that narrative. Teddy for us is exactly what we want. I think this offense, in general, when you look at it in New Orleans, is not necessarily a vertical, down the field passing game, as much as it a catch and run, underneath, matchup-type passing game...

"One of the strengths of our team is that Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore are deep-play threats. We feel we have the power to pass the ball down the field and Teddy can do that."

Rhule touched on how the timeline will shift following the virtual offseason: 

"It's a little bit different. The negative is we didn't get in and start doing things like throwing the ball so we might get to Training Camp and think we have to push more in this direction on the offense or defense, so we could be behind in that regard."

"We really had to get in the why and the deep fundamental...we're maybe a little bit behind in that I don't know what our strengths are but I do feel we are way more into understanding the total system and the why. But there's plenty of time in Training Camp. We'll have time and we'll be a team and get better as the season moves on." 

On the health of Kawann Short and Graham Gano:

"They're both making very good process. Obviously, without OTA's, I haven't had a chance to see but all the reports are that they're both working really hard and making a lot of progress." 

His impressions of new offensive coordinator Joe Brady: 

"I'll have no idea about Joe Brady until we get close to the season. You really can't find out what it's like to coach wit ha guy until things go bad...everyone gets along in the offseason and OTA's...

"I could be nothing but impressed with Joe Brady. For being such a young guy, he is a football grinder. Joe is a grinder. He is constantly working on football and I think the players recognize that." 

His thoughts on what's next with coronavirus:

"I really don't know...I just try to be very disciplined about 'Hey, this is what I know.' For me right now I'm planning for July 28 and taking whatever test they give me. If they change it, I'll change. That gives me peace. We'll know a lot more in the coming weeks and months...I have one schedule laid out. For right now, that's the thing that lets me take a breath." 

"I am trying to pay attention to NASCAR, golf and the Premier League just to see what happens on their end but knowing when football comes around it could look way different."

Teddy Bridgewater's leadership and football IQ:

"You see really quickly that he's really, really intelligent in two ways. A is football. I listen to him in meetings and the level of not even detail but understanding and the reasoning behind it is so high that when I used to listen to Eli Manning, he was so intelligent...to hear Teddy it reminds me of that." 

"The second thing is I think he's great at reading people...my interactions with him have been awesome. I think he's going to be a guy that our team goes to battle for." 

The potential of quarantining players: 

"Mr. (David) Tepper told me that like three months ago about whether you quarantine a quarterback. We had all along kind of said to figure out these different things...I'd love to have contingency plans. That being said, I think our ability in that building to spread out and turn those big areas in position rooms, that really is something that's beneficial for us."