//The Day After: Multiple factors at play in recent defensive struggles

The Day After: Multiple factors at play in recent defensive struggles

Rhule pointed to Rasul Douglas being on the reserve/COVID-19 list rather than the team’s decision to cut Eli Apple earlier this week as one factor in the Panthers’ strained depth at corner.

“Eli played one game for us, so really that was the Saints game,” Rhule said. “We will welcome Rasul back with open arms.”

Undrafted rookie safeties Sam Franklin and Myles Hartsfield also played significant snaps against the Falcons, and both drew flags that turned into first downs.

“There were some great man-to-man reps by some of those guys. But at the end of the day, sometimes they get to the top of the route, and they grab a guy,” Rhule said. “It’s just trusting in your technique, and really trusting in the guys around you, trusting in the system. I think when we do that, we have a tendency to get