Sometimes when coaches come from the college ranks to the NFL, they try and do some things differently, make subtle tweaks an adjust their personalities to the professional game. But receiver Robby Anderson says head coach Matt Rhule, who was his head coach at Temple, hasn’t changed a thing.
“He hasn’t really changed,” Anderson, who played at Temple in 2013 and 2015 before joining the Jets as an undrafted free agent, said Wednesday morning. “He is the same guy, not in a bad way, but he is who he is — and he’s a great coach.”
Rhule has stocked Bank of America Stadium with names from his past jobs at both Temple and Baylor, but Anderson is by far the most recognizable name on the list. Anderson signed a two-year contract with the Panthers worth $20 million during the offseason, one of the largest free agent deals for a wide receiver in franchise history – the move reunited him with Rhule after four years with New York. Even back at Temple, Rhule didn’t treat his players like they were in college, which helped them succeed at the next level.
“He treated us like professionals when we were in college, that was our standard,” Anderson said. “That was one of the very first things he told us when he came from the Giants and became our head coach. I’m going to run things the same way the NFL does and treat you guys like professionals. So it is really no different. His standard, who he is. The only thing that’s changes is more resources.”
Photo Credit: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple
After Anderson was academically suspended for a year in 2014 after his junior season at Temple, Rhule “stood on the table with the university” to not only get his player back on the field, but back in the classroom. And after a summer of hard work to raise his GPA, the cornerback-turned-wide receiver was able to break out in 2015 with 939 receiving yards and seven scores, leading to his chance in New York.
The 6-3 wideout is hoping that familiarity breeds success.
“It feels good to be back green lighted with coach. The thing about it is, coming with a new team, new organization, new situation, I obviously had to adjust in a sense because I’m in a new area – but that’s the only thing I had to get used to,” said Anderson, who spent the offseason in South Florida. “Like I already know what to expect in the building, the standards, what they’re looking for, what I need to do…so it’s a comfortable situation where I feel like I can be myself and be my best – I haven’t 100% always felt like that throughout my career.”
During his four seasons with the Jets, Anderson averaged 51.8 receptions, 764.7 yards and five touchdowns per season. However, he believes his game can reach new heights with the Panthers offense – the hunger to show the rest of the league that they belong is something he recognizes from his past with Rhule, when they went 10-4 in Rhule’s third season.
“I feel like with [the Panthers], I can be myself,” Anderson said. “Only I can stop me, and I think they can see that, and they’re going to give me the opportunity. I know they have my best interest at heart. The thing I love about the situation is if you look across the board, everyone is somewhat of an underdog – and everyone has something to prove. It’s good to be around that type of energy.”
“It was kind of like it was at Temple.”
The plan is for Anderson to be the speed threat in a dynamic three-headed monster of receivers along with D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. That was an arsenal the Panthers didn’t have at it’s disposal a season ago – and they possess the greatest weapon an offense can have.
Speed.
“That’s the number one thing [defensive backs] are afraid of – getting beat,” Anderson said. “So, having that as one of my biggest attributes, it allows me to put a lot of fear in corners when they go against me because no one wants to get beat over the top. That’s going to open up a lot of other things for me on the field. Honestly, this is probably my first time being around an all-around group like this of athletes.”
“I’ve played with some great players, but I think all around – I think this is the best situation I’ve been in across the board.”
Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady said in June that while Anderson has the speed to stretch defenses, his hands and ability to go up for the football are underrated. Meanwhile, Anderson says he is loving Brady’s offense during the ramp-up period of training camp.
“The best way I can explain it is creative, it’s smart – but it is going to put everyone in their best element,” Anderson said. “Everyone is going to get a fair chance to do what they can do on a consistent basis. We just have to do our part.”
Photo Credit: Carolina Panthers
Due to COVID-19, NFL players were not allowed at team facilities during the offseason. But during that time, Anderson was able to train with Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in South Florida ‘most weekends’ this spring – although the two briefly played together for the Jets during the 2018 preseason, Bridgewater was traded to the Saints before the start of the regular season that year. The time working together this offseason has helped the two players gain more chemistry.
Anderson calls Bridgewater a ‘natural-born leader.”
“Certain people walk into a room, and you can see people kind of just move to their beat, in a sense,” Anderson said. “He’s a great football player, he’s a great person. It’s easy to play with a quarterback like that – it’s open communication. He knows what he’s talking about, he knows how to explain things for you to make it that much more simpler.”
While the pandemic removed the chance for Anderson to bond with his other teammates during mini-camps and OTAs and shuttered most of the country for months, it allowed the 27-year old Anderson some time for self-reflection and growth that may not have come had this been a regular offseason.
“The thing with the pandemic, it gave me a lot of time to sit back and evaluate things from my life to see what might not have been as important that I….[was] wasting time on,” Anderson said. “I took a lot of time to make myself better as a person. Growing in some areas as a man and realize what really matters most, in a sense. [I] just spent a lot of quality time with my girlfriend, a lot of time with family and just [was] able to focus even more than before.”
“I feel like I have had the best offseason that I’ve ever had.”
(Top Photo Via Carolina Panthers)
