Through the first four years of his NFL career, wide receiver Robby Anderson had become known mostly as a fast, deep-ball threat.
Despite having at least 700 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons, Anderson, 27, has never had a season with at least 1,000 yards. His closest came in 2017, when he had 941.
However, now a Carolina Panther, Anderson has surprised many with his production and through the first five weeks, he's on pace to grab 115 catches for 1,565 yards.
Anderson has become the Panthers No. 1 receiver, even ahead of D.J. Moore, who led the team last year with 1,175 receiving yards.
“You see a player of Robby's caliber how fast he is, you know if you just get the ball in his hands, great things happen," Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady said. "When you watch Robby run routes and go up for the football, you realize how great of ball skills he has.”
Anderson currently ranks fourth in the NFL with 489 receiving yards and 36 receptions and is averaging 97.8 receiving yards per game.
He's also fourth in the league in yards after the catch.
Anderson always knew he had this production in him, he just needed the opportunity.
“I love being in this system because for so long it was, ‘Oh, he’s only a deep threat,'” Anderson told Josina Anderson on her Undefined show. “It used to eat me up because I’m like, ‘I know what I can do.’ I love that I’m in this offense, where I really get to catch and run and play football.”
When the Panthers signed him during the offseason to a two-year, $20 million deal, many expected him to bring more speed to a receiving corps that already included the fast Curtis Samuel.
But right from the beginning during preseason practice, it was clear Anderson and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had a strong connection.
It also doesn’t hurt that head coach Matt Rhule, who coached him at Temple five years ago, has also helped create the perfect environment for Anderson to shine.
"I was pretty comfortable since Day 1," Anderson said. "The work that me and (Teddy) put in over the offseason, even though there wasn't technically an offseason, I definitely feel like every week things get in a better direction. Just got to keep working, keep our head down."
Rhule has been a big influence for Anderson since his days at Temple. When Anderson was deemed academically ineligible as a junior, Rhule vouched for him, eventually helping him get a second shot.
That allowed Anderson to go onto play in the NFL.
It also gave Rhule, a first-year coach in the NFL, the confidence to try and sign Anderson this offseason.
"When he came back (to school), he was mature, introspective and a great teammate," Rhule said. "That's why I had the confidence to vouch for him to Marty (Hurney) and Mr. (David) Tepper this year."
Rhule also didn't believe in the narrative that Anderson was just a one-dimensional receiver.
"I know he had this moniker for being a deep ball guy only but I saw he has unique ability to track the ball," he said. "He's courageous, he'll catch the ball underneath, his catch and run skills are outstanding. I'm excited for him but none of it comes as a surprise. We have a lot of confidence in who he is and the type of player he is."
Brady has been a major part in helping put those skills on display.
"When you see a guy that moves as well as he does with the ability to catch the football, and when you work with him at camp and start seeing what he can do and really a shell across is no different than running a go route, you're just running horizontally but seeing him run lucy routes and horizontal routes we knew he had it in him,” he said. “We're just fortunate to showcase that.”
Anderson recently went viral for his "What's that bear doing?" video where he wasn't sure who Carolina's Sir Purr mascot was, but his teammates say that’s just who he is.
“Robby, he’s just one of those guys, he comes in, he doesn’t say anything, he’s all football,” Bridgewater said. “He understands that he’s here for a reason, and he’s just been executing at a high level for us.”
The individual success is finally happening for Anderson and even though he's only in his fifth season, he's made sure to help teach the young players around him.
"It's weird because I don't really feel like I'm old, but I have been in the league a nice amount of time,” he said. “I just lead by example and do what I learned and just do the things I know work and do things the right way.
“I know the young guys follow the lead, but it's a good group of guys around here."
Anderson has helped the Panthers exceed many expectations and he’ll most assuredly be pivotal in any future success the team has.
"I wake up every day and that's one of the things that I honestly pray for is to make this my best season, not from a personal standpoint, but from a winning standpoint," Anderson said. "That's just what I'm grinding for. What I did today, I'm trying to outdo that tomorrow and the next day. Every day I'm just trying to get better. I think the place where I'm at mentally, spiritually, things like that, I'm just thankful for this opportunity from God more than anything and for my health.
"I think that everything will take care of itself in due time. Just stick to the script."