The Carolina Panthers have one of the best probability of taking considered one of this 12 months’s high 10 draft picks, translating that right into a Tremendous Bowl look the quickest in the same journey to final season’s Bengals squad. The likeness is straightforward to identify. A significant harm to a celebrity, Joe Burrow, and Christian McCaffrey respectively, alongside an underrated and enhancing protection. The Panthers additionally current one of the best odds of being the primary NFL workforce to fireside their coach this season. Wait, what?
Yup. It’s true. These practically oxymoronic statements are literally complementary. Within the final two debate movies, colleague DJ Dunson and I have appeared in collectively, he’s chosen Carolina to carry each of these titles. Whereas I made the proper selections of the Jets taking this 12 months’s draft class to the Tremendous Bowl the quickest and Dallas’ Mike McCarthy getting a untimely pink slip, his predictions of Matt Rhule main the Panthers to an NFC title and eradicating his belongings from workforce services are every effectively inside motive.
DJ picked the Panthers the primary time, days after the NFL Draft, when their starter at quarterback was unknown. That was a beyond-risky alternative when Sam Darnold regarded promising. Now that Baker Mayfield will begin in Charlotte and the NFC South ought to have a down 12 months with Atlanta and New Orleans rebuilding, and Tampa Bay having one eye on AARP membership, a straightforward path to the playoffs exists. Both Carolina capitalizes or issues crumble shortly and Rhule possible goes again to the school ranks for his subsequent job.
There’s a notion Rhule is in over his head as an NFL head coach and it doesn’t have a transparent reply but. A decade in the past, he was an assistant offensive line coach with the Giants. The following 12 months, he was employed as Temple’s head soccer coach. His success in Philadelphia led to his first Energy 5 Convention head-coaching gig with Baylor. Rhule parlayed that into his present job.
Rhule was solely the pinnacle coach in Waco for 3 seasons. Baylor completed the common season with a profitable document as soon as in that span, a powerful 11-1 mark. The Bears additionally misplaced to Oklahoma within the Massive 12 title recreation and Georgia within the Sugar Bowl to finish the season. His total document as a school head coach was 47-43. Sure, discovering the subsequent nice NFL thoughts means making an attempt completely different avenues. It’s additionally clear Carolina took a danger in prematurely pulling Rhule from the Massive 12, a transfer that’s led to a 10-23 document over the past two years.
Even with a horrid-looking previous, the longer term appears extremely vivid. For a workforce that went 5-12 final 12 months, projecting a deep playoff run is uncommon and borderline insane, particularly since a significant Charlotte course-correct didn’t transpire. Carolina has a number of younger items that ought to enhance this season like broad receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and cornerback Jaycee Horn. If Mayfield proves that Cleveland was really holding him again in comparison with displaying his roller-coaster potential, Carolina might make a deep run within the playoffs.
G/O Media could get a fee
Relaxation, recuperate, and chillFrom family-owned natural hemp farms in Wisconsin, Evn is a high-performance CBD model that brings you a centered, calm expertise proper to the doorstep.
Touchdown Mayfield was the Panthers’ needle-moving transaction and never a lot else is required for on-field alignment. Discovering and retaining an excellent quarterback is the only finest transfer an NFL workforce could make. Within the weaker NFC, which has fewer above-average QBs in comparison with the AFC, an in-form Baker provides Carolina a leg up. A wholesome McCaffery would’ve taken the Panthers out of the top-10 draft spots and extra towards the center of the primary spherical. With 14 groups making the NFL playoffs yearly, choosing No. 19 or later isn’t that far of a soar.
What doThere’s not a workforce with extra untapped potential within the NFL than the Panthers. Failure to shortly grasp it and be a part of the NFC’s elite possible results in one other head coach making an attempt to construct on Rhule’s missteps. Perhaps with out a lot of a magic contact from Rhule, the Panthers might be nice. If third-year turnarounds are Rhule’s factor, Carolina would be the shock workforce of this season. I don’t see a lot of a lane for in-between sucking and thriving.
