Carolina Panthers: Tepper may have Jim Harbaugh as prospect for head coach
By Alex Duran
A Michigan man can be a good fit for the Carolina Panthers.
It’s finally done. The Carolina Panthers have decided to separate from head coach Ron Rivera. The man that led the franchise to their second Super Bowl is no longer in charge. It’s unfortunate that it had to end, but it had to be done. After a losing season followed by a pending losing season the head honcho decided enough was enough. Perry Fewell stands as the interim while the search begins for a new head coach, but who will be that guy?
Let’s start from the beginning, which would be Tepper’s thoughts on what an ideal head coach of the Carolina Panthers would be. Tepper wants to implement “old football discipline” meaning that he wants someone with Ron’s attitude towards the game. Understandably so because the person being replaced is pretty high in the pecking order, so the management of rapport with players and other members of the coaching staff should be seamless.
Next, he said “modern processes, modern analytics” meaning that he wants a younger mind that’s not afraid to try progressive football tactics and personnel management. Tepper wants the new coach to “put the best people in the best positions to be successful”, meaning he wants someone with a winning record that can prove he’s the man for the job relatively quickly.
According to USA Today a certain coach of the Michigan State Wolverines has been having similar issues as Rivera. The Panthers haven’t been able to keep pace with the NFC South, particularly with the Saints who have made a mockery of the Panthers for almost three years now. The only thing saving our overall record have been wins outside of the NFC South, but that is unacceptable for a team that has invested in personnel to specifically counter this problem.
Harbaugh has been having a similar issue with facing Ohio State for the last few years, but the damning issue is that he is splitting the blame with the program itself because it might mean the program will release him soon. The Wolverines aren’t “built” to handle a team like the Buckeyes because they apparently fall into different tiers even though both programs are in the same conference. Maybe a move to a team that is “built” to handle other teams in the same league can be beneficial for both Harbaugh and the Panthers.
It makes sense considering that the Panthers are in a position where they need a coach with a history of success. With six bowl game appearances and two bowl wins under his belt, Harbaugh definitely checks off that box. As for following Tepper’s ideal, Harbaugh is coming from a college program that has seen a lot of efficacy with his management of personnel. With a win percentage over seventy percent in his last five years at Michigan it’s fair to say Harbaugh could see some success in the NFL.