Versatility is key for Panthers’ new head coach Matt Rhule

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule is looking for the same versatility in his coaches as he sought from his playing recruits heading into 2020.

It is going to be a pivotal few weeks ahead for new Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. He has a lot of work to do in a very short space of time once his team finally reunites in the coming weeks.

This is a new environment for Rhule, who signed a seven-year deal with the Carolina Panthers to prise him away from Baylor University earlier this offseason. While it has been a relative baptism of fire given the changes needed on the roster, there is plenty of hope this current group can more than hold their own next term.

Rhule has made a real effort to bring in athletic players who can operate in a multitude of different positions on the field. This sort of versatility is something he is also looking for from his coaching staff heading into 2020.

Speaking to Peter King on NBC’s Football Morning in America, Rhule had this to say.

"“I’ve coached at Temple and at Baylor, and my players will probably tell you we didn’t have a lot of advantages when we got there. Just figure it out. Figure it out, bro. Really, that’s the key to life. I just felt like there was a real disconnect between how much offense the defensive coaches know, and how much defense the offensive coaches know. And so that’s just allowed me I think to be really confident as a head coach. I’m not some guru, but I do know enough about every position on the field. The ones I haven’t been an expert at, I’ve hired really good coaches there. I’ll learn from them. It’s my job as a head coach to have players play their best football when they play for me. You can’t ask the players to learn the full game if our coaches don’t do that. I think that all comes from my background.”"

Can Matt Rhule succeed with the Carolina Panthers?

While Rhule has plenty of experience leading college programs back to prominence, things are far different in the NFL. And the onus falls on him to make sure everything is ready for players and coaching staff alike when competitive action gets underway.

It would be a considerable shock if the Panthers were to achieve a winning record from next season. This is a young group that are going to be learning as they go. And the organization also has some inexperienced starters who were already part of the roster when Rhule came in.

This might be seen as a recipe for disaster. But it might actually work in the Panthers’ favor. Expectations could not be lower for the organization in 2020. So this takes some of the immediate pressure off those who are not fighting for their jobs going forward.

Rhule himself is also set for a steep learning curve in his first season as an NFL head coach. There is no doubt he is more than worthy of such an opportunity. But there is a long list of college coaches who fell short at the next level and the Panthers will be hoping their new appointment does not fall into the same bracket.

His way of thinking should easy to buy into from a player perspective. What comes next season in unprecedented times currently could shape the face of the franchise and their long-term aspirations.