4 things Panthers HC Matt Rhule must get right in 2021
By Dean Jones
Solve the tight end problem
One glaring problem that Matt Rhule must find an answer to this offseason is the lack of production from the tight end spot. The Carolina Panthers took a bold direction by letting Pro Bowl veteran Greg Olsen depart in free agency and if they were hoping Ian Thomas could make a smooth transition to the No. 1 position, the team was out of luck.
Thomas just didn’t show enough either on the field and apparently in practice if his 31 targets throughout the 2020 season are anything to go by. The former Indiana standout was a relative afterthought in the passing game – which is understandable to a certain extent given the options available – but not having a reliable presence over the middle and in the red zone really cost them at times.
Rhule will be tasked with finding a better option alongside Carolina’s new general manager Scott Fitterer, although the head coach is set to have the final say on roster matters.
However, incorporating a potential free-agent signing or NFL Draft pick into the scheme more effectively is another element to this predicament that shouldn’t be overlooked.
The Panthers aren’t too far away from being a really good team. They were fun to watch – for the most part – in the first year of Rhule’s reign and if the impressive figure can get some crucial calls right before OTAs begin, then the sky is the limit.