3 Panthers position groups that must step up at the Giants in Week 7

Carolina Panthers coaching staff

This area is generally reserved for the men on the field, but what about those on the sidelines or in the booth? Players execute plays, but it is the job of the coaching staff to ensure each unit is adequately prepared physically and mentally week in and week out.

Matt Rhule is no longer in the NCAA, yet it feels like some issues are mental errors that would be expected of a collegiate team. He must confirm each and every person with a helmet knows the rulebook – cue the back-to-back timeouts – eliminate mental frailties, and not have poor clock management.

Joe Brady had a phenomenal run at LSU and has shown flashes of brilliance when Christian McCaffrey laced up his cleats. However, without the star, the play-calling has been a bit suspect.

Has Brady been riding the coattails of star players on the Tigers and with McCaffrey?

Or has he just gotten a little off track recently?

Carolina Panthers special teams coach Chase Blackburn had a rough start to the season with multiple miscues and roster turnover. But it seems this unit may have turned a corner.

Continual forward progression is paramount for field control and points. The lone consistent bright star thus far has been defensive coordinator Phil Snow.

With 45 years under his belt coaching the defensive side of the ball, his wisdom has shown through along with his work ethic and commitment.

Rhule and Snow are not going anywhere, and I doubt Blackburn will be on the move. However, Brady has a chance to work himself into a collegiate or NFL head coaching job and he can ill-afford any further regression by the Panthers jeopardizing his chances.