Carolina Panthers OC gamble doesn’t pay off
After taking time out during the bye week, Matt Rhule wasted no time in making a big decision this weekend when he relieved offensive coordinator Joe Brady of his duties. This comes after the offense has struggled more often than not without Christian McCaffrey, with inconsistent quarterback play and a suspect at best offensive line doing nothing to assist this unit in 2021.
Brady won’t be out of work for long. But considering the mounting pressure on Rhule, making LSU‘s former passing game coordinator a scapegoat was perhaps the final card he had to play in pursuit of turning things around.
It’s clear Rhule trusts Jeff Nixon, a long-time friend that will be tasked with deploying a power-running game with no McCaffrey in the lineup and no real option when it comes to gaining the hard yards between the tackles.
Getting rid of Brady was another significant gamble by Rhule, especially at this stage of the campaign.
If it doesn’t come off, it’s yet another nail in the head coach’s coffin.
As stated previously, David Tepper has been very patient up to this point. And he wouldn’t have given Rhule the final say in personnel decisions if the owner didn’t believe fully in his appointment.
However, this belief might wear thin if another move made by Rhule doesn’t bring the necessary improvements.