Which Carolina Panthers stand to benefit most from the dismissal of head coach Matt Rhule?
The dust is now beginning to settle on Matt Rhule’s removal from the Carolina Panthers. This was a role too far for the former Baylor man, who had little to cheer throughout his three years on the job and now looks set for the collegiate ranks if the right opportunity comes along.
Rhule probably saw this coming after yet another embarrassing loss at Bank of America Stadium in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. What comes next isn’t his problem, but the Panthers have to dust themselves off and start picking up the pieces from one of the worst coaching stints in franchise history.
This is a talented group of players. However, something just hasn’t clicked and with Baker Mayfield now on the shelf, there are some significant concerns at the quarterback position that could mean things get worse before they get better.
With that being said, here are five Panthers that could benefit most from Rhule’s removal.
Panther No. 1
Amare Barno – Carolina Panthers DE/OLB
Nobody was expecting Amare Barno to set the world alight as a sixth-round selection. But considering the Carolina Panthers are relatively short of pass-rushing options, it’s been strange to see him inactive more often than not.
Barno is a little undersized and needs development from a technical standpoint. However, with Matt Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow now out of the picture it represents an opportunity to impress a different set of eyes in pursuit of earning a prominent position on the rotation.
Terrace Marshall Jr. – Carolina Panthers WR
There aren’t many Carolina Panthers players who’ll be happier to see the back of Matt Rhule than Terrace Marshall Jr. The wide receiver and the former head coach didn’t enjoy the best relationship imaginable, which left him on the outside looking in despite others within the pass-catching room going through struggles of their own.
Big things were expected of Marshall when the Panthers took him at No. 58 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Another starring performance in training camp this summer failed to alter his overall trajectory, with the LSU product gaining minimal targets so far and was even scratched from two contests to further increase concerns.
Although offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo remains on the books, Rhule’s firing could mean Steve Wilks gets Marshall more involved in the game plan. And who knows, perhaps it was the man at the helm’s influence that made the offense so vanilla.
It won’t take long to find out whether Rhule was the problem or not. P.J. Walker looks set to start for the next fortnight at least after Baker Mayfield suffered a high ankle sprain, which doesn’t exactly fill anyone with confidence based on his production under center to date.
Carolina has to start integrating Marshall considering Robbie Anderson is unlikely to return in 2023 with his $21.71 million salary-cap hit. And the Panthers have to know exactly what they have in such a high-end draft pick at some stage.
Scott Fitterer – Carolina Panthers GM
Although general manager Scott Fitterer was an influential part of the decision-making process, Matt Rhule had the final say on personnel decisions. Something that team owner David Tepper willingly put into his contract to keep him away from the New York Giants.
This was probably frustrating for Fitterer and a big reason why he’s avoided most of the blame. However, he now has a real opportunity to stamp his own mark on the Carolina Panthers provided Tepper remains confident in his abilities.
The owner conceded there needs to be a more traditional approach moving forward. Meaning the general manager builds the roster and the head coach molds them into a competitive unit.
Rhule ran the Panthers like a college program, which was his first and arguably biggest mistake. What’s important now is Carolina gives Fitterer the chance to appoint his own head coach and format a solid long-term plan to get this franchise back to prominence.
There will be no more Rhule to take the criticism if Carolina falters. But this is the time Fitterer must become front and center – something he looks highly capable of after generating an impressive reputation in league circles.
All that remains is for Tepper now to interfere all that much and let the football people make football decisions. It’s not that hard, really.
D’Onta Foreman – Carolina Panthers RB
Christian McCaffrey looks healthy and back to his old self. The Carolina Panthers offense might be going through some significant complications, but the All-Pro running back remains one of the league’s most elite players at the position and it’s hard to state how bad things would currently be without his presence.
The same cannot be said for Baker Mayfield, who is expected to miss an extended period thanks to a high ankle sprain. Putting games in P.J. Walker’s hands could bring severe ramifications, so focusing more on running the football is of paramount importance for interim head coach Steve Wilks and Ben McAdoo.
Much was made about the Panthers drafting Chuba Hubbard after Matt Rhule received a recommendation from his wife to do so. The Oklahoma State product hasn’t been much of a factor, but this attachment made things difficult to go in a different direction entirely.
Wilks and McAdoo should have no such sentiment, which means we could see more of D’Onta Foreman. The powerful player filled in superbly for Derrick Henry on the Tenessee Titans in 2021, which makes it all the more bizarre he has just seven carries to his name through five games.
Using Foreman and McCaffrey as a one-two punch with no stable presence under center is the best route forward. It might not come to fruition, but the chances improved greatly after Rhule was sent packing.
Steve Wilks – Carolina Panthers interim HC
David Tepper saw sense by starting anew with Matt Rhule’s firing. He also deserves credit for ignoring the current class-action lawsuit against the NFL and promoting Steve Wilks to the interim head coaching position.
Wilks comes with fine credentials and is a popular figure among the fanbase. His no-nonsense approach is matched by supreme leadership skills, so there will be no more accountability issues under his watch that’s for sure.
This is a difficult situation for Wilks. The Carolina Panthers have talent on both sides of the football, but success begins and ends with the quarterback as Rhule found out to his cost.
The impression made by Wilks at his introductory presser was tremendous. He’s already got a large section of the fanbase onside and if things go better than anticipated with some lowly expectations, the former Arizona Cardinals head coach might find himself in contention for the job long-term.
There is a lot of football to be played between now and then, which is a good thing for Wilks. He’ll get 12 games to stamp his authority and hopefully, make the changes needed to bring pride back to the Panthers.
Wilks knows the franchise like the back of his hand and what makes everyone tick. An ethos that was lost rapidly throughout Rhule’s tenure.