6 burning questions Panthers fans are asking after Matt Rhule’s firing

Carolina Panthers’ new defensive coordinator?

Who’s our best option at DC for next year? – Israel Aburto

Great question, Isreal!

Phil Snow’s defense was consistently one of the faster and quicker units in the NFL. However, because of how he was tied to the hip of Matt Rhule, it wasn’t a total surprise to see him go.

Despite some of the successes on defense over the last couple of seasons, it’s obvious the unit has lacked true physicality. Especially since Steve Wilks left in his first stint with the Carolina Panthers.

There are plenty of options out there for who could be the next defensive coordinator for the Panthers next season. It will be important for the new head coach to figure that out with the talent they possess.

Funnily enough, Wilks could be a potential candidate. Especially if the group rebounds after a couple of bad outings and plays disciplined, competitive football.

One name that comes to mind and has ties to the organization is Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line coach Brenston Buckner, who is a former player in the early 2000s and comes with a nice track record of developing and coaching good defensive linemen.

New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo would probably be my top choice, especially if Brian Flores were to be hired by the Panthers. He has done a terrific job with Bill Belichick’s linebacker corps and the defensive side in general.

It’s important to note, however, that this will be a long and calculated process. Let’s hope David Tepper has learned his lesson and that the next head coach can bring in men that can jumpstart this organization.