4 ongoing positives for the Carolina Panthers under Steve Wilks
By Dean Jones
What ongoing positives continue to impress as Steve Wilks stakes the strongest of claims to become Carolina Panthers head coach long-term?
It was another weekend to remember for the Carolina Panthers as they secured their first road victory of the campaign. Although there were some nervous moments, Steve Wilks‘ men led from start to finish and they now hold legitimate hopes of dethroning the Tampa Bay Buccaneers atop the NFC South as a result.
This notion was inconceivable just a few short weeks ago. A 1-4 start led to the Panthers firing Matt Rhule, but Wilks has done a remarkable job in difficult circumstances and now possesses a 4-4 record through his opening eight games as interim head coach.
What comes next for Wilks over the next month will determine his fate. But the calls to remove the interim tag are now deafening after Carolina’s stunning success at the Seattle Seahawks.
With this in mind, here are four ongoing positives for the Panthers under Wilks’ exceptional leadership.
Ongoing Positive No. 1
Carolina Panthers are fundamentally sound
It’s been a long time since the Carolina Panthers were fundamentally sound. The constant comical errors under Matt Rhule are a thing of the past with Steve Wilks leading the charge, which is thanks in no small part to a cultural reset, professional game-planning, and the interim head coach being a supreme leader of men.
Although the Panthers are 5-8, the momentum shift is evident. Wilks deserves credit for doing more with less and bringing back a level of accountability that was sorely lacking when Rhule called the shots.