The Panthers continue to struggle, and we’re now learning of some inner turmoil within the locker room. League sources tell Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com that “there have been increasing communication issues” between head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo.
[RELATED: Latest On Panthers HC Matt Rhule’s Job Status]
Considering the Panthers’ offensive struggles, it’s not a surprise that eyes have shifted to McAdoo. The former Giants head coach joined Carolina’s staff this offseason as offensive coordinator, replacing Joe Brady. The team’s QB situation was uncertain through much of the offseason, with the organization ultimately settling on Baker Mayfield to take over for Sam Darnold under center. Despite the underwhelming options at quarterback, the Panthers still had some top playmakers in running back Christian McCaffrey and wideout DJ Moore.
Well, things haven’t necessarily gone as planned. Through four weeks, the Panthers rank last in the NFL in plays per game (53.5) and third-down conversion rate (25.5 percent), two stats that don’t put the coaching staff in the best light. So, while McAdoo “attempts to direct an offense that is struggling” and “is working to fix what appears to be a dire situation,” he’s apparently receiving conflicting information or directives from his head coach.
“Well, when you look at it, I was brought in here to make an impact, right? And it hasn’t happened yet,” McAdoo said recently (via Wilson). “Now, that doesn’t mean we’re discouraged. We’re four games in, right? So, we got another game this week, and we’re excited at the opportunity we have this week, and we have a tremendous opponent coming in here this week.”
Things aren’t going to get easier for the Panthers this weekend, as the team faces off against a 49ers defense that’s allowed the fewest points per game this season.
How many OC’s take blame before the common denominator is exposed?
Baker?
Except we’ve actually seen Baker have success before. Not that he doesn’t deserve a decent share of critcism
Or that Baker has only played in Carolina under one of the OCs.
It can be the case that both are to blame.
Given McAdoo’s prior showings on other teams, however, can we say that his inability to communicate effectively is surprising?
I’m not defending McAdoo or even suggesting he’s a good coordinator… and I’m not saying Rhule is the only problem with this franchise anymore (he’s not)… but Rhule is A problem, a BIG problem, and a CORRECTIBLE problem. He’s clearly not a good head coach. 4 QBs and 2 OCs and more or less the same results: losing; specifically, 1-26 against professional teams that score a measly 17 points. That should be terminable unto itself.
Ben McAdoo is going to be the Panthers interim coach by Week 10 with Sam Darnold helping the Panthers increase their draft capital. It just seems inevitable at this point…
So happy with G Men win or loosing season we finally got the right coach and gm. Plus we’ll have 50 million in cap space. At least we picked Joe Judge and fired him, Matt Rhule would have been more money and yrs.
Both guys are the problem, but it speaks poorly of Rhule and his job status that he either wouldn’t go for a more dynamic OC or flat-out couldn’t attract one. Joe Brady was a rising star until he signed up with Rhule, got stuck with Sam Darnold as his QB, and got scapegoated. If you were a top OC candidate, would you take the job under Rhule? McAdoo getting the job feels a bit like Jay Gruden taking the Jaguars OC job when it felt like Marrone was circling the drain.
Heard Diante Lee talking to Robert Mays about the Panthers the other week, and I think he nailed them. He said you watch the Panthers offense this year, and it’s not just poor execution–you can’t even tell what they’re supposed to look like. There’s no apparent vision. There’s no creativity to how they use some really exciting weapons. They have Baker throwing slants as if they’re trying to make his height a problem. No wonder he has the most passes batted in football this year.
They’ve had such personnel frenzy that it feels like there must be some impatience from Tepper weighing on the decision-making scales, but Rhule has simply never shown anything to indicate he’s a good NFL head coach. And hiring Ben McAdoo is going about as well as you’d expect. This staff needs a good flush.
Kind of hard to effectively communicate with someone you know is going to take your job in the very near future.
The problem was how stupidly they set baker up to fail by haggling over a few bucks. He could’ve used OTAs
This is very likely the most accurate and under appreciated sentiment in this entire situation. The Panthers’ efforts to save money in a lost season with plenty of cap space was an example of forced urgency in a situation where it was completely unnecessary. The staff is entering a make it or break it season and they’re concerned over a reasonably priced starter on his rookie deal? Get in him to practice, worry about that later.
Perhaps Rhule & McAdoo have plans on starring in a movie sequel…link to youtube.com
McAdoo is a cancer. A guy who benches Eli Manning to break his consecutive start streak just to see if Geno Smith is the guy… what a joke.
It was the right choice.
Was it?
DJ & Christian demanding trades might move this along lol
It’s unlikely Mac could get a better contract elsewhere than what he has now…so why would he demand a trade?
So dumb. You did pick him, didn’t you?