Mr. Scot

Hell, even before they got banged up they didn't look very good.

He'll probably go after Ben Johnson again.

Well, not all of it is "leak". A fair amount of it is Russini's analysis, which could be spot on or off the mark (she's generally pretty good). My takes in this discussion are based on whether her takes are correct, so...

Every year some team gets the best player at whatever position they draft. Hell, a couple of times that's even been us, but no team does it consistently. I personally don't give a sh-t whether we get the best player in a given year as long as we get a good one. It's still a team sport.

Jim Schwartz is one of those guys that probably won't ever be a great head coach but is an elite level coordinator.

Still no clue

Nah

I was expecting to watch the Cowboys game but we have to leave (mentioned why earlier).

Sure you would

I've been watching Schultz since he was with the Cowboys and played so well that they franchise tagged him. Guessing you didn't know that.

Dalton Schultz is a damn good tight end.

I know he asked both Kevin Colbert and the Rooney's for advice, among others. Here's the thing, though... I don't know sh-t about basketball, have no feel or instincts for the game whatsoever. I could, however, go to Jerry West, Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Phil Jackson and whomever else to ask for advice and wisdom. I could sit and listen to all they care to impart to me, write it down, study it, memorize it and make every effort to apply it to my life actions. When that was over, ya know what I'd be? I'd be a guy who was the recipient of great teaching but still has no feel or instinct for the game whatsoever. Sometimes it just ain't there

Still too soon to know that long term... Also gotta worry about Rivera getting him killed.

I'm not watching much football today. Lady Cowboy Fan 's best friend lost her dad this week. Viewing and a family gathering are todayand she's helping provide food for the latter.

Also...

Gotta remember though, I'm not debating merits here. I'm pointing out the read I get on what Tepper's perspective might be given what we've heard.

Honestly, what would be the point?

To be clear, I'm talking about what I think could happen, not what should. I've already said elsewhere what I think should.

Guys wanting to get away from Rhule wouldn't exactly be shocking. Players are pretty loyal to Reich though. And again, you have to remember that guys who don't fit the new systems aren't gonna be kept.

But celebrities on the sideline 🫥

Looking at that same paragraph via the beginning and ending sentences... If the second half of the regular season looks like the first half, I expect Carolina to make changes. Ownership is satisfied with the defense and special teams. The entire focus of Russini 's article is the offense (again, Frank Reich's specialty). If the end result of the season sees little to no improvement, then it seems clear that's likely where the "changes" would be made. Said earlier I could see James Campen getting fired (unfairly) but if Reich stays, then I imagine it's possible the changes go higher than Campen, possibly to OC Thomas Brown. Would that be fair? Don't know. This is his first year as an NFL OC, and even with acknowledged assistance and influence from Reich and McVay It was Brown who wrote the playbook. Still, with the offensive know-how on the coaching staff it's amazing that no one seems to have seen the mismatches between personnel and approach. That can't necessarily be blamed on Brown. Also mentioned elsewhere that if there are in-season changes, I could see Brown relieved of his duties and replaced by Jim Caldwell. That's a change that could carry into next year if Caldwell wants to stay in that role. If not, I'd imagine the next OC would be someone more experienced.

Remember the first two years Rhule had final say. And again, you have to factor in that this season we transitioned from Rhule and his systems to Reich and his systems which meant some prior players no longer fit what we do (misfits aren't necessarily busts). Going back to Russini though, she mentions that ownership is "satisfied with the defense and special teams". They only have issues with the offense. Specifically, Reich's specialty. That doesn't sound like it's a roster issue in their minds. Russini also adds this: I have learned those in power want to start seeing an offense that looks like what Young executed to precision at the University of Alabama, which included bubbles and RPOs, and that leans into his strengths. That sounds like someone above the head coach dictating football strategy to the head coach. Could mean Tepper. Could also mean Fitterer. But either way, that's not good.

It's also worth looking at who the two head coaches were prior to Ryans. The hires of Lovie Smith and David Culley were greeted with responses like "him?" and "who?" You can also look to the Raiders going for Lane Kiffin back in the day or even Josh McDaniels given the lack of trust he had after pulling out of his last hiring. Can you still get a head coach with bad team ownership? Sure. Are you going to get the best head coaches in that situation? Only if you luck into it, and that's not something I feel comfortable counting on.

Kinda hard to picture a "generational prospect" with 32 fumbles.