Have the Panthers ever been this well-coached?

[TheCandyMan]

I’d have to say the sample size isn’t large enough to answer the OP’s question.  I like what I see so far.  Others have mentioned the reasons why, but the last few games have been refreshing compared to the last two coaching staffs. It’s hard not to get excited, but there’s still a lot of games to play.

Oh, and if we were 0-4 and the huddle was riddled with posts about firing Rhule, Tepper being stupid for hiring a college coach, Hurneymagic, or every positive play ex-panthers made this season on their new team I’d still say the sample size is too small. 

[pantherj]

With Ron it just seemed like if plan A didn't work, then we lost.

I feel like with Rhule it's "oh play A is not working?" Try:

Plan A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N.....

"Bet your ass one of those works."

[OneBadCat]

7 hours ago, hepcat said:

It’s no secret that this is NOT the most talented roster the Panthers have ever fielded. It might honestly be near the bottom of the list in Panthers history, talent wise. 

The fact the Panthers are 2-2 in a rebuilding year with a young roster should speak volumes to the coaching staff. Even if they finish 6-10, this team has already overachieved.

Most expected this Panthers team to be 0-16, including myself. Seeing these young defensive players grow before my eyes has been a pleasant surprise. Taking advantage of other teams mishaps by milking time off the clock on last minute substitutions is something we’ve NEVER seen the Panthers do. Smart football. Belichick level moves.

We still might not be a good team. But this coaching staff has surprised me. These guys play hard despite not being a super talented roster. Watch out when these guys get a full roster of studs.

Was telling Philly B this today also. I wish the more talented Rivera teams played with this kind of composure and discipline. We don't seem to be prone to emotional mistakes. Not seeing the wasted timeouts has been great as well.

I don't think this team is bottom of the list in talent at all. We have talent, just not at the marquee positions that elevate the rest of the roster. 

[Zaximus]

This was the type of games I was hoping for this year but the defense was much better than I expected today.

Brady called a hell of a offensive game as well.   Really good tempo, and balance.    Offensive line looked better too.   

Overall the team looked to be playing really hard for Rhule.   That seems to be one of his strengths.   

[Thorrez]

The banged up Cam/Allen lead team last year was, even though everyone seams to have forgotten, a winning team for a while last year. 

Let's finish the year before we give out awards. 

At least wait for the second game against division rivals, that is a very good coaching indicator. 

 

[nctarheelreincarnated]

Put this team, this defense, and coaching staff with a QB that can consistently get 30-40 TDS per year, with low INTS. Sky is the limit. 

[electro's horse]

1 hour ago, Thorrez said:

The banged up Cam/Allen lead team last year was, even though everyone seams to have forgotten, a winning team for a while last year. 

Let's finish the year before we give out awards. 

At least wait for the second game against division rivals, that is a very good coaching indicator. 

 

it's not really about wins and losses so much about individual players, how they're playing, and how they're improving mid game. For example, I mentioned in another thread how the Panthers are blowing up smoke routes against the Cardinals. That is very technical. The defenders getting blocked all have to force their dudes to the outside as best they can WHILE trying to shed, so the receiver has to go back inside. Panthers were doing that all day yesterday, and swarming to the ball no less. 

Every now and then you'd see the odd Panthers defense play like this, but they were few and far between, and had way better players. For the majority of the Rivera ear, the Panthers just played three high and said "yeah luke do whatever."

[hepcat]

10 hours ago, JawnyBlaze said:

Rivera was bad from the get go. The ego, the “players didn’t execute my plan”, the poor roster decisions, the poor clock management, the poor staff choices, all of it was there from the start and never got better (and in the case of the latter, got worse).  He only had any success because he had a generational superstar leading on both sides of the ball to ride the coattails of.  I do agree that what you said applies to Fox though. He was solid for a while. I can confidently say we’ve ever had a coaching staff that makes halftime adjustments as well as this one. Time will tell if Rhule is better than any coach we’ve had, but the signs are looking good. 

I was never a Rivera fan. I thought his best quality was getting the players motivated. He did seem to have a skill for being a players coach having been a player in the NFL himself. This is the same guy who called a timeout against the Saints in 2011 before halftime with the clock running down to allow them to kick a field goal because he thought the team had too many men on the field. Saints would have never had time to kick it if he didn’t call the timeout. It was then I realized this guy isn’t a world beater.

[raz]

it looks like it to me.  we've been coached by meatheads for a long time, as long i can remember.  

[DeAngelo Beason]

It's so early to say for sure, but overall I am leaning toward yes.  

[Mr. Scot]

14 hours ago, ncfan said:

Rivera and Fox were good coaches.  They were primarily players coaches though.

Rivera and Fox were basically the same coach. We effectively had one head coach from 2002 up through last year.

Rhule? Too early to say and throw in that I don't think we've faced our best opponents yet. I'll want to see how we do facing better teams.

But are there some huge differences from previous seasons? Definitely there are, especially in the area of adjustments.