M Kaye Observer HC candidates pros and cons

[raleigh-panther]

Panthers coaching search: Pros and cons of potential candidates, including Wilks, Harbaugh

BY MIKE KAYE

[email protected]

6 hours ago
 

The Carolina Panthers are on the hunt for a permanent head coach.

Owner David Tepper and GM Scott Fitterer will embark on what is expected to be a strategic coaching search. With several notable up-and-comers on the coaching carousel radar — and some well-documented retread options available as well — the Panthers will likely target a specific grouping of candidates.

In order to cut through the clutter, The Charlotte Observer decided to create a pros and cons list for 12 potential candidates who could be in the running to replace Matt Rhule in 2023

Steve Wilks

Current position: Carolina Panthers interim head coach

Interview: Tuesday

Pros: Wilks went 6-6 during his 12 games as interim head coach. His predecessor, Rhule, went 5-11 and 5-12 in his two full seasons as head coach. Wilks was able to best Rhule’s output with a worse roster — without Christian McCaffrey and Robbie Anderson for all but one game — and a coaching staff that he didn’t hire. 

Impressed by his candor and coaching style, those in Carolina’s locker room have consistently backed Wilks’ candidacy publicly and privately. Other members of the organization also are rooting for his return. After going 3-13 during his lone season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, Wilks has proven he is a worthwhile head coaching candidate. 

Cons: Wilks’ dozen-game sample size is still hard to evaluate. There’s a history of interim coaches surging through their temporary tenures and then bombing when they earn the keys to the car.

Unfortunately for Wilks, he has to battle the reputation of being an interim head coach. In recent years, retained interims have had limited success — with Doug Marrone’s stint in Jacksonville and Jason Garrett’s tenure in Dallas being two shining examples of retention since 2010.

Wilks is also a defensive-minded coach, so he will need a very strong offensive coordinator option list, which is easier written than done, to appease Tepper. He also needs to explain some of the questionable game-management moments he had in the final two weeks of the campaign.

Jim Harbaugh

Current position: University of Michigan head coach

Pros: On paper, Harbaugh checks off a ton of boxes in the modern NFL. He is a former NFL quarterback who played 15 seasons in the league. He’s also a sound offensive mind and a proven developer of the quarterback position.

His success at both the college (132-52) and NFL (44-19-1) levels is unparalleled within the current scope of the coaching carousel and his four-year stint in San Francisco led to three NFC title game appearances and a run to a Super Bowl, which the 49ers lost by 3 points. He never had a losing season with the 49ers.

Cons: While his resume and win totals are pretty, the end of his tenure in San Francisco was ugly. Harbaugh reportedly lost a power struggle with the 49ers’ front office and ownership and was let go after an 8-8 season. Despite his accomplishments, he was passed over for the Minnesota Vikings’ head coaching gig last year for Kevin O’Connell, who had never been a head coach before. 

Harbaugh is known for wanting overarching control wherever he’s gone, which is an outlook that the Panthers just dealt with during Rhule’s failed tenure. Hiring Harbaugh could cause a massive shakeup of the front office structure as well. He’s also gained a reputation of leveraging NFL interest for bigger contract extensions at Michigan, which could lead to a waste of time in the Panthers’ search.

Jim Caldwell

Notable positions: Former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts head coach

Interview: Monday

Pros: Caldwell has had two separate head-coaching stints, both of which were fairly successful compared to his successor’s tenures. 

Caldwell, in seven seasons as a head coach, only had two losing seasons, and he led the Colts to a Super Bowl matchup in his first season with Indianapolis in 2009. Caldwell is known for his work with quarterbacks, and he has a calm demeanor that has typically been praised by his players.

Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford both had a lot of success under Caldwell’s direction. The Lions went 9-7 in back-to-back seasons to end Caldwell’s Detroit tenure, and that win total has yet to be eclipsed in the five years since. 

Cons: Caldwell will turn 68 next week, and he hasn’t coached in the NFL since 2019. During his most recent stop, he left his post as assistant head coach with the Miami Dolphins due to health issues. While he wants to continue his career, NFL owners might be turned off by his age and concerns about his health.

Along with the age and health issues, hiring Caldwell instead of retaining Wilks could come with controversy. The hiring of a 68-year-old head coach would be viewed as a short-term move, which would seem to be counterproductive to creating a culture in Carolina.

Frank Reich

Notable position: Former Colts head coach

Pros: Reich is seen as one of the better offensive minds in the NFL. The Colts ranked in the top 10 in scoring in three of his first four seasons in Indianapolis. The unit also ranked in the top of the league in yardage during three of those four seasons as well. 

While Reich had a turnstile at quarterback during his tenure, his offenses — until this past season — functioned at a relatively high level. He is also known for giving his defensive coordinator full autonomy over their unit, as he isn’t a micromanager. 

Charlotte is home for the Reich family and the former NFL quarterback has ties to the organization and the community. Reich played for the Panthers in 1995, so he is aware of the early history of the franchise. Reich won a Super Bowl ring with the Philadelphia Eagles as the team’s offensive coordinator. He is credited with guiding Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles — in relief of then-starter Carson Wentz — on one of the most prolific postseason runs in NFL history. 

The Panthers scheduled an interview with Reich on Monday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Cons: While Reich has a reputation of being an excellent play-caller and schemer, his run in Indianapolis wasn’t particularly glamorous. There’s plenty of blame to go around for Reich’s failures with the Colts, but it is worth noting that he never won an AFC South division title during his tenure. The division is known as the weakest grouping in the league, and Reich was still unable to dominate it to the point of winning the crown. 

Perhaps the lack of division success is a signal that Reich is better fit for a coordinator job than a head coaching position. A Wilks-Reich pairing could be appealing to Tepper.

Dan Quinn

Current position: Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator

Pros: Quinn is known as a strong defensive play-caller. He has done a very nice job in helping the Cowboys construct a top-10 scoring defense during the past two seasons. 

Quinn has a reputation of being approachable and considerate with his players, and his tenure as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons was impressive due to the consistency of the squad. While things didn’t end well in Atlanta, Quinn led his team to a Super Bowl matchup and his players always competed hard for him.

Cons: Like Wilks, Quinn needs to deal with the stigma that comes with defensive-minded head coaches in the NFL. He will need to pitch an excellent offensive coordinator target to appease owners in interviews. Quinn will also need to explain what went wrong in Atlanta, and why his Falcons surrendered the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Quinn’s candidacy also takes a hit because of Wilks’ presence. If the Panthers are going to go with a defensive mind, why not go with the guy who is already here and familiar with the locker room? Quinn’s arrival would shake up the defensive system, along with rearranging the coaching staff.

DeMeco Ryans

Current position: San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator

Pros: There might not be a better first-timer option on the market than Ryans. A former NFL linebacker who played a decade in the league, Ryans has the ability to relate to players in a way that most candidates can’t just based on perspective. His high-energy approach on the sideline and his excellent play-calling have made the 49ers’ defense a juggernaut attack during the past two years.

Only 38, Ryans has plenty of room to grow into a head-coaching role. He’s relatable and sharp, and he has been known for his leadership since he was a player. One could argue that he was an upgrade over the guy he replaced — New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh — in San Francisco.

Cons: Ryans has only been in the coaching profession since 2017. With no background as a head coach, it’s fair to wonder what he’d want from an offensive play-calling standpoint. If he wanted to raid Kyle Shanahan’s staff for a potential coordinator, he might find slim pickings — as Saleh and Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel have taken some of his options over the past two years. Shanahan has also promoted from within after losing his assistants to his former coordinators.

Like with Quinn, Ryans could be a hard sell given Wilks’ footprint. Bringing in a less experienced defensive mind after what Wilks accomplished as the interim head coach could rub some players and fans the wrong way.

Ben Johnson

Current position: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

Pros: Johnson has quickly made a name for himself in Detroit as a first-year play-caller. Only 36, Johnson has already turned the Lions’ offense into one of the best in the league. The unit ranked fifth in scoring and fourth in yards this season. Johnson has also helped revitalize Jared Goff’s career after a two-year slump. 

Johnson is a Charleston, South Carolina, native who went to high school in Asheville. Like Wilks, he is a local draw, and his background within the Carolinas could be a huge selling point to Panthers fans. Johnson has the makings of a potential Sean McVay-like head coach, and he should get plenty of interviews — if not job offers — this cycle.

The Panthers requested to interview Johnson on Monday, according to Pelissero.

Cons: Johnson just became a coordinator this season. And while his one season on the job has been spectacular, it’s a relatively small sample size for a standout. Johnson has plenty of position coaching experience with quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends, but his overarching background leaves his philosophy on defense uncertain.

Would Johnson be willing to be paired with a former head coach as defensive coordinator? Would he be able to handle play-calling, something he’s still relatively new to, with the responsibilities of being a head coach? There’s a massive risk/reward balance with Johnson, and that might scare off some owners — namely Tepper, who just failed with a hyped head coach who was expected to revolutionize football in the Carolinas.

Shane Steichen

Current position: Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator

Pros: Steichen is the hottest offensive-minded candidate on the first-timers list. Steichen took over play-calling from Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in the middle of the 2021 season, and the offense skyrocketed. 

Steichen helped develop Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert during his 2020 rookie season, which led to praise in NFL circles. His work with Jalen Hurts over the past two years has shown his ability to adapt to different signal-callers’ strengths and weaknesses. Steichen is seen as a brilliant offensive schemer, and his ability to set up big plays in the passing game has been evident throughout this season in Philadelphia.

The Panthers requested permission to speak with Steichen on Monday, a league source confirmed to The Observer.

Cons: Steichen is only in his second full season as a play-caller. While he has been an offensive coordinator in Los Angeles and Philadelphia during the past three years, he didn’t inherit play-calling duties in Philadelphia until the middle of last season. At 37, the former UNLV quarterback is still young and is coming from a very young staff with the Eagles. 

While everyone is looking for the next McVay, young coordinators can sometimes be miscast as head coaches. There’s always a risk that a hotshot coordinator is a better fit for the play-calling job instead of the CEO position.

Kellen Moore

Current position: Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator

Pros: Moore has done an excellent job in furthering the development of his former teammate, Dak Prescott, in the Cowboys’ offense. Even when Prescott has been sidelined with injury, Moore was able to craft game plans that have put backup Cooper Rush in situations to succeed. Moore is clever with his play-calling and play design, and that has allowed Dallas to maintain a high-scoring attack, no matter who is under center.

Moore was an NFL backup quarterback for six seasons before immediately becoming the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach in 2018. He is known for his creativity and understanding of the quarterback position. If a team is dead set on drafting a rookie quarterback to be its franchise flag-bearer, there are few candidates — on paper — that are more equipped than Moore.

Cons: Moore, 34, has been with the Cowboys during his entire coaching career, working under Garrett and Mike McCarthy over the past five years. While longevity with one organization is important, owners could balk at the lack of situational diversity on Moore’s resume. There’s also a valid concern of whether or not Moore could land a viable defensive coordinator to pair with in his new digs.

Like Steichen, the main concern with Moore will be his ability to juggle the responsibilities of the top job. If Moore wants to remain a play-caller, he has to be able to handle multiple tasks on top of that responsibility. That outlook proved to be a problem for Sirianni in Philadelphia.

 

Brian Callahan

Current position: Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator

Pros: Callahan, the son of former Raiders head coach Bill Callahan, has been the Bengals’ offensive coordinator for three years. While head coach Zac Taylor calls the plays, Callahan has earned praise in NFL circles for his scheming prowess. Callahan has also played a role in the development of Joe Burrow, who is quickly becoming one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. While the Bengals got off to a rough start under Taylor, Callahan has been part of the offense’s surge over the past two years.

Unlike the other hotshot coordinators on this list, Callahan hasn’t been a play-caller, which could actually appeal to owners. Instead of forcing his way into that role, Callahan could simply serve as a CEO, overseeing the entire project. Some owners prefer their head coach to be overseers over play-callers.

Cons: Since Callahan isn’t a play-caller, it’s hard to gauge how much credit he deserves for the Bengals’ success on offense. The same could be said about Burrow’s success. Callahan comes from a coaching family, which is a nice perk, but he’s never really had that notable of a name until now.

And while some owners dig the CEO type, others could prefer play-calling expertise. Callahan, 38, might need some more seasoning before getting the big job in the NFL.

Mike Kafka

Current position: New York Giants offensive coordinator

Pros: Kafka has done a lot with a little in his first year as an NFL coordinator. The former NFL backup QB has made the most of Daniel Jones’ skill set and taken an underwhelming talent pool at the skill positions and made the Giants’ offense work. Kafka comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree, and that background has helped him revive Jones’ previously ailing career. 

The Giants have been able to make a run to the playoffs, at least partially, because Kafka hasn’t dropped the ball as a schemer or play-caller, despite his inexperience. Kafka is viewed around the league as a future head coach type, and he has helped Brian Daboll consistently craft excellent plans of attack in his first year at the helm. 

Cons: Kafka, 35, like most of the names on this list, is young and inexperienced as a coordinator. While his first season as a play-caller has gone swimmingly, he’s also paired with a notable offensive mind in Daboll, who oversees the entire product. Kafka has been able to hitch his wagon to Reid and Daboll, which is a lucky draw for a player-turned-offensive coach. So, there could be some concern about how much success is really attributed to him.

Despite his brief, whirlwind NFL playing career, Kafka isn’t a household name or someone who has a particularly notable background.

Ken Dorsey

Current position: Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

Pros: Dorsey has done a solid job of replacing Daboll in Buffalo. The Bills haven’t missed a beat offensively under Dorsey, and he deserves credit for his scheme and play-calling work. Like Kafka, Reich and Moore, Dorsey was an NFL backup quarterback in a previous life, and his expertise of the position has been his calling card since the start of his coaching career.

Dorsey also has ties to Carolina. He started his coaching career as the Panthers’ quarterbacks coach in 2013. He spent five years working with Cam Newton, and helped guide the quarterback’s breakout success in the early parts of his career. Given that history, there are still plenty of people in the building who can vouch for Dorsey’s leadership and coaching ability. 

The Panthers requested permission on Monday to speak with Dorsey, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Cons: Like Kafka and Johnson, Dorsey, 41, is a first-year coordinator. While he is running the offense in Buffalo, it’s fair to wonder how much of the Bills’ continued success is simply from following Daboll’s blueprint. Dorsey also works with a top-five quarterback in Josh Allen, so it’s not like he’s trying to elevate a limited talent in his debut year as a play-caller.

Tepper hasn’t been super quick to embrace the “glory days” of the franchise with his coaching decisions. If the owner is willing to pass on Wilks, Dorsey might not be much of a candidate either.

[mrcompletely11]

dorsey and kafka seem really intriguing

[WarHeel]

Sign me up for Wilks HC and Reich OC. 
LFG

[PantherKyle]

Happy with Johnson, Steichen, or Kafka. 

[raleigh-panther]

Think it’s a pretty good synopsis of each of these candidates. …some aren’t household names 

I think it’s pretty clear from the candidates that it’s going to be very hard for Wilks, he’d have to have one helluva an offensive plan and personnel adjustment 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Mike Kaye is excellent 

[Jon Snow]

2 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Mike Kaye is excellent 

[mwa78]

20 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

Mike Kaye is excellent 

How can you have a cons section for Wilks but not reference that he was 3-13 in his first stint as a HC and fired after 1 year?? Can we not include that in the sample size that is too small to evaluate per Mike Kaye?

[Jon Snow]

Just now, mwa78 said:

How can you have a cons section for Wilks but not reference that he was 3-13 in his first stint as a HC and fired after 1 year?? Can we not include that in the sample size that is too small to evaluate per Mike Kaye?

Of course you can. If you know the true complete details of what went on behind the scenes and you obviously saw the on field results you can absolutely use that information to make your judgment.  But short of knowing the truth I would advice you to look at it as an unknown.  It's just a line on the resume that you should investigate if you are leaning one way or the other before you use it for or against him.

[carpanfan96]

8 minutes ago, mwa78 said:

How can you have a cons section for Wilks but not reference that he was 3-13 in his first stint as a HC and fired after 1 year?? Can we not include that in the sample size that is too small to evaluate per Mike Kaye?

Because you can't really count his time in Arizona. It's widely known, that he didn't get to pick his staff or have a say in draft picks and got stuck with Rosen because of this. 

[mwa78]

2 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

Of course you can. If you know the true complete details of what went on behind the scenes and you obviously saw the on field results you can absolutely use that information to make your judgment.  But short of knowing the truth I would advice you to look at it as an unknown.  It's just a line on the resume that you should investigate if you are leaning one way or the other before you use it for or against him.

How can it not be a con? Not even referenced. Everyone knows what was going with that franchise at that time but that doesn't mean he should complete pass. The article references 12 games being too small of a sample size to make a judgement while failing to even mention that he already had 16 games as a head coach with another franchise. If we were interviewing someone from outside the organization that already had a failed season as a head coach - it would be referenced.

 

 

[Jon Snow]

Just now, mwa78 said:

How can it not be a con? Not even referenced. Everyone knows what was going with that franchise at that time but that doesn't mean he should complete pass. The article references 12 games being too small of a sample size to make a judgement while failing to even mention that he already had 16 games as a head coach with another franchise. If we were interviewing someone from outside the organization that already had a failed season as a head coach - it would be referenced.

 

 

You are using the huddle as a reference.  Never use the huddle for logical comparisons on anything. 

[NanuqoftheNorth]

FWIW, Steve Wilks defense in 2017 had one of the better performances in the last decade for the Panthers.

https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/panthers-defensive-rankings-by-year-1986-to-2021

[mwa78]

2 minutes ago, carpanfan96 said:

Because you can't really count his time in Arizona. It's widely known, that he didn't get to pick his staff or have a say in draft picks and got stuck with Rosen because of this. 

He got a raw deal being fired after 1 year considering the above but it still counts. Give me a break.

How many wins over teams with a winning record does he have in 28 games as a head coach?