Looking at the position coaches

[Mr. Scot]

Since we've seen some criticism of the "All-Star Staff", I decided to take a look at the individual position coaches to try and evaluate how they're doing.

To be clear, this is going to be a very surface level analysis. I'm not going to deep dive too much, and I'll be open to debate on these analyses in general.

Starting with...

Quarterbacks Coach Josh McCown

The chief question for pretty much all of these positions is going to be have the players improved, and that makes this one hard to evaluate. Bryce Young has definitely shown signs of improvement over the course of the season, but it's also true that some things aren't getting better. The question is how much of that do you attribute to coaching as opposed to where some see physical limitations, others see the fact that he's not getting protection add some see both. This is probably the toughest call of any of them. My take: I think McCown could very easily be doing a good job because a lot of the problems that are occurring are things that are above his pay grade, but there is a debate to be had.

Runningbacks Coach Duce Staley

This one's a little less ambiguous. The most obvious effect of Staley's coaching is improvement on the part of Chuba Hubbard, especially in the area of receiving. A lot of us had written Hubbard off at the start of the year but now he's arguably the best all around back we have. On the flip side you have Miles Sanders, but I don't think his issues can be laid at Staley's feet If for no other reason than that I doubt Sanders has been fully healthy at any point this season.

Wide Receivers Coach Shawn Jefferson

Here's another one that's a little tough but for a different reason. The quality of player that's been handed to Jefferson for the most part isn't great. That said, is effect can be seen in the improvement of guys like Jonathan Mingo, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and arguably even Adam's Theilen who's having a great year not just for someone his age, but for a receiver in general. Terrace Marshall hasn't shown much of course, but I think that says more about Marshall than it does about Jefferson.

Tight Ends Coach John Lilly

Yet another where it's tricky. Hayden Hurst hasn't shown up much, but is that coaching or has Hurst just fallen off. Tommy Tremble, on the other hand, came in to this year feeling like an afterthought but now is starting to look like a legitimate tight end. Ian Thomas of course is what he always was, so...it's a toss up 

Offensive Line Coach James Campen

And here we go with probably the second most difficult evaluation. The line hasn't performed well this year, but as has been much discussed, they're not in a system that suits them, especially Ekwonu. Then you have to throw in the injuries as well. Again, I think the real problems are over Campen's head but I won't be surprised if he winds up a sacrificial lamb.

Defensive Line Coach Todd Wash

Moving over to the other side of the ball, we could start to see more positive looking results. You could make a pretty good argument that Derrick Brown has never looked better than he has this season. Likewise, other players on the line that nobody thought that much of have shown up at times when we needed them.

Linebackers Coach Peter Hansen

The player who most likely would have been Hansen's star pupil got taken out in week one, but the guy who arguably has been his star pupil Is one of the few Panthers who's been recognized as a player of the week. Like Derrick Brown, Frankie Luvu is playing some of his best football. That makes Hansen look pretty good as well.

Outside Linebackers Coach Tem Lukabu

On the outside though Is an area where some might see underachievement. Brian Burns has had flashes, but hasn't looked like the star player he was expected to be this season. If this was going to be the season where he made his "next step", that hasn't happened. The question becomes how much of that is coaching and how much is the fact that there's really been no major threat opposite him. Hard to say.

Safeties Coach Bert Watts

Again, a mixed bag. Xavier Woods and Vonn Bell have had good moments, throw some might say Bell has done less than they thought he would come in. You also have Jeremy Chinn who hasn't looked quite the same since his rookie year (it could be argued that he's out of position as a safety).

Cornerbacks Coach Jonathan Cooley

And finally, another area where it's difficult to be certain because few positions on the team have been hit as hard by injury is this one. Of the players that have been in, we're not seeing a lot of turnovers generated. Is that on coaching or just on the fact that what would be our best players aren't seeing the field?

Bottom Line

Some good, some not so good, not a whole lot that I could see as glaringly bad. But all in all, hard to evaluate in several areas because of issues that are larger than what position coaches can affect.

As mentioned though, this is more of a general eye test evaluation than it is a deep dive so I'll be interested to hear how others see these spots.

[TheBigKat]

good gentlemen, nice writeup, hope they saved up some money and catch onto a new coaching staff as this ship is taking on major water and a clean house is in order

[Leaky_Faucet]

I would say Evero the defensive coaches are all doing fine. There have been a number of injuries and despite that the defense is still functional. The biggest problem the defense has is the offense doesn’t sustain drives to keep them off the field and they are gassed by the 3rd quarter, which doesn’t help with field position either.

I think you have a situation of “too many cooks” on the offensive side. I have a feeling if you thin it out a bit you would find more consistency and updated playcalling. 

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, Leaky_Faucet said:

I think you have a situation of “too many cooks” on the offensive side. I have a feeling if you thin it out a bit you would find more consistency and updated playcalling. 

I've seen that suggestion made before.

[Mr. Scot]

Relevant to the discussion...

 

[Leaky_Faucet]

15 hours ago, Leaky_Faucet said:

I would say Evero the defensive coaches are all doing fine. There have been a number of injuries and despite that the defense is still functional. The biggest problem the defense has is the offense doesn’t sustain drives to keep them off the field and they are gassed by the 3rd quarter, which doesn’t help with field position either.

I think you have a situation of “too many cooks” on the offensive side. I have a feeling if you thin it out a bit you would find more consistency and updated playcalling. 

And now it has been thinned out, so we shall see.