Mike Kaye on the path forward

[Mr. Scot]

As part of an article covering several Panthers related topics, Charlotte Observer Panthers writer Mike Kaye offers opinions on the coaching search, the need for outside help and more...

Excerpts below, starting with...

What people are saying

Several people whom Kaye reached out to said the Panthers need a "program builder" type, but Kaye himself isn't so sure...

Following Reich’s dismissal last week, I reached out to roughly a dozen sources who work in various jobs around the NFL for their opinions on the Panthers’ current situation. While some chose to simply pile on with quips about the notion of owner David Tepper’s heavy hand in football operations, others shared their takes on the future.

The majority of the sources I spoke with believe the Panthers need to go in the direction of a proven program-builder to replace Reich. Some specifically mentioned Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh as a potential solution. A couple of them mentioned looking for a Belichick-type enforcer — though Belichick is really in his own category at this point, and it’s unclear whether the Patriots will actually make him available.

The logic of the “program-builder” is that the head coach would have a say in personnel and the clout to tell Tepper “no” without repercussions. On the surface, that’s an interesting outlook. But it also seems like a lame approach for ownership to hire a dictator to simply distance themselves from involvement.

On board with Tepper needing outside help

Sounds like Kaye has come around to the idea that Tepper needs to bring in a consultant type to guide the operation.

From the outside looking in, it feels like hiring a president of football operations above a head coach and a general manager would accomplish a similar goal without the weirdness of a “my way or else” leadership presence. 

Look, the whole “diversity of thought” strategy didn’t float, but a true partnership among a team president, GM and head coach has been a successful strategy in the NFL for decades. The team president can serve as a go-between with Tepper and the football people and help the owner make educated decisions that go beyond his knowledge. 

With that sort of strategy, the Panthers would be free to find the best coach for them.

Some within the league have pushed back at the notion of a young, first-timer taking over as head coach, simply because of Tepper’s nature of being heavily involved. A team president can hedge that involvement and create a healthier and familiar ecosystem for a younger head coach. That president, with a background in football, could also mitigate a quick trigger if it takes time for the young coach to find success.

The methodology of the search

Not exactly news to say that what's been done so far hasn't exactly worked (to put it mildly). A bit of a simplistic take here but basically correct...

ESPN has reported that Tepper is likely to go after a young offensive play-caller. CBS Sports has also brought up the notion of Harbaugh being a legitimate candidate this offseason after flirting with Carolina last season. 

From this beat writer’s point of view, the interview process should be vast. It shouldn’t be limited to coaching archetypes. The college success story of Matt Rhule didn’t work here. Neither did the retread in Reich. Heck, Ron Rivera — an NFL lifer — didn’t have staying power under Tepper, either. 

It’s time to just hire the right candidate — not the box someone fits in. It’s the same as scouting a draft prospect for traits — take a look at the Panthers’ depth chart and tell me that’s a sound strategy.

The case for Frank Smith

In the end, it sounds like Kaye believes Frank Smith might be a more ideal (and possibly realistic) head coaching candidate, in part because he's not a playcaller.

A name that has come up multiple times in my conversations over the past week is Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith. While Smith isn’t the Dolphins’ primary offensive play-caller, he does handle a lot of the background material during the practice week, a league source said. The same source raved about Smith’s intelligence and humble, down-to-earth nature. 

Teams want to hire offensive play-callers as head coaches to curb the potential of losing a talented offensive coordinator after the first hint of success. But one could argue that the Panthers need to just get points on the board at this point. And if Smith hires a play-caller who gets plucked, well, the Panthers will have probably had their first sparkle of success under Tepper. That seems like a win-win. 

Offensive coordinators with the Detroit Lions, (Ben Johnson), Philadelphia Eagles (Brian Johnson) and Houston Texans (Bobby Slowik) should have plenty of options this offseason because of their play-calling abilities. 

Smith, though, because he is more of a behind-the-scene technician, might fall between the cracks of the coaching carousel and that could be to the Panthers’ advantage.

_______________________

So to sum it up, Kaye agrees the best route forward is to get someone in place who can stand up to Tepper, but he doesn't believe that should be the role of the head coach so a Harbaugh / Belichick type isn't necessarily the answer.

A team president type would be more ideal, with that person then guiding the head coaching choice. And although it isn't spoken about, it's kind of implicit that this person would also have a say in the GM spot.

I'm pretty much on board with all of this.

Edited December 5, 2023 by Mr. Scot

[frankw]

After Rhule the words "program builder" are the last thing I ever want to hear again. Can't turn this around trying to shape the team into some version of Alabama.

Hire a real GM. Hire an NFL coach who can instill a sense of culture and is actually up to the task of to evolving the offense with the rest of the league. Go from there.

[csx]

Kiss Evero's ass. Pay him a fug load. Don't make him responsible for the rest of season by putting 8t on Tabor.

[Mr. Scot]

Re: Smith...

While Smith isn’t the Dolphins’ primary offensive play-caller, he does handle a lot of the background material during the practice week, a league source said. The same source raved about Smith’s intelligence and humble, down-to-earth nature. 

The "humble, down to earth" part would in my mind be an additional point in favor of the team president idea. I wouldn't want Smith overrun by a bombastic Type A(sshole) personality like Tepper's.

[rayzor]

a buffer between tepper and GM/HC would be good. keep the teppers in their lane.

good luck with that, though.

i do think we don't need a mild mannered HC at this point, though. we need someone that is going to light a fire under their highly paid asses and get them working and if they won't work...

[CanadianCat]

I 100% agree that a team president makes sense. 

[Mr. Scot]

5 minutes ago, rayzor said:

a buffer between tepper and GM/HC would be good. keep the teppers in their lane.

good luck with that, though.

I think it's generally and perhaps damn near universally understood that until we get someone like that, things will likely continue to suck.

Well...universal except for the one person who most desperately needs to understand that

[Tbe]

The team president thing just sounds like more cooks in the kitchen.

All of that should be the GMs job. If Scott can’t ‘build a program’ then he needs to go.

Tepper stays away and allows a GM+HC combo to build the team.

[Ricky Prickles]

54 minutes ago, rayzor said:

a buffer between tepper and GM/HC would be good. keep the teppers in their lane.

good luck with that, though.

i do think we don't need a mild mannered HC at this point, though. we need someone that is going to light a fire under their highly paid asses and get them working and if they won't work...

You mean Harbaugh then because thats him

[Eazy-E]

A lot of that sounds like we should have just removed the interim tag from Wilks and brought in an up and coming innovative offensive coordinator.

[Mr. Scot]

24 minutes ago, Ricky Prickles said:

You mean Harbaugh then because thats him

Kate's take:

The logic of the “program-builder” is that the head coach would have a say in personnel and the clout to tell Tepper “no” without repercussions. On the surface, that’s an interesting outlook. But it also seems like a lame approach for ownership to hire a dictator to simply distance themselves from involvement.

[Mr. Scot]

33 minutes ago, Tbe said:

The team president thing just sounds like more cooks in the kitchen.

All of that should be the GMs job. If Scott can’t ‘build a program’ then he needs to go.

Tepper stays away and allows a GM+HC combo to build the team.

Ideally yes, but you have to have the right general manager.

Do we trust David Tepper to pick that person? I don't.

But if somebody you do trust picks the right GM, then down the road they can slide out of the way and let the traditional dynamic take over.

Think of it as a temporary babysitter until Tepper grows up.

[Jay Roosevelt]

JFC. This poo isn't rocket science. Hire an experienced team president who can help Tepper run the organization and act as a buffer between him and football operations. Then hire a GM who has a good resume with (and an actual role in) an organization known for building competitive rosters. Then have those two work together to find the best coaching candidate that they can work with to build a winning organization.

Just one example:

PR: Kevin Colbert
GM: Jon Ferrari
HC: Frank Smith

Tepper has really made this a WHOLE lot harder than it should be.

[Mr. Scot]

Here's my concern...

There was a time when someone temporarily convinced Dan Snyder to step back and let his football people do their jobs. As you might expect, the team saw some improvement.

Within a year though, Snyder inserted himself back into team operations for the basic reason that "he wasn't having any fun" as the team's owner.

The rest is history...and now, so is Snyder.

So the question becomes whether David Tepper's top priority is to see his team win or is it more important for him to "have fun" with his macro version of fantasy football)?

If it's about winning, then maybe he'll do the right thing.

If it's all about his ego however, then we're pretty much screwed unless he either parts ways with the team or somehow lucks into a winning combination.

Personally, not a big fan of betting my money on incompetent people getting lucky