Should Panthers Fans Tepper Expectations, or Has The Temper Been Squashed?
/Following the mid-season termination of head coach Frank Reich and the firing of Scott Fitterer on Black Monday, fans and analysts alike dub the Panther's jobs as unsavory. Some have even said it's downright awful. Whoever gets the kingdom's keys will undoubtedly face some big challenges. But the big question is, has David Tepper learned how not to be part of those challenges?
It starts with what needs to be a fundamentally sound marriage between the new head coach and general manager. But what does that look like? It has to start with a shared vision of the team identity. What type of players are needed to get to that vision? Do they want to be a power-run offense with a big powerhouse offensive line? Or is a more modern balanced offense the goal? Whatever it is, they need to be on the same page. This rebuild will not be completed in a single offseason, so draft choices and free-agent acquisitions must be tailored to that vision. Otherwise, it's all for naught. We've seen this twice already with the Rhule and Reich coaching hires happening with existing general managers already in place. Furthermore, the pair needs to live and die together. This encourages the GM to make smart picks and signings with coaches' input and enables the coach to get the most out of that talent.
The General Manager spot, in particular, will have some big challenges. Adam Thielen has already expressed at least a casual interest in not being a Panther next season. A good GM will turn that player's dismay into draft capital or at least a reduced cap hit for the upcoming season. There's no reason Thielen can't go be happy somewhere else while the Panthers gain a draft pick or increased cap space. Another challenge is Brian Burns, who still feels entitled to top-end defensive end money despite a pretty bland 2023 outing. And then you have Derrick Brown. Brown had a standout year and should ideally have some deal worked out this offseason to hopefully result in Brown being a Panther for years to come. This is a move that could also save money in the long run, depending on how the deal is structured. Add to these problems the extensive list of players becoming unrestricted free agents, and you can see just why getting the right GM is so crucial. Maybe even more so than the head coaching hire. The Panthers sit at about $38 million in projected cap space; a good GM can get that up into the mid-50s without gutting the already slimming roster.
Since 2018, when Tepper purchased the Panthers, we have seen 3 head coaches, along with 3 interim head coaches. 6 coaches in 5 years. If that doesn't raise skepticism about how business is done on Mint St, you probably aren't paying attention. But is it a death knell for the franchise? After all, they say that failure is the best teacher. And having an owner worth north of $20 billion does not hurt, either. Plus, the Panthers already have a quarterback that was largely regarded as one of the best in last year's draft. Yes, Bryce Young certainly had his issues, but he was far from the biggest on the team. The roster around him and the coaching he got barely helped. Why would a young, promising, and confident coordinator not want this job? The pay will be tremendous, the QB position isn't a disaster, and maybe Tepper has learned to step back and let the people he pays do the thinking. Certainly, there are some good upsides to the job. In my view, the job should certainly be viewed in a better light.
Tepper himself may be the biggest factor regarding both positions getting filled with competent individuals. His image is mediocre at best, and deservedly so. Since buying the Panthers in 2018, the team has been basement dwelling 30-63 while going through 3 head coaches, 3 interim coaches, and 2 general managers. Never mind tossing drinks on fans in Jacksonville or failing to own up to his mistakes during the rare press conference. So is the job that bad? Well, that begins and ends with Mr Tepper. Has he made enough mistakes to learn anything of worth? Or is he doomed to continue his meddling? If he can make the hires and then step back from football operations, I see a world where the Panthers are easily back in the playoffs within two seasons. Of course, that means getting the hires right. And for the first time, he's employing a firm to help find the right people for the jobs. That alone is already an admission of his missteps.
It's easy to look at the Panthers' future and see doom and gloom. It truly is. From the lack of draft capital, to the limited cap space, players becoming free agents, a tempered owner, and home games feeling like away games. The hiring of Reich last season and the gang of high-profile assistants never felt like a change. This time, at least right now, feels different. After this season, it's a welcome change. Here's to hoping Tepper gets it right, and in a few short years, we can all laugh at the rocky start to his tenure as an owner.
By Josh from Mass