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Week 1 Bucs thoughts

By Sam Mehr    September 16

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady reacts after losing to the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady reacts after losing to the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)

On September 13, 2020, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squared off against the New Orleans Saints in a nationally televised game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The game was the debut of Tom Brady in a Bucs uniform, facing off for the first of two matchups this season against fellow future Hall of Famer and 40-plus-year-old quarterback Drew Brees. The Saints drew first blood, defeating the Bucs 34-23 in an entertaining battle featuring wild momentum swings (including the Saints scoring 24 unanswered points after falling behind in the first quarter). Here are some observations from a Bucs point of view. 

Brady was inconsistent. While he threw 2 touchdowns and rushed for another, he also threw 2 interceptions. His first one set up a short field for the Saints, leading to a touchdown run by Saints running back Alvin Kamara. The other interception was returned for a touchdown by Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins. He did showcase excellent accuracy at times, throwing a nice deep pass to receiver Chris Godwin on the sidelines during the first drive.  In the fourth quarter, he threw a beautiful touchdown in the back corner of the end zone to receiver Mike Evans.

Brady showcased immediate chemistry with Pro Bowler Chris Godwin (6 catches for 79 yards) and second-year receiver Scotty Miller (5 catches for 73 yards). He did not display great chemistry, however, with future hall of fame tight end Rob Gronkowski (whom he played with for ten seasons with the Patriots) and Mike Evans (three Pro Bowls in his six seasons in the NFL), as those two players combined for 3 catches for 13 yards.

The Bucs have a deep running back unit, with 2018 second round pick Ronald Jones, recently signed Leonard Fournette (two 1000 yard seasons in his three years in the league), and 32-year old LeSean McCoy. There were questions in terms of how the workload would be distributed. During the game, Ronald Jones was the workhorse back, logging 17 carries. Fournette had just five rushes, and McCoy was exclusively used in the passing game (one reception)

The Bucs defense flashed tremendous speed and explosiveness, led by underrated linebacker Lavonte David (two All-Pro selections) and Devin White (who had a solid rookie year last season). They combined for 22 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. As a whole, the Bucs had 11 tackles for loss against the Saints' vaunted rushing attack led by superstar Alvin Kamara and the steady Latavius Murray. This run defense performance represented a continuation from last season, when the Bucs had the top-ranked rushing defense in terms of both yards allowed and yards per attempt. 

The Bucs had multiple special teams gaffes. The Saints blocked a field goal attempt by Bucs kicker Ryan Succop in the second quarter, costing them a potential three points. In the fourth quarter, following an Emmanuel Sanders touchdown and a Bucs facemask penalty, the Saints did a pooch kick to try and pin the Bucs deep. Special teamer Jaydon Mickens received the kick, but safety Mike Edwards, running backwards, tried to catch it over his shoulder. Edwards collided with Mickens, leading to a fumble, which Bennie Fowler of the Saints recovered. On the following drive, Saints kicker Wil Lutz drilled a 21- yard field goal, giving the Saints a 17 point lead.

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Lakers: Title Favorites in NBA Restart?

besthqwallpapers.com

By Sam Mehr      

7/27/2020                                                                

After a long and dark spring, the NBA is finally returning to the limelight. The NBA abruptly suspended it's season on March 11, 2020, following the outbreak of the diabolical coronavirus (which notably hit the NBA community, with the positive tests of Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell). After months of uncertainty, the NBA in late June finalized plans to resume it's season July 30 with 22 of the 30 teams descending upon Orlando to play games and live temporarily at the Walt Disney World Resort. The 22 teams will play eight more regular season games (to determine seeding), with the playoffs coming shortly thereafter (note: there is a possibility of the league staging "play-in" games before the playoffs to determine the eighth seeded teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences). At any rate, there is great curiosity over which team will be crowned champions if/when the NBA Finals conclude in October (which is not a given, due to the uncertainty that exists in the world at this point). The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the major contenders to take home the Larry O'Brien trophy. Before the shutdown, the Lakers were a buzz saw, compiling a 49-14 record. They are the first seed in the Western Conference, and have the second best record in the NBA (behind the Milwaukee Bucks). Now, the Lakers will try to pick up where they left off in this unusual NBA season. Due to a number of factors, I believe the Lakers will win the NBA Championship.

One element the Lakers have in their favor is their tremendous top-end talent. The Lakers leader is the ageless Lebron James, an all-time great player who remains one of the best players in the NBA in his 17th season. His running mate is fellow superstar Anthony Davis, a unique big man who can handle the ball like a guard, score inside and out, and defend at a high level. The Lakers have multiple superstars, which are a premium in the NBA, as many of the great championship teams of the past had two or more superstars. James and Davis, combined, are better than Kawhi Leonard and Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers, their chief rival in the Western Conference. If the Lakers reach the Finals against the Bucks, matters would be a bit more complicated. The Bucks are led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, arguably the best player in the entire league. He won the MVP award last season, and is one of the frontrunners for it again this season. He receives a slight edge over Lebron right now in terms of being a better player. However, Anthony Davis has a sizable advantage over the Bucks second best player, Khris Middleton. Middleton, a 42 percent three point shooter, is very good in all phases of the game (including defense). but is a star player, as opposed to a superstar in the league. 

The Lakers defense sets them up well for a championship season. Defense is crucial in basketball, as many of the champions in recent years were terrific defensively (ie the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, etc.). The Lakers are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, ranking third in opponents points per game allowed. The Lakers did lose guard Avery Bradley, a superb defender, who opted out of rejoining the Lakers due to concerns about the pandemic. However, the Lakers do have other solid defensive guards such as Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, each of whom can pick up some of the slack. Not only can the Lakers defend from the perimeter, but they have tremendous height inside as well. The Lakers have three players in their rotation 6'10” or taller (Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis, and Javale McGee). These three players have been catalysts in helping the Lakers rank first in blocks per game. Having bigs who can defend helps alter shots at the rim (ie layups, floaters, etc.), and rebound, which prevents opponents from getting second chance opportunities offensively. 

The Lakers have a deep bench. Their best bench player is Kyle Kuzma, a gifted scorer who would start for a lot of teams in the NBA. Another solid player off their bench is Dwight Howard. Howard, an eight time All Star and four time Defensive Player of the Year, has resurrected his career following turbulent stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, and Washington Wizards over the previous three seasons. Before the NBA shutdown in March, the Lakers added Markieff Morris and Dion Waiters, two talented players who can score from anywhere on the court. Finally, the Lakers added J.R. Smith in June prior to the NBA going to Orlando for the restart of the season. Smith provides good shooting (a career 37 percent 3 point shooter), and won a championship with Lebron in Cleveland in 2016. The Lakers bench depth could be key because it provides them with a variety of options to turn to based on what teams they match up with in the playoffs. For example, Smith, Morris, and Waiters could play heavy minutes against the Houston Rockets, in order to help the Lakers keep up with the Rockets barrage of three point shooting. On the other hand, Howard would likely have a smaller role against the Rockets, who do not play with a traditional center. However, against bigger teams such as the Clippers, Howard can play a lot of minutes to protect the rim. 

The long suspension of the season should largely benefit the Lakers. By the time the NBA season resumes, the Lakers will have been off for more than four months. Essentially, the Lakers will be starting a new season given how much time they had off. Initially, the Lakers will likely have to work off the cobwebs in terms of their fundamentals (ie shooting, ball handling, etc). However, assuming the Lakers advance into the later rounds of the playoffs, the layoff should be a blessing, especially for their older players. Lebron James, counting regular season and playoffs, has played in 1497 career games. Additionally, Dwight Howard has played 16 seasons, and Danny Green is 32 years old and has appeared in three NBA Finals between his time with the San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. The point is that the aforementioned players have an abundance of wear and tear on their bodies, and plentiful rest should let those players have a better chance of successfully getting through the grind of the four rounds of the playoffs.

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The Rise, Fall, and Future of Cam Newton

USA Today Sports

By Sam Mehr    

6/8/2020

Quarterback Cam Newton is one of the most intriguing figures in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers drafted him with the number one overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, and from the outset, he took the league by storm. Newton threw for 422 yards in the opening game of his career against the Arizona Cardinals, the most by any rookie qb in an NFL debut. That game set the tone for a spectacular rookie season, which included him breaking future hall of famer Peyton Manning's record (at the time) for passing yards in a rookie season. Newton threw 21 touchdowns passes, and rushed for 14 touchdowns on the ground, the most rushing touchdowns in a season by any quarterback (this record still stands today). Newton’s spectacular rookie season led to him earning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and garnered him placement as the 40th best player in the NFL (as voted on by his peers) in the NFL Top 100 show before the 2012 season. He continued to have further success in the coming years, culminating in his masterpiece 2015 season. In 2015, Newton totaled 45 touchdowns (35 passing, 10 rushing), leading the Panthers to a 15-1 record (the best mark in franchise history). Newton’s performance led to him receiving the MVP award. The Panthers reached the Super Bowl in 2015, only the second time in their existence that they had reached that game. They ultimately came up short, however, falling to the Denver Broncos 24-10. Through the years, Newton has been known for his considerable physical gifts. He has a titanic 6'5 inch, 245 pound frame. Cam has a strong arm, giving him the ability to effortlessly uncork deep passes. He possesses gazelle-like speed to run for first downs and touchdowns, often accentuated by acrobatic dives and flips into the end zone. 

Newton has fallen on hard times in recent years, however. In 2018, Newton played excellent football for the first 11 games of the season.  However, he struggled down the stretch with a shoulder injury. The injury forced Newton to miss the final two games of the season, and required offseason surgery. Newton came back in 2019, but injured his foot August 22 in a preseason game against the Patriots. Newton showed his toughness and competitive fire by returning to the field a mere two weeks later when the regular season started. Nevertheless, after struggling in the first two games of the season, the Panthers shut Newton down with a Lisfranc injury. According to Orthoinfo.org, the injury entails either bone fractures in the midfoot or torn ligaments. Newton ended up missing the rest of the season, and had to undergo surgery in December. In March, the Panthers unceremoniously moved on from Newton, signing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to replace Newton. The team allowed Newton the opportunity to talk to other teams about trade possibilities the same day they signed Bridgewater. One week later, the Panthers ended up releasing Newton, officially closing the book on a thrilling era in Panthers history.

To date, Newton remains a free agent. It is surprising that a player of Newton’s caliber and credentials is still out there to be had. Naturally, the question is raised as to why Newton is still a free agent. A number of factors are likely in play, in my mind. One possibility for Newton’s continued unemployment is pickiness by him in terms where he wants to play. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said that, while Newton wants a starting job, he is open to signing as a backup. The one stipulation, however, is that he would only accept a backup role with the right team, implying he would not just sign with any team that picked up the phone to call him. Another logical possibility is concern over Newton's attitude. Newton has been known to sulk during games and after losses. Who is to say that Newton would be content when dealing with the reality of being a backup quarterback come fall? Therefore, teams might look at other quarterbacks who are less accomplished, but more willing to accept being a backup rather than bringing Newton onboard (average at best quarterbacks such as Joe Flacco and Mike Glennon already found backup work). A final issue for Newton relates to the timing of when Carolina released him. The Panthers cut Newton loose on March 24. The problem is that by the time he became a free agent, teams that needed starting qb’s (including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts) had already made commitments to the guys they signed in free agency (Tom Brady and Philip Rivers respectively). Beyond that, the horrific Coronavirus hit the world, leading to NFL teams closing their facilities. This shutdown hurt(s) Newton because team doctors cannot examine him to see whether or not he has fully recovered from his injuries. Without such clearance from doctors, it is hard for a team to be willing to pay Newton a hefty sum of money. Further support for this specific factor is reflected in comments made by Seattle Seahawks tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen, a longtime teammate of Newton’s, told Seattle reporters that Newton’s release post-pandemic lockdown limited his options, in part, due to teams not being able to see his current health status. 

Finally, looking to the future, it is interesting to consider teams where Newton could fit. In terms of potential teams where Newton could start, there are a few options. One would be the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew gained the starting job last season after playing well in relief of the injured Nick Foles (who has since been traded to the Chicago Bears). However, Minshew was chosen in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, a draft slot that doesn’t guarantee long-term commitment. If the Jaguars wanted to add a new starter, or at least make Minshew compete for the starting position, Cam Newton would be an ideal player to sign. Another place where Newton could start is the New England Patriots. The departure of superstar Tom Brady left a gaping hole at the quarterback position. The Patriots like Jarrett Stidham, a second-year player who played at a high level in the 2019 preseason. Still, Stidham is inexperienced, as he only threw four passes during the 2019 regular season. He may need one more season to sit on the bench and learn from a veteran quarterback. Newton would be a perfect one year bridge, who could keep the Patriots in the playoff mix, and revive his own career before potentially hitting free agency again in 2021. A final place where Newton could start is the Washington Redskins. New coach Ron Rivera hasn’t fully committed to 2019 first round pick Dwayne Haskins (whom he inherited upon taking the job). Rivera indicated that, while Haskins is the presumptive starter going forward, he would have to compete for the job. Rivera, the Panthers head coach from 2011-2019, already traded this offseason for former Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen. Why not bring in Newton, another quarterback with whom he has familiarity? In fact, Rivera acknowledged to Good Morning Football on NFL Network that he had thought about the possibility of signing Newton, and would not rule it out one way or the other. 

If Newton wants to be a backup, there are two teams where he would be a solid fit. One is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is planning to play in 2020. However, he is 38 years old, is coming off elbow surgery, and has considered retirement as far back as 2017. Newton could be a backup for a year, and then slide into the starting role if Roethlisberger were to retire in 2021. The San Francisco 49ers are a team where Newton could have an opportunity to play in time. Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers current quarterback, guided the team to the Super Bowl in 2019. However, he doesn’t seem to have the complete confidence of coach Kyle Shanahan, who only let Garoppolo throw a combined 27 passes in the 49ers first two playoff wins in 2019. Newton could go to San Francisco as a backup, with the chance to eventually become starting quarterback if Garoppolo were to struggle, or if Shanahan simply thought Newton was a better option given his dynamic talents. 

A multitude of unfortunate events have led to Cam Newton getting knocked off his spot amongst the best players in the NFL. Still, there are teams out there that could use a player of Newton's caliber; therefore, his long term future in the NFL should not be in doubt. Going forward, if healthy and given an opportunity to play, don't be surprised to see Cam Newton wowing NFL fans again with his fantastic talent.

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Klay Thompson: The Ideal Laker (2019 article)

By Sam Mehr                                                                                         3/6/2019

The Los Angeles Lakers are NBA royalty. Possessors of 16 NBA titles, the Lakers have a cavalcade of legends who have worn their uniform, including the likes of George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Due to their high profile, the Lakers are always scrutinized, and a hub of media attention. In recent years, the Lakers have fallen on hard times, having not made the playoffs since 2013. Therefore, there has been a continual storyline about what the Lakers can do to allow them to return to their glory days. The Lakers from 2014-2016 pursued stars such as Carmelo Anthony, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Kevin Durant, all to no avail. In 2017, the Lakers hired Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka to spearhead their front office. They embarked on a two-year strategy of attempting to attain multiple stars (covering the 2018 and 2019 calendar years). The Lakers successfully convinced Lebron James to come aboard in 2018, but came up short in their bids to either sign Paul George or trade for Kawhi Leonard. The calendar turned to 2019, and the Lakers were in pursuit of New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis on the eve of the trade deadline. Alas, they were unable to reach a deal to acquire Davis, and will presumably restart trade talks in the offseason. Davis is a tremendous player, a force on both ends of the floor. Having said all of that, I argue that there is another star that should be in the Lakers crosshairs, and that star is Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson. Thompson is a five-time All Star and one of the elite players in the NBA. He will be available in free agency this summer. Overall, Thompson’s skillset fits seamlessly with the Lakers, and he would help them tremendously in terms of where they would be in the NBA landscape. 

Klay Thompson’s skills mesh terrifically with the Lakers. For one thing, the Lakers badly need shooting. The Lakers rank 30th (out of 30 teams) in free throw percentage. Thompson, over the course of his career, has knocked down 84.8 percent of his free throws. Therefore, he would help ameliorate that concern to a certain extent. The Lakers rank 21st in 3 point makes per game. On the other hand, Klay Thompson is a marksman from 3-point land. Since 2012-2013, Thompson has ranked no lower than 6th in 3-point makes amongst all players. From 2013-2017, Klay was 2nd in 3-point makes every year. Klay is not just a volume shooter either; from 2013-2018, Klay was no lower than 10th in 3-point percentage, illustrating his outstanding efficiency. In terms of x’s and o’s, Thompson thrives without the ball in his hands. He runs off screens, catches the ball, and then unleashes his picture-perfect jump shot. His talent would perfectly complement Lebron James, who, while listed as a forward, is a de facto point forward, and therefore, is a ball dominant player. 

Defensively, the Lakers give up 113.9 points per game, which is 24th in the NBA. Klay Thompson would aid the Lakers from a defensive perspective, as he is an outstanding defender. He plays stifling one on one defense, sliding his feet, and being fundamentally sound on that side of the floor. In 2016, he was rated as the 10th best two-way player in the NBA by Jay Yeomans of the Deseret News in Utah (two-way being a player who excels both offensively and defensively). He is also a versatile defender. Mark Medina of the Mercury News wrote in 2018 that Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, “He guards points [point guards] for us and then he switches onto four men [power forwards]. Then he guards the post.” In that same article, Isiah Thomas, the Hall of Fame Pistons point guard who currently works as an analyst for NBA TV, said, “There isn’t a former player or current player, when we talk about guys who can play defense, where Klay and Kawhi Leonard’s names don’t come first.” Detractors may look at numbers such as steals per game, blocks per game, and defensive rebounds per game, and argue that Klay is not an elite defender because he doesn’t have gaudy numbers in those categories. However, there is a counter to explain his ordinary defensive statistics. Take it from Isiah Thomas. He told Mark Medina, “So many times we perceive good defense or we judge good defense by how many steals you get or how many blocks you have. That’s not necessarily good defense. That’s a result of gambles and recovering from probably bad defensive plays. Klay is solid. He doesn’t reach a lot. He doesn’t gamble. He makes you take tough shots.”

Signing Klay Thompson would boost the Lakers in the context of the NBA landscape. Klay Thompson has been a crucial player for Golden State, which has been to the last four NBA Finals and have won three championships. His importance to Golden State can be seen beyond just the statistics, however. Per Basketball Reference, which tracks players’ win-loss record in their game logs pages, the Warriors have a 301-69 record since 2014 when Klay Thompson is in the lineup. That gives them a .815 win percentage during that stretch. Without Thompson, the Warriors have had an 8-14 record since 2014, which is a .363 win percentage. In the playoffs, the Warriors, since 2014, have a 63-20 record in the games Thompson has played, good for a .759 win percentage. If the Lakers could swipe Thompson away from Golden State, they would be taking a large chunk of their armor away. There is another benefit to the Lakers acquiring Thompson. That benefit is that Thompson is up for free agency in 2019, and therefore, to acquire him, the Lakers would only have to sacrifice money rather than the young talent on their roster. Adding Thompson to Lebron James and the rest of the Lakers young core (ie Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart) would make them a serious contender in the Western Conference. On the other hand, trading for a star player could cost the Lakers all or most of their rising players. Look no further than the Lakers trade talks with the Pelicans for Anthony Davis. Davis is under contract through 2020, and therefore, the Lakers can only obtain his services via trade in the meantime. Due to his contractual situation, the Pelicans had (at this seasons trade deadline) tremendous leverage to demand a lot in return for their franchise player. According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers offered New Orleans Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and two first round picks. That package still wasn’t enough to satisfy New Orleans, and the Lakers ended negotiations. Had the Lakers executed that trade, they would have dismantled their core outside Lebron, and still may have not been good enough to topple Golden State’s dynasty. 

The Lakers’ free agency and trade pursuits will be an ongoing storyline that dominates the sports dialogue in the weeks and months to come. The Lakers have many stars they could possibly chase after this year via free agency (ie Kawhi Leonard, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, etc.) or trade (ie Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kyle Lowry, etc.). However, given how impeccably he fits the Lakers, and how much he improves their prospects as far as the overall NBA landscape, Klay Thompson is the ideal match for the Lakers.

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Why Matt Rhule has a chance to be a successful NFL coach

By Sam Mehr                                                                                                      1/28/20

Image courtesy The Athletic

           As the wheels of the NFL coaching carousel churned once again in the winter of 2020, an interesting hire came across the newswires. The Carolina Panthers hired former Baylor coach Matt Rhule as their next head coach to replace veteran coach Ron Rivera. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Panthers doled out a 7 year 60 million dollar contract (which can reach 70 million if incentives are reached). In short, the Panthers made a colossal commitment to a guy who has only 1 year of NFL experience (2012 as an assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants). Additionally, the track record of head coaches transitioning from college to the NFL has been mixed at best. At any rate, I believe the marriage between Rhule and the Panthers has the chance to be a fruitful one for a variety of reasons.

           Matt Rhule has a strong resume as a winning coach. A former linebacker at Penn State in the mid-1990s, Rhule has been a head coach at Temple University (2013-2016) and Baylor University (2017-2019). Following a 2-10 debut season at Temple, he increased the win total for the Owls over his next three seasons there. He won 10 games in each of his last two seasons at Temple (10-4 in 2015 and 10-3 in 2016). Rhule joined Baylor in 2017, a football program in ruins following a sexual assault scandal that enveloped figures such as head coach Art Briles and president Kenneth Starr. Following a 1-11 inaugural season at the helm, Rhule led Baylor to a 7-6 record in 2018 (including a win over Vanderbilt in the Texas Bowl). In 2019, Baylor finished 11-3, and was invited to the prestigious Sugar Bowl (which they lost to Georgia). The point is that Rhule has consistently turned teams around. Thus, he has the chance to be an elixir for a Panthers team in need of a home improvement, as they have finished 29-35 over the last 4 seasons (with only one playoff appearance) since their Super Bowl trip in 2015.

           Schematically, Matt Rhule has proven himself to be cutting edge. According to Zach Barnett of FootballScoop.com, Rhule ran an offense at Temple that was run-heavy. He utilized big personnel (2 running backs and 2 tight ends on the field at the same time). At Baylor, Barnett noted that he adopted the run-pass option system (a system where, on a given play, the quarterback puts the ball in the belly of the running back and either hands off or pulls the football and passes it). Rhule implemented this offense, Barnett wrote, because he recruited a lot of Texas high schoolers who ran that system at their respective schools. In short, Rhule has proven himself to be adaptable in terms of his x’s and o’s. This flexibility is critical in the NFL, where the opponent changes week to week, and trends throughout the league take hold as time passes by (ie the NFL becoming more pass-oriented in the late 2000s, etc). Finally, Rhule picked a bright young offensive coordinator in Joe Brady. Brady spent two seasons (2017-2018) as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints. He worked under head coach Sean Payton, one of the best offensive minds in the NFL over his 14 seasons and counting with the Saints. Additionally, he got to observe future hall of fame quarterback Drew Brees. In 2019, Brady moved to LSU, a program that won the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. Brady won the Broyles Award, an honor granted to the best assistant coach in college football, and assisted an offense that ranked first in all of college football in points per game (48.4).

           Matt Rhule has a personality that is conducive to him being successful in the NFL. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer wrote in January 2020 that when Rhule was at Baylor, he had an open dialogue with faculty in regards to whether his players were late or not when going to classes. This anecdote shows Rhule demands accountability and discipline from his players, two characteristics that translate well to winning football games. In that same article, Tom Coughlin, the former New York Giants head coach, said about Rhule, “He’s so humble; no ego.” Coughlin later added, “He is very good at helping players get better because he comes off as so human. He’s good about admitting mistakes, and that’s a way of saying he wants to get better and help everyone else get better.” These quotes from Tom Coughlin illustrate that Rhule is a very easygoing person (ie not someone who has an overinflated sense of self), and an open-minded nature. I think these qualities make him relatable to players, who will in turn want to accept his coaching and play hard for him. Matt Lombardo of NJ.com wrote in January 2020 about Rhule. Lombardo spoke with Brandon Noble, a teammate of Rhule’s at Penn State, and an assistant with Rhule at Temple. Noble said, “Matt always had a chip on his shoulder…that idea and that mentality he brought to Temple, all of those kids were reminded of it when we went to play Notre Dame and when they went to play Penn State and eventually beat them. Those guys had that chip-on-their-shoulder mentality. That ‘Temple tough,’ Northeast thing…Matt has it and he gets guys to believe it.” Noble’s quote illustrates that Rhule instills toughness in his players, and toughness is perhaps the most fundamental quality needed in a football team. Additionally, the above quote demonstrates that Rhule is a strong motivator to his players, which is one of the most important traits a coach needs in order to have success.

           The Panthers roster has pieces that Rhule can utilize in order to attain success. Admittedly, there is some uncertainty at the quarterback position. Cam Newton, a former MVP and 3-time Pro Bowler, is recovering from foot surgery, and has a contract that can be voided with only a 2 million dollar salary cap hit. Also, Luke Kuechly, a future hall of fame linebacker, announced his retirement in January. Therefore, things aren’t perfect from a roster standpoint for Carolina. However, there are talented players still left over on both sides of the football. The offensive fulcrum for the Panthers is running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey, a quick, powerful runner who is a great receiver as well, is one of the best players in the NFL.  In addition, the Panthers have D J Moore, a 22 year old wide receiver who caught 87 passes in 2019. Opposite Moore is Curtis Samuel, a versatile receiver who, besides catching the football, is capable of running it on reverses, sweep plays, etc. The Panthers have some talented defensive personnel under contract as well. Defensive tackle Kawann Short is a disruptive player who is stout vs the run, and can push the pocket and rush the quarterback (32.5 sacks over 7 seasons in the NFL). Defensive end/linebacker Brian Burns, the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, is a fast player who is a promising pass rusher (7.5 sacks in his debut season). Finally, the Panthers have linebacker Shaq Thompson. Thompson is a speedy linebacker who is a tremendous athlete (he played linebacker, safety, and running back in college at Washington). Upon signing a 4 year 54 million dollar contract extension in December 2019, general manager Marty Hurney referred to him in a statement as “very versatile” and “the blueprint for what we want at the position.”

           The hiring of Matt Rhule was one that was not without risk. Furthermore, the Panthers gave an astounding commitment both in terms of years and finances to their new head coach. However, Rhule has an excellent resume as a team builder. He is also very intelligent, both in terms of his football iq, and his ability to connect with his players. Finally, he possesses talented players at his disposal. Mixing all the variables together, I absolutely believe that Matt Rhule can be a home run addition for the Carolina Panthers.