Matt Rhule entered his 1/3 season with the Panthers atop possibly the warmest seat in the NFL.
It has handiest gotten warmer after Rhule’s Panthers have won simply considered one of their first four video games. Carolina’s performance in Sunday’s loss to Arizona turned into a brand new low factor of the marketing campaign, as the Panthers were outgained 338-220 in yards, transformed simply 2 of 10 1/3-down tries and fell to the Cardinals in a game that become greater lopsided than the 26-16 very last rating indicated.
Plenty of the bad attention centers on quarterback Baker Mayfield, Rhule’s modern day hand-picked option to Carolina’s lengthy-walking QB conundrum. Like Sam Darnold and Teddy Bridgewater, Mayfield hasn’t come via, posting his worst passer rating of his quick time with the Panthers on Sunday and inflicting the house enthusiasts to aggressively boo their struggling group.
“They need to look exact offense and be entertained and it is now not occurring,” Rhule said Monday, thru the associated Press’ Steve Reed. “i am getting it.”
Monday’s wondering in addition emphasized the contemporary nation of displeasure with the membership. Instead of recapping every other irritating loss, Rhule become compelled to answer inquiries concerning his activity protection and capability new possibilities some place else after best one month of football.
Rhule declined to touch upon collegiate vacancies, and refused to discuss the quarterbacks the Panthers did not collect (i.E., Jimmy Garoppolo) in the offseason. As for those currently on his roster, his first-class to be had alternative is Mayfield, at least for now with Darnold on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
“I assume Baker’s our quarterback,” Rhule said, thru The Athletic’s Joe man or woman. “We should hold to discover approaches to assist him. … Sam isn’t always cleared proper now.”
That quote might best seize the current state of the Panthers. After celebrating their acquisition of Mayfield, the presumed superior option between he and Darnold, Carolina is probably searching at Darnold as a probable savior by season’s stop.
Mayfield has struggled mightily in his first month with the Panthers, failing to direct the offense and pass the ball continuously. He’s had endless passes batted down at the road of scrimmage, has thrown multiple awful interceptions, and hasn’t countered those problems with enough advantageous plays to balance things out. Carolina’s offense is downright terrible with Mayfield underneath middle proper now.
“We simply want Baker to relax and play within the scheme,” Rhule stated, via the Charlotte Observer’s Ellis Williams. “that is something he believes in, we all trust in.”
Darnold, although, became further terrible ultimate season, in particular after the physical illnesses started to pile up. In which Mayfield struggles with accuracy and clean releases, Darnold turned into overly hesitant and unreliable when protecting the football. The most effective distinction between the two has been the presence of Christian McCaffrey, a luxury afforded to Mayfield upon which he has rarely capitalized.
Turning to Darnold as a franchise’s last wish, but, is disheartening. In the final weeks, the Panthers’ defense has been its exceptional supply of points, which truely isn’t always feasible in contemporary NFL. It’s in which the Panthers are at this point, bringing purpose to why media participants are asking Rhule about his process safety.
“If I make this about me, i’m now not being the sort of teach I need to be,” Rhule stated, including, “Our team will respond. We constantly do.”
Carolina has but to respond this season. If matters maintain on this track, we can bank on Rhule being pressured to reply to questions regarding his job in the weeks to return.
