Mage

Sounds like a Panthers head coach to me then!

Have you watched the Bucs offense this year? That was by far their best offensive performance of the year. Even the depleted Cardinals, who were starting their 3rd string QB and the 29th scoring defense held the Bucs to 19 points. Please do not give Wilks an excuse for the atrocious performance on defense. Brady hadn't even thrown more than 1 TD on 15+ air yard throws this entire season. He had 3 yesterday. Horrendous defensive scheme and play-calling. And the lack of adjustments? I mean come on now. Injured CBs is an excuse for the 1st TD. Hell, I'll give it to you for the 2nd one. But to let it happen a 3rd time? Wilks ain't no defensive mastermind. He was Rivera's sidekick.

I'm not arguing against Wilks' ability to coach an average team. What evidence is there to suggest Wilks can take a team over the top? What about his ability to adjust to the opponent? Make decisions on the fly? What connections does Steve Wilks have that would lead us to believe he can bring in a highly touted OC or DC? He was with Ron Rivera most of his pro coaching career, then spent one year in Arizona (got fired) and one year in Cleveland (got fired). And in a league where teams are going younger at HC, it seems weird for me to retain a retread 53-year old head coach with no notable defenses to speak of. His coaching career is basically as Ron Rivera's right-hand man (seriously, only two of his pro years (the aforementioned Browns and Cardinals stints) were without Ron Rivera), except not nearly as good if we're comparing the defenses each has coached. It baffles my mind how the same fanbase that universally agreed it was time for Rivera to go (even people in this own thread), now wants to hire his right hand man. But if the standard is a .500 record, then by all means. But I can guarantee you it will go no different than Rivera's run here... except Wilks is less likely to find his Cam Newton and will actually need to develop a QB rather than depend on his rare athleticism. And we all saw what happened every single time in games when Newton couldn't will the offense to the endzone.

This is how I know Wilks will be a bad head coach. The only thing anyone ever talks about with him is how he's a great leader. How he has the teams respect. Aka he's another conservative rah-rah coach. What evidence is there that he has the ability to adjust to the opponent and out-scheme the other team? Yes, a HC needs to be a good leader, but come on now. Nobody is sitting up on TV talking about how good of a leader Belichick is, or McVay, or Shanahan, or Payton, or Reid, or McCarthy, or Pederson, or Daboll etc. But again, I get it. Because outside of "being a leader," there really is no good argument in favor of Wilks. And do people actually think the team looked good, or did it just look better in comparison to Rhule's team? Because there is a big difference. And do we really want our standards to be, "he's better than Matt Rhule"?

The team hasn't looked good, they have just had a below average schedule. And who is Wilks going to bring in as OC? What reason is there to think Wilks of all people will be the one to help find and develop our next QB? Fox got lucky with Delhomme, but that was a different era and what happened when Delhomme declined? Rivera got lucky with the No. 1 overall pick and Cam Newton, but hell, who actually thinks Newton's potential was maximized here? And what happened when we needed a back-up plan to Cam? Who knows who the Panthers will draft but we need to guarantee ourselves a head coach who we believe can develop a franchise QB for us. Wilks is very unlikely to be that man. Lastly, I'm not against hiring defensive-minded guys as HC, but it is time for people to face the facts: there is no evidence Steve Wilks can actually coach a consistently high-level defense. Blame him or Holcomb, it doesn't matter, they go hand-in-hand. Like I said, he's a poor-mans Rivera. Rivera has coached or been the HC for many top 10 defenses. Wilks in 4 years as DC/HC has only finished inside the top 20 in points allowed once (and never in the top 10) and only finished inside the top 20 in yards allowed once, and both happened the same year by the way. Point is his defenses usually are mediocre to bad. Outside of "leadership" (and look, I'm not saying Wilks ain't a great leader, but being a great leader isn't some overly unique trait to find in a league with hundreds of coaches), what reason is there to keep Wilks? He doesn't coach great defenses. What evidence is there that he will hire a good OC? His OC in Arizona was Byron Leftwich and everyone is seeing how much he sucks as a play-caller without the influence of Arians. Honestly, if the Panthers retain Wilks, it would be one of the most disappointing moves by the team that I can remember. Just a clearly terrible decision (no offense to anyone in support of him, just stating my opinion).

Steve Wilks is a poor mans Ron Rivera

He's been conservative all year Just cost us the NFC South And he cost us a top 5 pick SCREW YOU WILKS! POS!

DARNOLD LOL

I'm glad Wilks turned down all those opportunities in the first half to go for it

lol wilks

Darnold is FILTHY

DARNOLD HAS A CANNON

Darnold can't help himself

Bucs kicking lmaooo

Lol

He's 34 years old.

LOL

How bad was Matt Rhule LMAO

Greg Olsen has improved so much as an announcer IMO

Man Darnold is slinging that thang

Bucs offense is a snore.

Why run the read-option if your QB is going to be that scared of contact?

Bro he looked slow as hell I thought I was tripping. I wish Shenault could return punts, with his athleticism? He'd be lethal.

GO FOR IT

IT WASNT CHINN BUT THAT WILL DO!!!!!