UNCrules2187

I think unless Steichen pulls out of the search, this thing goes to at least next week because we can't do a second interview with him until next Monday at the earliest.

Can’t realistically happen given NFL rules. Maybe a sourced report that’s he’s the front runner but we can’t actually hire him until the Eagles are out of the playoffs.

I do think for Ryans it's Houston or bust (aka staying on as DC in SF for another year). He pulled himself out of consideration for the Colts and Cardinals jobs. Denver is reportedly looking to hire someone with previous HC experience (Quinn or Payton) given they they've flamed out with 3 straight coordinator hires.

I agree. Maybe they'll also bring in one of whoever they liked best between Dorsey/Kafka/Moore as well, but I think this is a Steichen or Wilks race with an outside shot at Reich. I still don't get this asinine line of thinking. By his definition, only Wilks is "all in" on the Panthers because everyone else we've interviewed has interviewed elsewhere too?

Cowherd trying to help his boy out lol

My preferred choice at this stage is Steichen plus a trade up to draft one of Young/Stroud/Levis. I think the best shot of that is if Chicago trades back with Indianapolis, then trades down again. 9 and 39 should be enough to move from 9 to 4.

I will say this has been an incredibly quiet search by the Panthers. Only real "leak" was that Tepper/the team was excited by Ben Johnson and he may have been the frontrunner if he hadn't pulled out. Besides that, been crickets.

I don't necessarily know if Fangio would be "pushed" onto Steichen either. If he's a top candidate, I'm sure one of the questions asked in the initial interview was "who would you be looking to bring on as your top lieutenants"? Remember, Fangio is a defensive consultant for the Eagles this season: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2022/10/10/23397056/eagles-vic-fangio-nfl-rumors-news-source-report-jonathan-gannon-defensive-coordinator-philadelphia

2018: 27ppg, 8th in point differential 2019: 22.5ppg, 17th in point differential (Brissett at QB; first post-Luck year) 2020: 28ppg, 8th in point differential (Rivers at QB) 2021: 26.5ppg, 7th in point differential (Wentz at QB) 2022: 14.7ppg, last in point differential (Ryan/Ehlinger at QB) - this is where the wheels fell off, although not sure how much of that is Reich's fault Honestly, think there are worse hires out there than Reich. My order of preference is probably Steichen, Payton, Reich, Wilks of the candidates we've got left.

Dallas?

I was thinking about this actually. IF the current front runners are are Steichen, Payton, and Wilks, there's nothing else we can do with them this week (except hire Wilks, but they can keep him on the backburner since it doesn't look like anyone else has interest in even bringing him in). In that case, they may decide to speak to another candidate or two just because it seems like we're in a holding pattern (especially if Steichen is the top candidate). I wouldn't mind bringing in Raheem Morris for an interview. Prior HC experience, a defensive mind but like Evero spent a few years on the offensive side as WRs coach and pass game coordinator under Dan Quinn.

They wanted to and he turned it down.

This does not make me want Wilks as HC either lmao:

Check my username - I'm a UNC alum and fan lol. I like Howell and think he could end up carving a niche in the league as a high level back up, potentially a decent starter, but he's got 1 start in the league. I don't think he's a "poo QB", I meant more he's super inexperienced and Turner only coached him for one game. I'm hoping he develops into a starting NFL QB, better for UNC recruiting

I think I'd be content with Steichen as HC with Turner as OC and Fangio as DC. I was listening to The Athletic Football Podcast this morning and they were talking about how Turner has been saddled with poo QBs his entire tenure as an OC: 24 games with Taylor Heinicke 7 games with Carson Wentz 6 with hobbled Alex Smith 6 with Dwayne Haskins (RIP) 6 with Kyle Allen 2 with Will Grier 1 (partial) with Garrett Gilbert 1 with Ryan Fitzpatrick 1 rookie 5th round pick Sam Howell He's coached 54 games as an OC and never once had a true NFL starting QB. Podcast below (Turner discussion starts around 57 minute mark). Also good thoughts at the top on the HC openings and basically have Texans (due to draft capital and ability to grab your QB) ranked first with Panthers second (much better roster and an owner committed to spending on a winner). Said if the Panthers had a 2nd 1st round pick instead of Texans, Carolina would be far and away the best opening.

Very plausible.

Speculation but I think this is right:

Of the candidates left, I think Steichen is my preferred option at this point, but I think after some consideration I'd prefer Moore to Kafka and Dorsey due to his playcalling experience. I'd be happy with Payton too if that's how it shakes out.

You technically can once that year's draft starts. So for example, in 2020, you could only trade picks in the 20, 21, and 22 drafts before the beginning of the draft, but once the Bengals were on the clock, the 23 picks come into play.

Think the ship has sailed there honestly. He can't interview with us until next Monday and I think Tepper's going to have narrowed down his list by then. edit: this tweet around the interview process could be useful to add to the OP

Small correction to the recap, but Caldwell was actually the first interview the Monday after the season ended. Believe Wilks went the day after.

Coach salary doesn't matter, comes out of Tepper's pocket and it's not like it affects the salary cap. $20 million is high, but it's not insane compared to other top coaches. Belichick makes $20m, Carroll $15m, McVay $14m, etc.