Soul Rebel

1- Richard 2- Manuel . . . . . . Bradley If we are fully trying to hit a reset on our style, coaching and schemes, Richard or Manuel would be aligned with Reich. Hiring Bradley is a lot of what we've seen already for the past two decades. Reich/Brian Johnson/Richard would look nothing like what Panthers fans are used to.

Richard is my new #1 fave, but Manuel would easily be a fan fave and my 1B option. We have some talent in the DB room that could use someone with a focus on DBs. CJ, Taylor, Hartsfield and Franklin. A couple of excerpts that stood out to me: https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/meet-marquand-manuel-the-fiery-falcons-defensive-coordinator-who-knows-only-one-

Welp, on to Kris Richard. Bradley has the Reich's connections, but I fear that Gus' system is too soft and "bend but don't break" style. From what I've read on Colts/Raiders boards, he does not like to blitz, a bit vanilla for opposing OCs to pick apart and would appear to have a hard time getting off the field. Richard and Manuel seem more aggressive and can keep up with today's offenses.

Richard would be a great hire for our DC. He made the rounds in HC interviews a few years back and was a hot commodity for a minute. He's slid back into less-popular mentions a la Bieniemy. I like Fangio and think he's #1 on the market, but Richard would be a helluva get. Also stealing a Saints talent to bring here would be great. Brian Johnson or Duce Staley for OC Kris Richard for DC

As we all know, Tepper and the org was leaning towards an offensive mind over defense. I also feel that if you swap their respective disciplines and put Reich in Carolina this past year at 6-6 with a defensive background, and place Wilks as the offensive mind coming from Indianapolis, we would've hired Wilks. That's not to say that there's not some unfortunate biases in play potentially as well as throughout the NFL.

I think this is more because Ryans played most of his career in Houston. It would be like Kuechly being a hot candidate and choosing us over Denver. That's not to say that the Broncos current situation is a dumpster fire, but I don't think that's the case with Ryans.

Nothing but love and respect for Wilks. He exceeded what was asked of him and rallied this Team from the trash heap that Rhule left burning behind him. He embodied Keep Pounding and made this team watchable all year. I hope he lands on his feet elsewhere (preferably not in the NFCS) and eventually is coaching a team.

This is the dream. Fitts calls his buddies in Seattle to move up to 5 and take Stroud without gashing our draft capital.

His 2022 staff was underwhelming because Sirianni, Gannon and others bolted for promotions. Make no mistake, Reich will pull talented coordinators and coaches on his staff. I think this was one of his more positive traits over other candidates.

This tweet is unfortunate. Wilks did a lot for this team and was on the precipice of the playoffs. If he wins that TB game, we're in the playoffs and I think there's no way he isn't being announced as HC before January 26th. He didn't, there were true concerns that even most fans can see pretty easily.

100%. From a humanitarian standpoint, I feel the same. As a Panthers football fan, I'm happy for Reich and think he will be the better hire of the two. Now..... go get Bradley or Fangio for DC, bring in a competent OC, sign Brissett this offseason and find your QB1.

Not to kick the can down the road nor subscribe to the classic "oh just wait on next year's QB crop....it's so much better than this year" bs, but what if we wait on our QB1 until 2024? We draft Johnston or if someone like Murphy falls to 9. Get our WR1 this year, save our draft capital from moving up and wait on next year's talent. Lots to like there and they are not Ohio State, 'Bama or UF QBs. Plus, we can see what our new HC/OC can do with Corral for a year, while bringing in a bridge QB. If it is Reich, a Brissett reunion + Corral would be interesting. You would have Johnston-Moore-TMJ-Shenault. Maybe snag Kincaid or Musgrave in R2 and then maybe Charbonnet/Evans/McIntosh at 61. Let's deck out the offense around our already top-10 OL add pieces for either Corral or next year's QB and let Reich/Wilks have a year to assess the roster. Truth is that Williams/Maye/Penix/Sanders/Ewers are as good....actually more tantalizing to me than Stroud/Young/Levis/Richardson.

This is my favorite style of offense. I assume great window dressing, no huddle to optimize matchups and seize control vs. plodding along. Have we ever had this in Carolina?

The TLDR 2023 coaching cycle for us summarized....."choose your poison". Wilks - you know what you're getting. Physical, ground and pound football with a suspect DC. Who does he bring in for OC? Turned the culture around, has the locker room and a great local story. Is it not more of what we've experienced for the past 20 years? Reich - Teppers ideal cross of HC experience-offensive background. Very solid coaching tree and won a SB as an OC. Did he fail in Indy or was it a similar situation to Carolina's sh!t show of QB carousel and suspect ownership? Steichen/Johnson/Moore - young up and coming OCs that have had success calling plays, though not for very long. Can they be "thee guy" running the show, gaining respect and buy-in from players...much different than a playcaller. Payton - the most experience, winning history with a ring as a HC and brings a culture with him that players are drawn to. Cost and control is the issue. For Tepper to give up draft capital, top $$ for salary AND control from Fitts/Morgan....no dice. Kafka/Dorsey - just not there yet. Some highs and lows....still a year or two out from HC consideration, IMO. Bottom line is that there is no "homerun" lock HC in this cycle. Hope for the best...be happy that Rhule is no longer here and that Payton & Harbaugh are not coming in to seize control, cost us assets and bring in veteran QBs and players, vs. building a long-term answer. Whoever it is at HC/OC/DC/QB, I will root for. There's reasons to be happy and concerned about all candidates. There is no Tomlin or Belly out there that you can hang your hat on to bring SBs to the Queen City.

Sidebar - didn't realize Reich and McAfee were tight. Can someone that has clout slide into his DMs to get some dirt on where Reich's head is at?

Excellent work Mr. Scot! It's a battle of two coaches with HC experience, had to overcome awful QB situations (one being washed vets; the other being former FRPs that flopped). Both also had rough ownership issues at their respective previous stops that led to unfair firings. I give the edge to Reich because he has won a SB as an OC, has a good coaching tree and brings an offensive approach for the first time in our franchise's history.

Bad HC, solid OC. The AR soap opera begins in Jersey.....Jets making power moves. I wonder if Reich/Wilks would bring in a guy like LaFleur for our OC. HC: Reich or Wilks OC: Mike LaFleur DC: Vic Fangio QB1: Brisett (bridge) - draft Stroud/Young/Levis/Richardson

I do wonder if hired, would Brissett be the vet bridge-QB brought in while Reich's rookie gets acclimated. Not a bad 2019 campaign with almost 3k yards/18TD/6INTs. 6-4, 235 and just turned 30 last month.

Reich as the hire makes sense if you take Tepper on his word from the beginning. He wanted an offensive mind vs. defensive..... and someone with experience. Reich checks both boxes. He was good, not great in Indy and had a much maligned couple years there getting to do things his way. 5 different starting QBs - most at the end of their respective careers. He did have an 11-5 year and a 10-6 year too. What he did with Foles in Philly and never having a young QB to groom in IND gives me hope. He's been around some talented staffs and his up-tempo, RPO-heavy offense (with a few West Coast tweaks) is what I like to watch. If he could bring Fangio and Deuce Staley with him as DC/OC and draft our future QB this year, I think we would be in a better place. I'm unsure if he will ever be a top-tier superb HC, but I would like to see what he can do in Carolina being less hamstrung as he was with the Colts. He helped mold JTaylor into a top-5 NFL RB too. His HC tree looks pretty good so far with Sirriani and Eberflus being HCs and Gannon probably getting a HC gig this cycle. We already have a good base in place...just need to cultivate the young seedlings. Reich's experience could be the answer. My preference is : 1 - Steichen, 2A - Reich, 2B - Wilks

I saw that Jeremy Fowler reported that the Jets and IIRC, the Chargers would like to interview Reich for OC. IF other NFL teams want to bring him in as an OC, I do wonder if a Wilks-Reich pairing would make the most sense vs. giving Reich the keys to the car as HC. Still on Team Steichen....just waiting patiently with bated breath.

Knowing Newton's history with errors, maybe he meant the 93rd pick and not the ninth.....

67% comp rate, 30 TD at NDSU with 1 Int is far from dreadful. In the NFL as a 21 & 22-year old youngster his stats are far from desirable, but as a 21 & 22 year old making a leap....I'm okay with it. It wasn't until year 3 that Josh Allen hit his stride.

That's what I mean in that they would hold out on a HC despite Steichen's virtual. Hold off until they can bring Steichen back in and then make our hire.

So if we interview Kafka today, Payton on Monday and already did with Dorsey yesterday and don't announce a hire by Wednesday/Thursday, would Steichen be perceived as the leader in the clubhouse?

Interesting that he has three interviews the day after getting smoked by the Eagles in a playoff road loss. Should speak highly of how he handles adversity and mental fortitude.