Rhule Links

[Mr. Scot]

For those who want to read up on the new coach, there are plenty of options.

Max Henson, Panthers.com: Why Matt Rhule? David Tepper Explains

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“He built a program that has lasted through three coaches,” Tepper said of Noll. “That’s what I hope Matt Rhule can do for us here. He’s a program builder.”

Zach Goins, Panthers.com: Get to know new Panthers head coach Matt Rhule

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While Rhule was making his rounds early in his coaching career, he spent some time in the mountains of North Carolina in Cullowhee. In the early 2000s, Rhule coached at Western Carolina for four years, so his new start in the Carolinas won’t be completely unfamiliar.

Joe Person, The Athletic: Panthers owner makes a big bet on Rhule that history suggests will pay off (subscription required)

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In Tepper’s first career as one of the world’s top hedge fund managers, he’s made his reputation and money taking chances on beleaguered companies. He bet big on Bank of America and other banks after the 2008 financial crisis, believing correctly that the government would helps save the big banks.

He’s betting big that Rhule, who played at Penn State under Joe Paterno, will save a football team in disarray.

Alaina Getzenberg, The Charlotte Observer: By hiring Matt Rhule, David Tepper checked off almost every box

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Rhule fits all of those but one. Almost all of the candidates interviewed by the Panthers are current NFL offensive coordinators or former head coaches in the NFL. He was the exception.

But all of the other areas Tepper was looking for Rhule filled. At Baylor, he had a program and staff that was focused on using sports science and player development to help the team’s performance. The Applied Performance Department used data and other research to help all athletes at Baylor perform to the best of their ability. There’s no doubt that Rhule’s desire to build a similar type of group with the Panthers aligned with Tepper’s vision.

Scott Fowler, The Charlotte Observer: Matt Rhule isn’t an ‘offensive genius.’ He’s a fixer, and the Panthers need fixing

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For his staff, Rhule hired several excellent Texas high school football coaches who knew the Lone Star State backward and forward and could help brush away the “He ain’t from ‘round here” stigma from Rhule. He bought a big truck. He asked a lot of his players, but also played ping-pong with them. He lost 11 games in his first season (2017) and won 11 games in his third, when Baylor got to the Sugar Bowl. All of that is remarkable. What he did at Temple, before he got to Baylor, was similar.

 

Rick Bonnell, The Charlotte Observer: What made Matt Rhule the right fit for the Panthers? He’s no BS’er

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“I don’t think anyone really understood where Baylor was when we got here. We restored the program to what it’s supposed to be. Where players come and leave as better men. Get an education and were transformed ... We didn’t just use players for football, we tried to better their lives.”

 

Steve Reed, The Associated Press: Matt Rhule becomes Panthers new head coach

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He was named Baylor’s coach on Dec. 6, 2016, after a sex scandal hit the program, resulting in the firing of Art Briles. The Bears went 1-11 in their first season under Rhule in 2017 with a depleted roster, but the team improved to 7-6 in 2018 and won a bowl game. Baylor went 11-1 in the regular season in 2019 before losing to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Pete Thamel, Yahoo Sports: The walk-on fever dream: Matt Rhule’s dramatic ascent to the NFL

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“He makes you really believe in him and the coaches around him,” Matakevich said by phone on Tuesday. “He makes you believe in yourself. He’s able to get all the guys playing for him and each other.”

David Smoak, ESPN Radio (audio) : Matt Rhule Interview (1/7/20)

[Mr. Scot]

One Note. Near the end of the radio interview(a little after 12:30) David Smoak asks him how much he's studied Carolina as far as the personnel.

His answer: "I don't know anything really. I mean, I know what I know but um, you know, I have to get there and get started on that whole process. I don't know much other than kind of what I've seen."

[therealmjl]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

One Note. Near the end of the radio interview(a little after 12:30) David Smoak asks him how much he's studied Carolina as far as the personnel.

His answer: "I don't know anything really. I mean, I know what I know but um, you know, I have to get there and get started on that whole process. I don't know much other than kind of what I've seen."

that's so concerning imo.

he has no clue what he is even walking in to...like at all. crazy.

[Mr. Scot]

4 minutes ago, mjligon said:

that's so concerning imo.

he has no clue what he is even walking in to...like at all. crazy.

The host mentioned Kuechly and McCaffrey, but Rhule's response was just kind of "uh, yeah".

Granted, you expect there's gonna be an adjustment, but that still kinda surprised me.

[Mr. Scot]

Added a new one from the team site...

[ladypanther]

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of one of his mentors. Then-Giants coach Tom Coughlin —

Sounds like they have strong ties.  Think Coughlin might end up getting a role here?

[Mr. Scot]

4 minutes ago, ladypanther said:

Sounds like they have strong ties.  Think Coughlin might end up getting a role here?

Coughlin was his head coach the year he was with the Giants. Don't know if he'd latch on here. I think he's retiring.

Rhule is acquainted with two recent members of the Panthers staff.  Interim Head Coach / prior DB Coach Perry Fewell was the Giants defensive coordinator in 2012, and Special Teams Coach Chase Blackburn played linebacker on that team. Might give the two of them a chance to stay on.

Other people Rhule knows from that year:

- Sean Ryan (QB Coach, Lions, expected to be his OC)
- Kevin Gilbride Jr. (TE Coach Bears, recently let go so available)
- Pat Flaherty (OL Coach, previously with the Dolphins)
- Al Holcomb (LB Coach, late of the Browns, formerly of the Panthers)
- Jerry Palmieri (Strength and Conditioning Coach, previously with Giants, currently available)

Giants front office people from that time:

- Marc Ross (former Giants Director of College Scouting)
- Jerry Reese (former Giants General Manager)

Also turns out that Rhule is acquainted with Saints Assistant GM Jeff Ireland, who's a Baylor grad.

[Snake]

40 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Coughlin was his head coach the year he was with the Giants. Don't know if he'd latch on here. I think he's retiring.

Rhule is acquainted with two recent members of the Panthers staff.  Interim Head Coach / prior DB Coach Perry Fewell was the Giants defensive coordinator in 2012, and Special Teams Coach Chase Blackburn played linebacker on that team. Might give the two of them a chance to stay on.

Other people Rhule knows from that year:

- Sean Ryan (QB Coach, Lions, expected to be his OC)
- Kevin Gilbride Jr. (TE Coach Bears, recently let go so available)
- Pat Flaherty (OL Coach, previously with the Dolphins)
- Al Holcomb (LB Coach, late of the Browns, formerly of the Panthers)
- Jerry Palmieri (Strength and Conditioning Coach, previously with Giants, currently available)

Giants front office people from that time:

- Marc Ross (former Giants Director of College Scouting)
- Jerry Reese (former Giants General Manager)

Also turns out that Rhule is acquainted with Saints Assistant GM Jeff Ireland, who's a Baylor grad.

I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't pluck Irand from the Saints instead of trying to get a Steelers FO guy. 

[Jared Patterson]

I don't mind the Tennessee Titans guy. They have quietly had amazing drafts and are absolutely loaded besides Tannehill