Matt Rhule defends Joe Brady

[Zod]

From the Athletic

Quote

But coach Matt Rhule defended offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s calls, instead pointing to a couple of plays on the first red-zone possession in which poor execution proved costly: a Darnold overthrow to tight end Ian Thomas in the end zone and Darnold’s fumble on a botched handoff.

“I had no issue with the play calling. We had a seam route to Ian Thomas that we have to throw and catch, and that’s a touchdown. We had a fourth-and-1 that walks in if we don’t put the ball on the ground,” Rhule said Monday.

“We had a guy open again (on another possession). I thought Joe called a good game down there. I just think we have to execute better. I say that, that starts with me as the head coach (with) practice and all those different things.”

Thomas was open on the first-and-10 play (from the 13) that Rhule referenced, but it was a fairly tight window. Still, as CBS color analyst Tiki Barber noted during the broadcast, Darnold needed to fire the ball into the area of Thomas’ facemask. Instead, Darnold threw high and Thomas was only able to get one hand on the ball.

After two Christian McCaffrey carries, the Panthers had another run set up for McCaffrey on fourth-and-1 at the 2. But Rhule said Darnold came out too wide from under center, causing him to lose the ball when he bumped into fullback Giovanni Ricci. The Jets recovered.

“We just have to get that mesh better. We probably have to practice that play more. That was a game plan-specific play, a play we ran a lot last year,” Rhule said. “We just need Sam to be a little tighter to the midline.”

Barber agreed, telling CBS viewers: “Sam Darnold forgot you’ve gotta clear the fullback before you extend the ball out to the running back.”

A Shaq Thompson interception helped get the offense in scoring position on the next drive, which stalled at the 3 when Darnold threw the ball away on second-and-goal, then overshot an open Terrace Marshall Jr. on an out route just past the goal line on third-and-goal.

The QB draw was a great play call by Brady. The Panthers went to an empty backfield, spread McCaffrey out with the receivers and had Darnold go in untouched through a big gap in the Jets’ front.

Still, the 1-for-4 red-zone showing (touchdowns only) put the Panthers in a tie for 25th in that category — in the same area as 2020 when they finished 28th with a red-zone percentage of 50.9.

Having a healthy McCaffrey should help, but tight end Dan Arnold said one player does not make a successful red-zone offense.

“No matter what play we’re calling, you’ve just gotta do your job. And there wasn’t enough of that (Sunday) in the red zone,” Arnold said. “And that’s really kind of where it starts. Good football teams are going to be able to figure it out no matter what.”

Added Rhule: “We have to execute better and score more points on offense if we want to win this week versus the Saints.”

 

So perhaps some of us were too hard on Brady. The calls could have yielded points if the execution was there. 

[BIGH2001]

Sounds a lot like Rivera. 

[Varking]

I said this yesterday multiple times. The calls were fine, Darnold just missed some throws. He’ll make them as time goes on. We had the correct play called each trip into the red zone. That’s a plus. Darnold missed two throws and fumbled one exchange. If we correct those player mistakes then we bow that game wide open. 

[ZeroZeroSeven]

Yeah the miscues cost us 10-14 points in the first half.

I’m more concerned about the offense in the 2nd half…109 yards and 3 points after halftime.  That’s not going to cut it moving forward.

Edited September 14, 2021 by ZeroZeroSeven

[mrcompletely11]

I dont think Brady did a bad job at all.  The plays were there upon a second watch.  And a couple of other observations from me watching the game last night: 1. Our line did pretty good in the first half but then the Jets made some changes and put more pressure on them in the second.   2. It appeared to me that Brady dialed everything way back in the 3rd qt because it felt like the game was completely in hand.  Right or wrong I think that was the game management style for the 2nd half on sunday

[SmokinwithWilly]

Not sure what to make of this. The Rhule "He's doing a good job" speech is normally the kiss of death. 

[1of10Charnatives]

5 minutes ago, ZeroZeroSeven said:

I’m more concerned about the offense in the 2nd half…109 yards and 3 points after halftime.  That’s not going to cut it moving forward.

This is the key point here.

Rhule's defense of Brady based on lack of execution during red zone trips in the first half holds water, but what is disingenuous about it is that it distracts from addressing the bigger concern: Brady's poor showing after the other team has made halftime adjustments.

[mbarbour21]

4 minutes ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

This is the key point here.

Rhule's defense of Brady based on lack of execution during red zone trips in the first half holds water, but what is disingenuous about it is that it distracts from addressing the bigger concern: Brady's poor showing after the other team has made halftime adjustments.

I fully agree with this. 100 yards after the half? I'm sorry, but he didn't seem to mix it up enough BEFORE the red zone. Granted, Rhule is right. If the final score was 33-14 we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. It could have easily been that too. But, that doesn't mean that we overlook other issues because we had red zone issues. It really looked like the "run, run, pass" days of old. I don't believe we had a big enough lead for that. We have to stop playing to not lose, versus playing to win. It will come back to bite us. 

[1of10Charnatives]

Just now, mbarbour21 said:

I fully agree with this. 100 yards after the half? I'm sorry, but he didn't seem to mix it up enough BEFORE the red zone. Granted, Rhule is right. If the final score was 33-14 we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. It could have easily been that too. But, that doesn't mean that we overlook other issues because we had red zone issues. It really looked like the "run, run, pass" days of old. I don't believe we had a big enough lead for that. We have to stop playing to not lose, versus playing to win. It will come back to bite us. 

The playing not to lose mentality exhibited by many coaching staffs in the NFL who are supposedly way better at this sort of thing than the rest of us drives me to distraction. Stop shifting blame to your players and grow a set.

[jerrya]

Keep in mind that with an inadequate offensive scheme and lousy play calling can make a Hall of Fame QB look average!

[Pimpdaddy]

57 minutes ago, ZeroZeroSeven said:

Yeah the miscues cost us 10-14 points in the first half.

I’m more concerned about the offense in the 2nd half…109 yards and 3 points after halftime.  That’s not going to cut it moving forward.

...kinda like last year...

[LinvilleGorge]

It's what I've been saying the whole time. We had a goalline fumble and two missed throws to wide open receivers in the endzone. That's not on the OC. Had we put up 40 points like we should have only the most devout of complainers would be complaining about the offensive output.

[Fox007]

Oh god thats the Kiss of Death...Joe Brady bout to be fired

[hepcat]

Didn’t mention only scoring 3 points in the second half did he