Person asks about GM / Head Coach "alignment"

[Mr. Scot]

How well are Fitterer and Rhule synched when it comes to the direction of the team?

Joe Person asks that question here:

Panthers QB decision could say a lot-about how aligned Matt Rhule and Scott Fitterer are

Excerpts...

Scott Fitterer laid out what he called the ideal scenario for building a roster around a drafted quarterback.

This is what the Seahawks did with Russell Wilson when Fitterer was Seattle’s college scouting director. This is not what the Panthers did the past two seasons with Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold.

“Ideally, you have a young guy that you can drop in there. That’s the most cost-efficient way to do it,” Fitterer said. “Surround him with veteran talent, have a young quarterback on a cost-efficient contract. That’s a great way to build your team. We did that in Seattle. That’s probably the right way to build it — draft and develop. That’d be a really good plan for us moving forward.”

And then Fitterer felt compelled to add a caveat: “But,” he said, “we’re open to all options.”

...

And as the Panthers prepare for their third season under head coach Matt Rhule, the quarterback decision gets at the heart of a bigger question hovering over the organization:

How well aligned are Rhule, who has final roster say as part of his seven-year contract, and Fitterer, who arrived a year after Rhule and has the reputation of being a sharp talent evaluator and a consensus-builder?

“I think we’re very aligned,” Fitterer said. “We believe in building it up front. We want to build on defense — offensive and defensive line. Obviously, quarterback is a part of this. He’s very aggressive, and I think that fits my nature, as well. We’re aggressive as a staff, as an organization. That’s our philosophy.”

...

That aggressiveness starts at the top with team owner David Tepper, whose affinity for shiny new objects was most recently evident in his unsuccessful yearlong pursuit of Deshaun Watson, despite the allegations by 22 women of sexual assault or sexual misconduct by Watson during massage sessions.

Aggressiveness is a close cousin to impatience, and both were evident last season when the Panthers misjudged how close they were to contending, prompting them to bring back quarterback Cam Newton and make in-season trades for defensive backs C.J. Henderson and Stephon Gilmore.

...

But back to quarterback: As Fitterer said, the prudent approach would be to draft a quarterback and continue to add players around him while he’s on his rookie contract.

...

Experts say this year’s quarterback class pales in comparison with last year when the Panthers passed on Justin Fields and Mac Jones with the No. 8 pick. But some around the league — including a couple with the Panthers — believe this quarterbacks group is better than people think.

The Panthers would have to be willing to accept some growing pains if they took one of these quarterbacks with the sixth pick, or later if they were to trade back. That will require patience — from an owner who’s endured four losing seasons since buying the team, and a head coach who might be coaching for his job this year.

Thus, Fitterer’s caveat that the Panthers are open to all options.

...

When the Browns won the Watson sweepstakes, the dominoes started falling in a quarterbacks market that has been pretty well picked over. But there are some guys out there if the Panthers want to try the retread approach again, including Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield.

The Panthers can afford to play the long game with Garoppolo since A) he’s still recovering from shoulder surgery; and B) no one else seems to be clamoring for him. Both of those points mean the Panthers wouldn’t have to give up much for Garoppolo, which is helpful considering the Panthers don’t have much to give.

...

Garoppolo might get the Panthers into the playoffs if everything around him is just right and he stays healthy. He’s certainly an upgrade over Darnold, who — along with his $18.9 million salary — remains on the roster and serves as a reminder of what happens when teams reach at the position.

...

As he did at the combine, Fitterer was clear the Panthers plan to add another quarterback. Depending on whether it’s a stopgap guy like Garoppolo or one of the quarterbacks from the draft could tell us a lot about who’s calling the shots.

“Quarterbacks are hard to find,” Fitterer said. “Sometimes you have to swing and take a shot at these guys. And if you miss, you can’t stop swinging. You have to take a shot again.”

Edited March 27, 2022 by Mr. Scot

[Snake]

I would say they are about aligned as a pos car going down a bumpy road. Rhule and Tepper have made terrible decisions to this point. 

[Jesse]

15 minutes ago, Snake said:

I would say they are about aligned as a pos car going down a bumpy road. Rhule and Tepper have made terrible decisions to this point. 

That’s why we got Fitt in there making all the decisions this time around. 

[MHS831]

4 minutes ago, Jesse said:

That’s why we got Fitt in there making all the decisions this time around. 

Do we know this?  I really don't know, but Rhule may try to intervene on draft day.  I am guessing that--if I were owner--I would have called him in and threatened to fire him if he did not agree to relinquish personnel decisions.

 

[rayzor]

A car that has perfect alignment driven by an aggressive driver can still be driven off a cliff. 

[MHS831]

39 minutes ago, rayzor said:

A car that has perfect alignment driven by an aggressive driver can still be driven off a cliff. 

I hate to say it, but it seems as if it has gotten to a point where they are trying to protect Rhule from himself.  No pressers of late, taking away his personnel swag--closing the Temple/Baylor pipeline--etc.  He is really in the shadows of late--and that has to be by design.

[thennek]

If rumors are accurate, Hurney wanted to trade up to get Herbert. Obviously Rhule was not in agreement and we have Brown. 

[Panthers Rhule]

7 minutes ago, thennek said:

If rumors are accurate, Hurney wanted to trade up to get Herbert. Obviously Rhule was not in agreement and we have Brown. 

Wasn't that the other way around? Seriously. I remember that rumor but in reverse. 

[Pejorative Miscreant]

8 minutes ago, thennek said:

If rumors are accurate, Hurney wanted to trade up to get Herbert. Obviously Rhule was not in agreement and we have Brown. 

[thennek]

4 minutes ago, Panthers Rhule said:

Wasn't that the other way around? Seriously. I remember that rumor but in reverse. 

Rhule and Brady wanted Teddy….

[ThPantherFan]

2 hours ago, Jesse said:

That’s why we got Fitt in there making all the decisions this time around. 

I hope he is.  We'll see.

[ThPantherFan]

1 hour ago, rayzor said:

A car that has perfect alignment driven by an aggressive driver can still be driven off a cliff. 

Great analogy. 

[Luciu5]

34 minutes ago, Panthers Rhule said:

Wasn't that the other way around? Seriously. I remember that rumor but in reverse. 

Rhule wanted to trade down and acquire more picks. Hurney wanted to stay put. Herbert wasn't really part of the original rumor directly from what I recall.

[Snake]

2 hours ago, Jesse said:

That’s why we got Fitt in there making all the decisions this time around. 

Yeah I don't think that's happening but we honestly will never know. I do know Watson was all Teppers idea.