Wilkes respected around the league. Will be someone's head coach next year.

[panthers55]

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article270047637.html?mc_cid=d2764fa6dc&mc_eid=6cc597ae4d

The article discusses how other coaches see Wilkes and the job he has done changing the culture back to what is was during our last run in 2013 -2015.  If the Panthers don't offer him the job there may be other suitors who better recognize his ability to lead men and get the best out of them. He is apparently well respected around the league.

Edited December 26, 2022 by panthers55

[1of10Charnatives]

Everything I hear about Wilkes's character makes me want him as a coach. I maintain reservations about a conservative coaching style that takes too few chances and ultimately becomes self defeating from predictability despite highly motivated players. We have seen that show already with Fox and Rivera.  I tend to lean towards those who say if we keep Wilkes, Tepper should insist that he be paired with an innovative offensive mind, but if your HC and OC aren't on the same page, that can also be problematic.

My long term concern is that like Fox and Rivera, Wilkes proves to be a coach who can return us to respectability, but not lead us to the promised land.  I think the reality is in any given coach hiring cycle, candidates like this represent most of the options at best. Thus I think baring the emergence of some wunderkind like candidate who fuses offensive innovation with these leadership characteristics, Wilkes should most likely be given the job.

[Harbingers]

He’s a good coach. Is he a great coach? I don’t know. I’d rather give him the opportunity here. With stipulations(Kuechly gets a position).

[Pazhoosier89]

Wilkes success will depend on his offensive coordinator selection. I hope he is more like McDermott than Rivera.

[ECHornet]

Steichen/Johnson + two 3rd round picks in consecutive years if Wilks is hired elsewhere

or

Hire Wilks who the players love 

 

Tough call. At least we have some decent options. 

[Wundrbread33]

The saying goes “don’t let great be the enemy of good.”

 

This of course is too simple, but Wilks has been good. And not just good compared to Rhule (that’s not hard).

 

We are running a lot. People want sexier offense, but we don’t really know if the nature of our offense is because of Wilks, or because of what Wilks has to work with. 
 

“Too conservative” to me isn’t simply running the ball a lot. If you can run the ball that’s great. Too conservative to me is “Fox Ball punt on 4th and inches on the opponents side of the field” type poo.
 

I don’t see that extreme pussiness from Wilks. 

[Sgt Schultz]

First, I have no doubt that given what he has done here thus far, Wilks will have teams giving him a hard look, and he probably will land a job.  I rattled off a list of teams in fiasco status in a thread about Rivera, and that same list of times applies to Wilks, sans potentially Arizona.  But, if you are sitting in Denver (for example), Wilks looks pretty enticing if he is available.  He may not solve your problem, but he will minimize the weekly embarrassments and stabilize things.

Second, when judging what he has done, we can't lose sight of the fact it has been with a roster NOT of his making, and a coaching staff he has been able to salvage/cobble together.  He inherited a roster that was constructed for speed and athleticism and has managed to use it in a power game.  He also lost his primary offensive weapon, and has a QB room out of Sanford and Son Salvage.

Third, the reliance on the run is because that is what this roster and QB room will best support.  Limit mistakes, take advantage of an OL that can run block and open holes, and pound on the opponent.  Would they be this conservative if they had a QB that could be trusted to open it up?  Who knows, and maybe that has already been discussed at the top levels.

[grimesgoat]

29 minutes ago, Wundrbread33 said:

The saying goes “don’t let great be the enemy of good.”

 

This of course is too simple, but Wilks has been good. And not just good compared to Rhule (that’s not hard).

 

We are running a lot. People want sexier offense, but we don’t really know if the nature of our offense is because of Wilks, or because of what Wilks has to work with. 
 

“Too conservative” to me isn’t simply running the ball a lot. If you can run the ball that’s great. Too conservative to me is “Fox Ball punt on 4th and inches on the opponents side of the field” type poo.
 

I don’t see that extreme pussiness from Wilks. 

I agree. 320 yards in one game is simply not possible with our personnel alone. There is some scheming done. Maybe this is what mcadoo is good at. 
 

Not saying we don’t need a passing attack. But a good running game can lead to impactful passing. The key is moving the sticks, while keeping the defense fresh so they can get off the field on third down. 

[Shocker]

Looking at this critically we have won 3 of 4 with wins vs Denver, Seattle and the Lions all probably non playoff teams.  Our schedule overall has been very weak.  
 

We also got Darnold back who needs some credit here.

When we couldn’t run the ball we were manhandled by the Steelers.  
 

It’s been much better football lately but “remarkable” is a strong word to put on it IMO

[RumHam]

It simply comes down to if we make the playoffs or not. Don't blow up what we have, develop Corral and bring in a good QB coach to teach him and help further Darnold. Maybe only a three-four year deal for Wilks and show if he makes more strides next year. Our schedule looks pretty favorable next year.

[Wundrbread33]

4 minutes ago, Shocker said:

Looking at this critically we have won 3 of 4 with wins vs Denver, Seattle and the Lions all probably non playoff teams.  Our schedule overall has been very weak.  
 

We also got Darnold back who needs some credit here.

When we couldn’t run the ball we were manhandled by the Steelers.  
 

It’s been much better football lately but “remarkable” is a strong word to put on it IMO

Denver, yes. Trash. 
 

Seattle, overachieving team. Middle of the road. We brought Geno back to earth. 
 

Lions though? Good team. They aren’t the same team that started the season. They had been on fire. Beat the Vikings. 3 point loss to the Bills. Beat the Giants. Won 6 of 7 games before playing us. 
 

We punched them in the mouth. What the Steelers did to us a week ago, we did double that to the Lions. 
 

Overall, the league is mainly “eh” with a few top teams. So everyone has a “weak” schedule, but really most teams have been inconsistent.

 

But these past 3 wins…2 are quality wins imo. 

[bababoey]

1 hour ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

Everything I hear about Wilkes's character makes me want him as a coach. I maintain reservations about a conservative coaching style that takes too few chances and ultimately becomes self defeating from predictability despite highly motivated players. We have seen that show already with Fox and Rivera.  I tend to lean towards those who say if we keep Wilkes, Tepper should insist that he be paired with an innovative offensive mind, but if your HC and OC aren't on the same page, that can also be problematic.

My long term concern is that like Fox and Rivera, Wilkes proves to be a coach who can return us to respectability, but not lead us to the promised land.  I think the reality is in any given coach hiring cycle, candidates like this represent most of the options at best. Thus I think baring the emergence of some wunderkind like candidate who fuses offensive innovation with these leadership characteristics, Wilkes should most likely be given the job.

Fox and Riveria both went to the playoffs multiple time and each one went to one Super Bowl.   If that is what we get from Wilks sign him up today.  

Just because you run the ball alot does not mean you are conservative.  When Wilks was the coordinator under Rivera we had the 2nd highest blitz rate in the league..  This year I  think we are 5th or 6th and Wilks has only coached 10 games.

You can still be creative and innovative and run the ball.  The 49ers have been doing it for years.  It"s more about what you concentrate on in the offseason and what you tell your coordinators you want to focus on and not just trying to be half ass at everything but be really good In one area.

[Bear Hands]

If we do end up with Wilks, we absolutely, 100%, need to go all out to find a legit offensive mind to manage that entire side of things.  We need a new offensive architecture that works with the OL we've built.  Super critical.  Game planning, play calling, knows the type of skill players they want and the QB type they need. 

[mrcompletely11]

21 minutes ago, Bear Hands said:

If we do end up with Wilks, we absolutely, 100%, need to go all out to find a legit offensive mind to manage that entire side of things.  We need a new offensive architecture that works with the OL we've built.  Super critical.  Game planning, play calling, knows the type of skill players they want and the QB type they need. 

If we say win out and retain Wilks is there not a chance he keeps mcadoo?