Wilks Set This Team Back

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

As this season wraps up, I can't really think of a worse scenario than how it played out. They missed the playoffs, moved out of the top-5 draft, are in danger of keeping a mediocre coaching staff, the CMC draft picks will be nearly as late as possible, the Rams draft picks that could have been acquired will probably be really early picks, our top-8 CB looks to be made of glass. Thanks, Wilks.

I am hoping that Tepper is not gun-shy on trying out new HC candidates because of Rhule. Playing it safe is not the direction this team needs, and it will keep this team at or below .500 if Wilks stays. It was clear as day yesterday that Wilks is not the calculated risk-taker that this team needs. We could all see that aggressiveness was needed when you are outmatched in a certain area, and you have to take advantage of any opportunity that is presented. Wilks and his staff can't see that, and I don't want to see any more of their brand of all-talk-no-walk, chickenshit football.

[Wanderlai]

No doubt trying to shove this team into the playoffs ruined a chance to get our own franchise QB pick. In hindsight Tepper should have kept Rhule on, while we all gritted our teeth, ensuring a top 3 pick. 

[Smithers]

Agreed.  Wilks had 1 shot to save his career and our season, and he blew it in epic fashion.  He made some huge coaching errors: not going for it in several short 4th downs, not calling TO on a critical 3rd and short to prevent a delay penalty, not doubling Evans, allowing 3 long TDs on the same route, not sticking with the run game, making zero defensive adjustments, etc.

Then…he blames everyone else in the pressers, especially the one player (Sam) who kept us in the game.  
 

In a mere 3 hours, we went from a team on the brink of winning the division and having things possibly settled at HC to a team that will finish last in our division, in much worse position draft wise and no real direction at HC.  Screw you Wilks…

[Shocker]

I don’t agree with this he did his best.  If we had our top 2 corners healthy we are probably a playoff team.  That isn’t a certainty though Mike Evans having dimes dropped in his hands like that is close to impossible to stop

[TheProcess]

Wait until he wins a completely meaningless game against tge Saints this Sunday

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

11 minutes ago, Wanderlai said:

No doubt trying to shove this team into the playoffs ruined a chance to get our own franchise QB pick. In hindsight Tepper should have kept Rhule on, while we all gritted our teeth, ensuring a top 3 pick. 

Totally! I made a thread on keeping Rhule for the year and got shot down

[Waldo]

We are still picking top 10. I get what you are saying but I see it as he set the floor for the team after the Rhule sized disaster. 

Going to another coach opens up all kinds of options now. Burns is on the table now, where he wouldn't have been with Wilks. I'm fine with CMC draft pick, even a late 2nd. Bad contracts need to get cleared and that was never on Wilks. He played guys, we got plenty of looks on everyone that was healthy and we have identified guys to debate over keeping vs walking for the new crew. 

I see no viable way of tanking at the coach or player level without creating more issues than they 'solve'. Keeping Rhule would have increased our draft pick but he would not have given us the answers Wilks has. We were not a NFL run team under Rhule & Co and under Wilks he brought it back up to the minimum, that isn't bad. It may all be frustrating but this isn't Madden. I think Wilks repaired some of the damage Rhule's incompetence did in his 2.5 years so that's not bad because it should make it a smoother transition for the next guy vs how we ended last year which was a huge problem for those goobers going into this year. 

Edited January 2, 2023 by Waldo

[Move the Panthers to Raleigh]

11 minutes ago, Smithers said:

Agreed.  Wilks had 1 shot to save his career and our season, and he blew it in epic fashion.  He made some huge coaching errors: not going for it in several short 4th downs, not calling TO on a critical 3rd and short to prevent a delay penalty, not doubling Evans, allowing 3 long TDs on the same route, not sticking with the run game, making zero defensive adjustments, etc.

Then…he blames everyone else in the pressers, especially the one player (Sam) who kept us in the game.  
 

In a mere 3 hours, we went from a team on the brink of winning the division and having things possibly settled at HC to a team that will finish last in our division, in much worse position draft wise and no real direction at HC.  Screw you Wilks…

Thank you! He screwed us for his own gain

[carpanfan96]

11 minutes ago, Smithers said:

Agreed.  Wilks had 1 shot to save his career and our season, and he blew it in epic fashion.  He made some huge coaching errors: not going for it in several short 4th downs, not calling TO on a critical 3rd and short to prevent a delay penalty, not doubling Evans, allowing 3 long TDs on the same route, not sticking with the run game, making zero defensive adjustments, etc.

Then…he blames everyone else in the pressers, especially the one player (Sam) who kept us in the game.  
 

In a mere 3 hours, we went from a team on the brink of winning the division and having things possibly settled at HC to a team that will finish last in our division, in much worse position draft wise and no real direction at HC.  Screw you Wilks…

You'd be wrong about the coverage on at least one of the bombs and most likely a second. Safety messed up his coverage on the one against Taylor but Brady threw it early and made a great throw. 

[top dawg]

21 minutes ago, Move the Panthers to Raleigh said:

As this season wraps up, I can't really think of a worse scenario than how it played out. They missed the playoffs, moved out of the top-5 draft, are in danger of keeping a mediocre coaching staff, the CMC draft picks will be nearly as late as possible, the Rams draft picks that could have been acquired will probably be really early picks, our top-8 CB looks to be made of glass. Thanks, Wilks.

I am hoping that Tepper is not gun-shy on trying out new HC candidates because of Rhule. Playing it safe is not the direction this team needs, and it will keep this team at or below .500 if Wilks stays. It was clear as day yesterday that Wilks is not the calculated risk-taker that this team needs. We could all see that aggressiveness was needed when you are outmatched in a certain area, and you have to take advantage of any opportunity that is presented. Wilks and his staff can't see that, and I don't want to see any more of their brand of all-talk-no-walk, chickenshit football.

Not sure how that is Wilks' fault. We were set back by Matt Rhule.

Edited January 2, 2023 by top dawg

[panthers55]

Here we go again with the lower draft pick because we won some games and how hurt we will be despite the fact that even our recent experience shows that picking in the top 3 is no magic formula for success given we have 2 qbs from 2018 in the top 3.. Wilkes did more to return the Panthers to the team we were known for which was tough, physical and determined than Rhule ever did. If we hire someone else who doesn't preach this keep pounding culture expect players to play much worse and look for opportunities to leave. Players like this culture and who we are. If we go offense I hope it is a guy that has connections to our history and culture.

 

 

 

[PappyMay]

It was nice to have a reason to watch or listen to games for half the season for once. I owe that to Wilks. You can’t be mad at a guy for trying to win and do his best when he’s pretty much interviewing to stay in this league. Even if not at a head coaching level a team will see the turn around and want that type of guy in their locker room.

[WUnderhill]

Can’t blame Wilks. You can’t ask coaches and players to tank, and you especially can’t blame an interim coach who does not have a hc contract for next season.

[d-dave]

Man, some of y'all are just laying all the blame at Steve Wilks feet like he spent the past three seasons setting this up.  Also, Steve didn't make the trade decisions.  Why would the INTERM coach do that?  How is Steve Wilks to blame for SF playing well and lowering the value of those picks?  How is Wilks responsible for Horn's injury?  I mean, the timing sucked, but so does the timing of all injuries in the NFL.  Save a lot of your vitriol for Scott Fitterer.

Perspective: when was the last time you cared about late season Panthers football?  2017?  It's been a good ride here.  I'd rather win than lose because a few draft slots are pretty meaningless.  Look, if we find THE GLORIOUS QB-SAVIOR, we can trade up for him.  Duh.  That's what teams do.

Given the drafting pedigree of this team, would you rather have Brian Burns or 2-4 players who will not be as good as he is now?  This year, the Rams suck so that traded draft pick is looking good.  What about in 24-25?  I think the Rams bounce back.  Look at what happened when they put Baker in there?  So at best I imagine those picks are middle first round, or later if they go back to the playoffs.

I don't know what's going on in David Tepper's brain.  I don't know who the next coach will be.  I like that Wilks brought organization, toughness, and heart to the team.  He was the anti-Rhule and it showed.  Sunday versus the Saints will be what it will be.  I know the team will try to win, and I'm fine with that.

Some of y'all live in a Madden/Fantasy Football world.