Panthers react professionally to latest coaching shuffle

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Speeding the development of Panthers quarterback Bryce young is a priority for offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, who assumes play calling after Frank Reich's firing Monday.

As the rumors evolved into reality, players in the Carolina Panthers’ locker room Monday were wondering, guessing, and waiting for official word. When it finally came, most of the players learned of Frank Reich’s firing via social media.

Receiver D.J. Chark Jr. was one of them.

“I saw it … somebody sent it to me,” he said, elaborating on a text message informing him of the move.

Anything feel strange?

“Not for me,” Chark said. “You’re in and out of the huddle and I’m still hearing Bryce’s voice. It’s the same for me.”

Chark, along with most of the locker room and fanbase, was thrown off by the timing – 11 games into a lost season – but not surprised. One of interim coach Chris Tabor’s first moves was to fire running backs coach Duce Staley and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown in a move he declined to discuss Thursday.

At 1-10, the Panthers have one of the league’s most feeble offenses, with few signs of a big-play unit. Owner David Tepper witnessed another anemic display during last week’s 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans and had enough.

On Monday, he fired Reich and installed Tabor for the final six games, beginning Sunday at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7), who have dropped six of seven.

Thomas Brown has assumed play-calling duties for the second time this season. Remaining on the public high road, the offensive coordinator didn’t bash his former boss during his weekly press conference. Brown, however, took time to describe diverse ways the players reacted to the news?

“Everybody handled it differently, coaches and players,” he said, “but we all understand what we signed up for.”

Rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, has compiled a QB rating of 32.3, which ranks 29th in the league, and averages just 187.7 passing yards per game.

While protection issues along the injury-riddled offensive line have progressively hampered Young’s development, he is getting a quick tutorial on the business side of the NFL.

“We all take ownership,” Young said Wednesday. “Especially offensively, it’s all of us. I think we all look in the mirror. There’s all (kind of) things we could’ve done better. We all wanted to do better. It’s a collective unit.
“There’s no finger-pointing from players, coaches, nothing. We all could’ve been better, and we have to improve.”

Is there enough time improvement that could distance the Panthers from handing the Chicago Bears a No. 1 overall draft pick next April?  

Losers of four straight, Carolina hasn’t scored more than 13 points since posting 21 during a road loss to Miami on Oct. 15. Entering Sunday’s NFC South game at Tampa Bay, the Panthers rank 28th in rushing yards per game (92.6) and 30th in pass yards per game (173.3).

Reich, who started the first game in Carolina history, was entrusted with grooming a franchise QB. General manager Scott Fitterer mortgaged four draft picks, including a 2024 first rounder and ‘25 second-rounder, and top wide receiver D.J. Moore to Chicago for the right to pick Young.

Unless Young finds some magic with Brown as the play-caller and gives the otherwise dependable defense a reasonable chance to break the losing streak, the Bears could own the top overall pick.

Brown said he was confident the six remaining games – five against teams with losing records – is enough time to unlock more of Young’s potential. NFC South is led by a pair of 5-6 clubs, Atlanta and New Orleans. Technically, the Panthers are still chasing a division crown.

To bolster the veteran presence within the locker room, the Panthers signed cornerback Shaquill Griffin off waivers from the Houston Texans on Thursday and guard Gabe Jackson to the practice squad Wednesday. Both could play a role against the Buccaneers, despite their limited practice times.

“Every healthy player we have on the roster will be up for discussion and have an opportunity to play,” said Brown, who assumed the running backs coach role after the shuffle.
Brown was asked what he knew of the 6-foot-3, 335-pounder.

“He’s a large human who moves people,” he said.

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