#penn state football account manager | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bballer24143-blog · 4 years

Text

Why Matt Rhule has a chance to be a successful NFL coach

By Sam Mehr 1/28/20

Image courtesy The Athletic

As the wheels of the NFL coaching carousel churned once again in the winter of 2020, an interesting hire came across the newswires. The Carolina Panthers hired former Baylor coach Matt Rhule as their next head coach to replace veteran coach Ron Rivera. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Panthers doled out a 7 year 60 million dollar contract (which can reach 70 million if incentives are reached). In short, the Panthers made a colossal commitment to a guy who has only 1 year of NFL experience (2012 as an assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants). Additionally, the track record of head coaches transitioning from college to the NFL has been mixed at best. At any rate, I believe the marriage between Rhule and the Panthers has the chance to be a fruitful one for a variety of reasons.

Matt Rhule has a strong resume as a winning coach. A former linebacker at Penn State in the mid-1990s, Rhule has been a head coach at Temple University (2013-2016) and Baylor University (2017-2019). Following a 2-10 debut season at Temple, he increased the win total for the Owls over his next three seasons there. He won 10 games in each of his last two seasons at Temple (10-4 in 2015 and 10-3 in 2016). Rhule joined Baylor in 2017, a football program in ruins following a sexual assault scandal that enveloped figures such as head coach Art Briles and president Kenneth Starr. Following a 1-11 inaugural season at the helm, Rhule led Baylor to a 7-6 record in 2018 (including a win over Vanderbilt in the Texas Bowl). In 2019, Baylor finished 11-3, and was invited to the prestigious Sugar Bowl (which they lost to Georgia). The point is that Rhule has consistently turned teams around. Thus, he has the chance to be an elixir for a Panthers team in need of a home improvement, as they have finished 29-35 over the last 4 seasons (with only one playoff appearance) since their Super Bowl trip in 2015.

Schematically, Matt Rhule has proven himself to be cutting edge. According to Zach Barnett of FootballScoop.com, Rhule ran an offense at Temple that was run-heavy. He utilized big personnel (2 running backs and 2 tight ends on the field at the same time). At Baylor, Barnett noted that he adopted the run-pass option system (a system where, on a given play, the quarterback puts the ball in the belly of the running back and either hands off or pulls the football and passes it). Rhule implemented this offense, Barnett wrote, because he recruited a lot of Texas high schoolers who ran that system at their respective schools. In short, Rhule has proven himself to be adaptable in terms of his x’s and o’s. This flexibility is critical in the NFL, where the opponent changes week to week, and trends throughout the league take hold as time passes by (ie the NFL becoming more pass-oriented in the late 2000s, etc). Finally, Rhule picked a bright young offensive coordinator in Joe Brady. Brady spent two seasons (2017-2018) as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints. He worked under head coach Sean Payton, one of the best offensive minds in the NFL over his 14 seasons and counting with the Saints. Additionally, he got to observe future hall of fame quarterback Drew Brees. In 2019, Brady moved to LSU, a program that won the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship. Brady won the Broyles Award, an honor granted to the best assistant coach in college football, and assisted an offense that ranked first in all of college football in points per game (48.4).

Matt Rhule has a personality that is conducive to him being successful in the NFL. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer wrote in January 2020 that when Rhule was at Baylor, he had an open dialogue with faculty in regards to whether his players were late or not when going to classes. This anecdote shows Rhule demands accountability and discipline from his players, two characteristics that translate well to winning football games. In that same article, Tom Coughlin, the former New York Giants head coach, said about Rhule, “He’s so humble; no ego.” Coughlin later added, “He is very good at helping players get better because he comes off as so human. He’s good about admitting mistakes, and that’s a way of saying he wants to get better and help everyone else get better.” These quotes from Tom Coughlin illustrate that Rhule is a very easygoing person (ie not someone who has an overinflated sense of self), and an open-minded nature. I think these qualities make him relatable to players, who will in turn want to accept his coaching and play hard for him. Matt Lombardo of NJ.com wrote in January 2020 about Rhule. Lombardo spoke with Brandon Noble, a teammate of Rhule’s at Penn State, and an assistant with Rhule at Temple. Noble said, “Matt always had a chip on his shoulder…that idea and that mentality he brought to Temple, all of those kids were reminded of it when we went to play Notre Dame and when they went to play Penn State and eventually beat them. Those guys had that chip-on-their-shoulder mentality. That ‘Temple tough,’ Northeast thing…Matt has it and he gets guys to believe it.” Noble’s quote illustrates that Rhule instills toughness in his players, and toughness is perhaps the most fundamental quality needed in a football team. Additionally, the above quote demonstrates that Rhule is a strong motivator to his players, which is one of the most important traits a coach needs in order to have success.

The Panthers roster has pieces that Rhule can utilize in order to attain success. Admittedly, there is some uncertainty at the quarterback position. Cam Newton, a former MVP and 3-time Pro Bowler, is recovering from foot surgery, and has a contract that can be voided with only a 2 million dollar salary cap hit. Also, Luke Kuechly, a future hall of fame linebacker, announced his retirement in January. Therefore, things aren’t perfect from a roster standpoint for Carolina. However, there are talented players still left over on both sides of the football. The offensive fulcrum for the Panthers is running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey, a quick, powerful runner who is a great receiver as well, is one of the best players in the NFL. In addition, the Panthers have D J Moore, a 22 year old wide receiver who caught 87 passes in 2019. Opposite Moore is Curtis Samuel, a versatile receiver who, besides catching the football, is capable of running it on reverses, sweep plays, etc. The Panthers have some talented defensive personnel under contract as well. Defensive tackle Kawann Short is a disruptive player who is stout vs the run, and can push the pocket and rush the quarterback (32.5 sacks over 7 seasons in the NFL). Defensive end/linebacker Brian Burns, the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, is a fast player who is a promising pass rusher (7.5 sacks in his debut season). Finally, the Panthers have linebacker Shaq Thompson. Thompson is a speedy linebacker who is a tremendous athlete (he played linebacker, safety, and running back in college at Washington). Upon signing a 4 year 54 million dollar contract extension in December 2019, general manager Marty Hurney referred to him in a statement as “very versatile” and “the blueprint for what we want at the position.”

The hiring of Matt Rhule was one that was not without risk. Furthermore, the Panthers gave an astounding commitment both in terms of years and finances to their new head coach. However, Rhule has an excellent resume as a team builder. He is also very intelligent, both in terms of his football iq, and his ability to connect with his players. Finally, he possesses talented players at his disposal. Mixing all the variables together, I absolutely believe that Matt Rhule can be a home run addition for the Carolina Panthers.

#matt rhule

1 note · View note

thecollegefootballguy · 3 years

Text

The Real 2020 Season: Week 10

Welcome back to The Real 2020 Season! We’re imagining how things would have gone in the 2020 football season if COVID hadn’t ruined everything.

Check out the previous weeks here if you’d like a bit of context: Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9

The Rankings

Week 10 College Football Playoff Rankings

1. Alabama 8-0 (5-0) 2. Notre Dame 8-0 3. Texas A&M 8-0 (4-0) 4. Clemson 8-0 (7-0) 5. Oklahoma 7-1 (4-1) 6. Texas 7-1 (4-1) 7. Florida 7-1 (5-1) 8. Oregon 7-1 (4-1) 9. Ohio State 7-1 (5-0) 10. Indiana 8-0 (5-0) 11. Georgia 6-2 (3-2) 12. Iowa State 6-2 (4-1) 13. LSU 6-2 (3-1) 14. Cincinnati 8-0 (4-0) 15. Oklahoma State 6-2 (3-2) 16. Stanford 6-2 (5-1) 17. Iowa 6-2 (3-2) 18. Auburn 6-2 (3-2) 19. USC 6-2 (5-1) 20. Wisconsin 6-2 (4-1) 21. Liberty 9-0 22. Northwestern 6-2 (4-2) 23. Tulsa 6-2 (3-1) 24. Arizona State 6-2 (3-2) 25. Wake Forest 6-2 (3-1)

The Narrative

The SEC, ACC, and Big 12 all have clear paths for their champions to make the Playoff. It’s unclear whether the PAC-12 or the Big Ten will be able to manage to make it into the top four. Notre Dame’s presence, and multiple SEC teams in the mix make an at-large bid very possible.

The Games

As we enter the month of November, each week will feature crucial games with Playoff level importance moving forward. This week is no different, and features extremely consequential games in the ACC, Big Ten, PAC-12, and SEC.

Winning teams are highlighted in bold.

Appalachian State at Texas State South Alabama at Coastal Carolina Troy at Georgia Southern Louisiana-Monroe at Georgia State Arkansas State at Louisiana Air Force at Army BYU at Boise State Connecticut at North Carolina New Mexico State at Massachusetts #4 Clemson at #2 Notre Dame Houston at #14 Cincinnati Tulane at East Carolina South Florida at Memphis #23 Tulsa at Navy SMU at Temple Florida A&M at UCF Boston College at NC State Florida State at Miami FL Louisville at Virginia Syracuse at #25 Wake Forest Duke at Georgia Tech Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh #15 Oklahoma State at Baylor #12 Iowa State at TCU #6 Texas at Kansas Texas Tech at Kansas State #5 Oklahoma at West Virginia #10 Indiana at #9 Ohio State Maryland at Michigan Penn State at Nebraska #17 Iowa at Illinois Purdue at Minnesota #20 Wisconsin at #22 Northwestern Charlotte at Middle Tennessee Western Kentucky at Florida Atlantic FIU at UTEP UAB at Old Dominion Louisiana Tech at North Texas UTSA at Rice Kent State at Bowling Green Buffalo at Northern Illinois Ohio at Central Michigan Colorado State at San Diego State New Mexico at Hawaii Utah State at Wyoming Fresno State at UNLV Nevada at San Jose State California at #24 Arizona State #19 USC at #8 Oregon UCLA at Oregon State #16 Stanford at Washington Washington State at Colorado Arizona at Utah #7 Florida at Vanderbilt #11 Georgia at South Carolina Kentucky at Tennessee Missouri at Mississippi State #1 Alabama at #13 LSU Arkansas at #18 Auburn Ole Miss at #3 Texas A&M

It was certainly a week of consequence with regard to the Playoff. #1 Alabama retains their top spot with a thrashing of rival #13 LSU in Baton Rouge. However, the biggest story of the day is #2 Notre Dame held on to defeat #4 Clemson in double overtime in South Bend. The Irish seem to have their ticket to the Playoff punched with the victory as long as they clean up the rest of their opponents. #3 Texas A&M easily outraced Ole Miss to keep pace with Alabama. The meeting between the Tide and Aggies to decide the SEC West is coming up. #5 Oklahoma and #6 Texas both took care of business to remain at the head of the 1-loss pack. With Clemson’s defeat, the Big 12 is likely back into the Playoff race with a 3 or 4 seed. #8 Oregon beat #19 USC in Eugene, knocking off the top South Division team before the conference championship game. The PAC-12 is now likely on the bubble with Clemson’s place no longer assured. Rounding out the major conference battles, #9 Ohio State fought off #10 Indiana, dealing the Hoosiers their first loss and spoiling a Cindarella season. The Buckeyes are now in the drivers’ seat in the Big Ten, with fingers crossed that they can have an opportunity amid the other 1-loss contenders.

Elsewhere in the P5, several other games shaped the division races. Pitt’s home win over Virginia Tech is pushing the Panthers into the Coastal championship conversation, alongside the rebounding North Carolina Tar Heels. #12 Iowa State at #15 Oklahoma State both won, keeping pace in the Big 12 standings with #5 Oklahoma and #6 Texas. No telling what happens in that conference if the Cowboys and Cyclones start causing even more havoc. #22 Northwestern beat #20 Wisconsin, making the Wildcats the surprise leader in the Big Ten West. NU owns head to head victories over the Badgers as well as the #17 Iowa Hawkeyes. #16 Stanford beat Washington in Seattle, and now seem by all accounts to be the second strongest team in the PAC-12. The Cardinal already lost to Oregon, meaning they likely won’t win the North, but they might be able to snag a NY6 bid if they win out. #7 Florida, #11 Georgia, and #18 Auburn all won against lesser opponents, keeping pace in their respective division races. The Gators are one win away from clinching the East.

#14 Cincinnati continues to lead the Group of 5 representatives. The Bearcats’ easy win over Houston is one more step towards an undefeated season. The the Playoff race weren’t so crowded Cincinnati would have a lot of backers for a shot at the real championship instead of a NY6 bowl. Coastal Carolina continues to provide the only challenge as a fellow G5 undefeated. The Chanticleers handled South Alabama to remain perfect. It remains to be seen how long the Committee will ignore CCU. Boise State was crushed at home by BYU, ending the Broncos’ and the Mountain West’s hopes for a NY6 bowl. Have fun in Las Vegas, Boise.

The Standings

The Big Picture

#2 Notre Dame’s defeat of #4 Clemson gives us some clarity on the Playoff race. The SEC Champion, be it #1 Alabama, #3 Texas A&M, or #7 Florida will have a spot in the Playoff. Now it appears as though a likely undefeated Fighting Irish squad will have an at-large bid. This leaves two spots for four conferences with a potential 1-loss bid. The Big 12 seems safe with either #5 Oklahoma and #6 Texas slotting in to the 4th spot, leaving Clemson, Ohio State, Oregon, and a potential 1-loss Alabama or A&M battling for the last spot.

It really doesn’t look like an undefeated Cincinnati will be able to make a push as a G5 candidate. There are a lot of 1 or 2 loss P5 favorites who will certainly be given the nod over the Bearcats. Barring a crazy series of upsets, it’s not likely. They’ll have to content themselves with a major bowl.

The New Rankings

Week 11 College Football Playoff Rankings

1. Alabama 9-0 (6-0) 2. Notre Dame 9-0 3. Texas A&M 9-0 (5-0) 4. Oklahoma 8-1 (5-1) 5. Texas 8-1 (5-1) 6. Florida 8-1 (6-1) 7. Oregon 8-1 (5-1) 8. Ohio State 8-1 (6-0) 9. Clemson 8-1 (7-0) 10. Georgia 7-2 (4-2) 11. Iowa State 7-2 (5-1) 12. Indiana 8-1 (5-1) 13. Cincinnati 9-0 (5-0) 14. Oklahoma State 7-2 (4-2) 15. Stanford 7-2 (6-1) 16. Northwestern 7-2 (5-2) 17. Iowa 7-2 (4-2) 18. Auburn 7-2 (4-2) 19. LSU 6-3 (3-2) 20. Tulsa 7-2 (4-1) 21. Liberty 9-0 22. Arizona State 7-2 (4-2) 23. Wake Forest 7-2 (4-1) 24. Wisconsin 6-3 (4-2) 25. Coastal Carolina 9-0 (5-0)

The top 3 remains the same, but after that everybody moves up a spot to replace Clemson, who fell from 4th to 9th in the rankings. The Big 12 now commands one of the Playoff spots, with the winner of the OU-Texas rematch making the Playoff field.

The final Playoff spot will go to either a 1-loss SEC runner-up, #7 Oregon, #8 Ohio State, or #9 Clemson. Whoever can make the best case down the stretch will get that 4th spot.

Thanks for hanging in there as I took my time getting this out. Now that we’re into November I’m getting excited to finish this project and see how things would have turned out.

#college football #Alabama Crimson Tide #Notre Dame Fighting Irish #Texas A&M Aggies #Oklahoma Sooners #Texas Longhorns #Florida Gators #Oregon Ducks #Ohio State Buckeyes #Clemson Tigers #Georgia Bulldogs #Army Black Knights #Miami Hurricanes #Northwestern Wildcats

0 notes