Examining Matt Rhule’s Panthers staff at Senior Bowl: At least 5 from Baylor, 2 holdovers
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Senior Bowl 2020
Expanded coverage from Mobile, Ala.
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The Panthers have taken over Mobile, Alabama.
… Or at least it feels that way.
The team’s coaching staff is still incredibly new, so new that only head coach Matt Rhule, offensive coordinator Joe Brady and defensive coordinator Phil Snow have been officially announced by the team. But almost all of the rest of the hires (or decisions on who to retain) have taken place.
And, in a move that is uncommon for many NFL teams and certainly the Panthers, almost all of that coaching staff is at this week’s Senior Bowl.
While most eyes are on the prospects on the field, the fact that the Panthers elected to bring so much of their coaching staff to Mobile is interesting on its own. It gives the staff an opportunity to get to know each other better and allows for intensive looks at players they may be considering in the draft.
Coaches all over could be seen wearing Panthers hats, jackets, sweatshirts and coats (Tuesday was a cold day in Mobile). The Carolina blue was seen on some new faces and a couple of familiar ones.
Running backs coach Jake Peetz and special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn are the two holdovers from the 2019 coaching staff, retaining their positions, and were both taking in the first practice of Senior Bowl.
Here’s a look at a full picture of the updated coaching staff:
- Head coach Matt Rhule
- Offensive coordinator Joe Brady (most recently LSU’s passing game coordinator)
- Defensive coordinator Phil Snow (defensive coordinator at Baylor)
- Special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn
- Offensive coach Jake Peetz (Panthers running backs coach)
Tight ends coach Brian Angelichio (tight ends coach at Washington)
- Wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson (wide receivers/passing game coordinator at Baylor)
- Offensive coach Matt Lombardi (quality control coach for the Dolphins)
- Offensive assistant Damiere Shaw (wide receivers coach at Fordham)
- Offensive assistant Jeff Nixon (co-offensive coordinator/running backs coach at Baylor)
- Offensive assistant EJ Barthel (running backs coach/recruiting coordinator at William & Mary)
- Defensive coach Mike Siravo (linebackers/special teams coordinator at Baylor)
- Defensive coach Mike Phair (defensive line coach for the Colts)
Assistant secondary coach Cedric Whitaker (pass defense coordinator/corner and nickel backs coach at Houston Baptist University)
Defensive coach Al Holcomb (Browns run game coordinator/linebackers coach)
- Assistant defensive line coach Frank Okam (defensive line coach at Baylor)
- Head strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Scott (director of football athletic performance at Baylor)
- Assistant special teams coach Ed Foley (analyst at Baylor)
There were more Panthers front office staff and coaches at the practice and we will continue to add their names to this list once we’ve confirmed their positions.
Just like this coaching staff, this is my first Senior Bowl. To give you a sense of the first day, it began far too early with players getting their height and weight measured in front of scouts, team officials and the media.
Then each players took part in media day, where we got a chance to talk to speak to them. The first of the week’s three practices followed, with each team (North and South) working together on the field for the first time.
At practice, the players have all eyes on them. Cameras, general managers (including Marty Hurney) scouts, coaches, media and fans can all take in the team’s workout. There was a lot that took place with the Panthers’ coaching staff that I found worth noting. Here’s a few:
- Rhule made sure to spend plenty of time on the field watching the offensive and defensive lines play through both practices. He started his day watching the South team’s offensive line practice and made sure to be close by when the offensive and defensive lines faced off. Rhule was the Giants’ assistant offensive line coach in 2012 and has experience with a variety of positions. It’s no secret that the Panthers could use some help at both lines and it makes sense that he was keeping a watchful eye on their performance. Included in the group Rhule spent time watching was defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw from South Carolina, who said he met with the Panthers briefly this week.
- Speaking of Rhule, he couldn’t walk two feet without someone walking in front of him to congratulate him on the new position or say hello. He is a popular man in Mobile.
- Brady spent a few minutes speaking with former Panthers quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Scott Turner, who was wearing his new Washington burgundy and gold.
- Several members of the Panthers coaching staff that were present in Mobile had yet to even go to Charlotte. Okam was not wearing any Panthers gear and still had his Baylor backpack. Many have not made the move yet with the quick turnaround of attending the Senior Bowl. A few of the former Baylor coaches said that their families would be moving to Charlotte in the spring.
- Snow and Brady watched practices mostly from the stands alongside other members of the Panthers’ coaching staff.
- Former Panthers defensive coordinator and current Bills defensive line coach Eric Washington spent a couple minutes talking to new members of the Panthers’ defensive coaching staff.
This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
