Panthers roster moves made by Rhule and Fitterer are starting to pay off under Wilks
The Carolina Panthers are 3-7 after 10 games. They don’t have a long-term answer at quarterback, and they’re only in contention for the NFC South crown because the division features four lousy teams.
But there are silver linings to be had as the Panthers try to turn things around in the second half of the season. Since interim head coach Steve Wilks took charge in Week 6, Carolina is 2-3 and quite a few of the roster additions made by current GM Scott Fitterer and former head coach Matt Rhule have begun to pay off.
In the wake of Rhule’s mid-season firing, quite a few afterthoughts — brought in by Fitterer and Rhule during the past two years — have been given more time to shine, and in some cases, delivered.
Fitterer and Rhule had a collaborative process when the latter was head coach. While Rhule contractually had “final say” over the roster, Fitterer’s background in scouting and front-office operations gave the Panthers balance in the decision-making process. In turn, it’d be disingenuous to give either sole claim to roster moves. Fitterer and his scouting department functioned as roster-builders, even as Rhule could approve or veto the churn on the depth chart.
But Fitterer still remains with Rhule gone. The roster work the two shared is also still around and has been put to good use under Wilks, who was hired by Rhule this offseason.
It was easy to see Fitterer and Rhule’s previous roster work being put into motion on Thursday during the Panthers’ 25-15 win against the Atlanta Falcons. Wideout Laviska Shenault had the 41-yard touchdown run that broke the game open in the first half, fellow receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. had a bruising catch-and-run of 43 yards in the third quarter, and the Panthers’ offensive line — filled with four Fitterer-Rhule additions — opened up holes for running back D’Onta Foreman (31 carries, 130 yards), who was brought in by the regime this offseason.
And while it’s hard to get excited about a team that is four games under .500, maybe the shelves aren’t as devoid of talent as some perceived following Rhule’s firing. With Wilks and Fitterer looking to stick around beyond this year, it’s become clear through the past five games that they are finding ways to gel with each others’ work.
That symbiotic relationship could lead to longer tenures for both leaders as the Panthers try to right the ship under owner David Tepper.
Let’s take a look at four players, acquired by the Panthers since 2021, who have improved during Wilks’ five-game stretch as interim head coach:
WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
How acquired: 2021 second-round pick
Rhule era production: 4 catches for 30 yards (2022), 17 catches for 138 yards (2021)
Wilks era production: 11 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown
Marshall was a healthy scratch for two games earlier this season. Since Wilks took over in Week 6, the receiver has been targeted 25 times and averaged 17.4 yards per catch. Marshall has gone from looking like roster fodder to becoming a legitimate option in the passing game, even as PJ Walker fails to find consistency in the pocket.
Just 22, Marshall can be looked at as a legitimate playmaker down the stretch and beyond. Since the Panthers traded Robbie Anderson in Week 7, Marshall has hauled in 11 catches for 214 yards and a touchdown in five games.
C Bradley Bozeman
How acquired: Free agency in 2022
Rhule era production: 0 offensive snaps (5 games/0 starts)
Wilks era production: 245 offensive snaps (5 games/4 starts)
After Pat Elflein’s Week 6 hip injury led to season-ending surgery, Bozeman was thrust into the starting lineup at center. The former Baltimore Ravens starter has been a tone-setter ever since, matching Wilks’ desire for intensity and rough-and-tumble football. Bozeman has been particularly effective in the running game, opening up holes with strength and nastiness.
The Panthers put up 542 rushing yards in the first six games of the season. In the past four games, they’ve produced 638 rushing yards, and Bozeman has had a large influence on that success. Signed to a one-year deal, Bozeman could be among the contract extension candidates in the coming weeks.
RB D’Onta Foreman
How acquired: Free agency in 2022
Rhule era production: 7 carries for 18 rushing yards
Wilks era production: 83 carries for 408 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, 4 catches for 25 yards
Foreman has been a revelation of sorts for the Panthers during the past four weeks. With Christian McCaffrey now in San Francisco, Foreman has eclipsed 118 rushing yards three times in the past four games. Foreman has averaged around 97 yards on the ground each week during that period, as the Panthers have gone with a more hard-nosed approach. He averaged around a run per game during Rhule’s last five weeks on the job.
And while that’s not to say McCaffrey wasn’t effective as a do-everything back, Foreman still should have received a better workload when the former All-Pro was still in town, even at the cost of Chuba Hubbard. Foreman has been the fixture of the Panthers’ offense in their best moments during the Wilks era. Signed to a one-year, $1.04 million deal, Foreman has earned himself some money during the past month.
LB Frankie Luvu
How acquired: Free agency in 2021
Rhule era production: 32 tackles, an interception and a defensive TD (2022), 43 tackles and 1.5 sacks (2021)
Wilks era production: 24 tackles and 3 sacks
Luvu was a Rhule favorite, dating back to his arrival in Carolina in 2021. However, he has seemingly become a more efficient pass rusher over the past month under Wilks.
Luvu has played in four games each for Rhule and Wilks this season. With Wilks and Al Holcomb taking over the defense from former coordinator Phil Snow, Luvu has been able to blitz and attack more effectively at the line of scrimmage.
After shaking off a shoulder injury that sidelined him for two games, Luvu has come back with a more aggressive style of play, producing three sacks in the past three weeks.
Luvu was definitely on the rise under Rhule and Snow — who were fond of him — but under Holcomb and Wilks, he has had a major impact in big moments. In the two games against Atlanta, Luvu had 17 tackles (four for loss), three sacks and two QB hits.
What it all means
Along with the highlighted group, Fitterer has also seen some strong early returns on first-round rookie left tackle Ickey Ekwonu, left guard Brady Christensen, cornerback Jaycee Horn (when healthy), right guard Austin Corbett, safety Xavier Woods and punter Johnny Hekker.
And while it’s not fair to completely dismiss how those players performed under Rhule — who played a part in their placement on the roster — the group seems to be progressing at a quicker pace since Wilks took charge and put his spin on things.
As Tepper considers all of his options for the GM and head coach spots in the next few weeks and months, he shouldn’t completely dismiss the growth that has happened since mid-October.
Whether that means that Fitterer and/or Wilks are retained is another story, but at least Tepper knows the team has some legitimate talent to move forward with if he decides to go in a different direction or retain his two top decision-makers.
