Matt Rhule: ‘I think Baker’s our quarterback’
While Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is officially eligible to return from the IR after suffering a high ankle sprain in the preseason, could another be on the horizon in lieu of Baker Mayfield’s poor play once Darnold returns? Well, head coach Matt Rhule denied those allegations after Sunday’s game and again on Monday.
“I think Baker’s our quarterback,” Rhule said Monday, via The Athletic‘s Joe Person. “We have to continue to find ways to help him. … Sam is not cleared right now.
“We just need Baker to settle down and play within the scheme…That is something he believes in, we all believe in,” he added, via the Charlotte Observer‘s Ellis Williams.
Mayfield, who was acquired from the Cleveland Browns in July and named the starter ahead of Darnold in late August, has gotten off to a real shaky start in Carolina.
He’s completed only 54.7 percent of his passes — 64-for-117 — for 747 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. The Panthers rank dead last in offense, sport the third-worst passing offense and own the NFL’s worst third-down conversion rate (25.5 percent). They’ve failed to scratch 20 points against twice as well — both against below average defenses in Arizona and the Giants.
Carolina’s dreadful offense was even got called out on National TV by ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky after a Week 2 loss to New York for the positioning of running back Christian McCaffrey, hinting at the Panthers tipping plays to its opponent. Orlovsky called it “unacceptable” and “coaching malpractice” on Rhule’s behalf.
Bad signs for both Baker Mayfield and Matt Rhule, even through only four weeks.
“Offensively, we have to score more points,” Rhule told reporters after Sunday’s game. “So yeah, we have to get it corrected, but in terms of any one person I just don’t think it’s right to speak on it right now.
“I’m going to refrain from anything big picture until tomorrow. At the end of the day, I’m on the headset, I see the things, I know that it’s never just one person here, one person there, it’s a lot of different things, so I’ll try to give you a really well thought-out answer after watching tapes,” Rhule said. “All that being said, I believe that we can play better than that. I just feel like we have to expect more from all of us as an offense, and it starts with me first.”
Throughout his lone season with the Panthers in 2021, Darnold wasn’t very productive behind center, either. He threw for 2,257 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 picks in 12 games — 11 starts — going 4-7. Carolina’s schedule isn’t favorable over the several weeks, with bouts against the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before road tests at Atlanta and Cincinnati.
It’s certainly possible to foresee a quarterback change in the near future once Darnold returns, even though it’s being hushed right now.
We’ve already seen one quarterback replacement with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Rookie signal caller Kenny Pickett entered for Mitch Trubisky in the second half rushing for two touchdowns (becoming the first QB to ever do that in debut!) while throwing three picks — one coming on a Hail Mary heave — in their 24-20 loss to the New York Jets, who also changed quarterbacks amid Zach Wilson returning from injury.
Rhule’s job is on the line. His seat appears to be hotter than hot. He’s got to figure it out or else he might be seeing his way out the door sooner rather than later. And it starts behind center.
“Obviously I know that it wasn’t good enough, and that the numbers aren’t what they need to be in a lot of areas,” Rhule said. “I have to really go back and see why is this happening, why are we not playing better than this, because I know we have the personnel on offense to make plays, and it’s just not coming together the way it needs to.
“Offensively, I think we have to go back and look at everything and see what we can do better, see what we’re doing well, and try to fix what ails us right now, because it took a toll on us tonight.”
Full quotes here.
SUBSCRIBE to the Vendetta YouTube Channel!
SHOP for Vendetta Merch!
SUPPORT Vendetta on Patreon!
