Okay, is it really that obvious?
On Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers put in a request to interview Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for their head-coaching job. Moore is now the eighth known candidate for the opening and the fifth of a very particular kind—as noted by ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler in his latest bit of buzz from around the league.
“As the logic goes, the Panthers knew they had [Steve] Wilks as a prime candidate with a defensive background, so they went heavy on offense with the rest of the pool,” Fowler writes. “Wilks has a solid offensive staff to sell David Tepper, to be sure. But multiple people I’ve spoken to around the league think the young coordinators have their advantages for a QB-starved franchise. Frank Reich is interviewing for the head-coaching job but could end up a strong coordinator candidate.”
Of the eight men Carolina has interviewed or are seeking to interview, five are currently offensive coordinators under the age of 42. In addition to Moore (35 years old), the Panthers have expressed interest in Buffalo’s Ken Dorsey (41), Philadelphia’s Shane Steichen (37), Detroit’s Ben Johnson (36) and New York’s Mike Kafka (35).
Also being considered are 67-year-old Jim Caldwell and 61-year-old Frank Reich, both of whom are also considered to lean more towards the offensive side of the ball. As of now, that leaves the fan and player favorite, Steve Wilks, as the lone defensive-minded man in the pool.
