On Tuesday, Steve Wilks took the podium for the first time since being named interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers. And, of course, he had some doozies to answer to.
Here are the top takeaways from Wilks this afternoon.
2022 is not over
In starting off his presser, Wilks made one message quite clear—the season must go on.
“I stand before you excited about this opportunity, but also disappointed in how it came about. Coach Rhule’s a great coach, a great man. And as I stated here yesterday to the players—we didn’t do our job as coaches and players. We didn’t coach hard enough, we didn’t win enough football games to keep him around.
“But I also stated, as well, that this is part of the business. And one thing I do know for sure—they’re not canceling our season. So, we gotta do a great job of coming together, collectively, and finding a way to turn this thing around quickly.”
Wilks dismissed DC Phil Snow and assistant ST coach Ed Foley
Defensive coordinator Phil Snow and assistant special teams coach Ed Foley, both longtime disciples of Rhule, were also fired on Monday. Wilks said that was his call.
“Two great men, two great coaches. It was my call and my decision. I just felt like I wanted a different approach moving forward. And that was all.”
Win the day
Joseph Person of The Athletic asked Wilks if he’s been assured consideration, perhaps by owner David Tepper, to be named head coach beyond the 2022 campaign. Wilks did not give a direct answer, but isn’t concerned with that now anyway.
“To be quite honest with you, Joe, I’m not really looking beyond the day. And that’s what I told the players. My approach has always been, our approach is gonna be ‘win the day.’ And I think the first thing we need to be concerned with is trying to win a football game, which starts with the Los Angeles Rams. Whatever’s gonna happen at the end of the year is gonna take care of itself.”
The best players will play
In another prompt courtesy of Person, Wilks was asked if Sam Darnold will get a shot at the starting quarterback role once he returns. He said their main objective is to make sure they have the best player they possibly can at every position.
“I think we’re taking a look at everybody, to be quite honest. I mean, throughout the whole roster. We gotta find a way to put the best guys on the field. And the focus to me is not on one person. I think offensively, defensively—there’s 11 guys out there and I can’t pinpoint one guy that’s gonna win a football game for you.”
Baker Mayfield needs to be more consistent
Baker Mayfield has. obviously, gotten off to a rough start. So when asked of what he sees in that, Wilks gave a pretty standard response.
“I think Baker would tell you, himself, that he’d wanna play better. I think collectively, as a team, the guys will tell you that we wanna play better. So, that’s the difference in his play is that he wants to be more consistent, like we all do.”
The staff is the staff
Wilks indicated that there probably won’t be any more coaching changes for the foreseeable future.
“Right now, moving forward, we feel like we have the guys in place that’s gonna give us an opportunity to be successful.”
He also noted that new defensive coordinator Al Holcomb will call plays on defense and that he’ll still maintain his presence in the defensive backs room.
. . . and that probably means no Luke Kuechly
With Holcomb changing titles from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator, perhaps there’s a new opening on the staff. Wilks was asked if he’d consider approaching franchise great and former linebacker Luke Kuechly about an opportunity.
“For his playing or coaching?” Wilks said jokingly. “As I stated before, I feel good about the coaches that we have in place moving forward and I’m excited about what we’re gonna try to get done.”
