The information of Frank Reich’s firing as head coach of the Carolina Panthers took tight finish Hayden Hurst off-guard.
However he knew that, with a 1-10 file after falling to the Tennessee Titans this previous Sunday, a change could possibly be across the nook even when nobody wished it to occur.
“I used to be really within the coaching room as a result of sadly I’ve been in concussion protocol for the final couple weeks, so been somewhat bit faraway from the crew simply making an attempt to construct my means again up,” Hurst advised Fox Information Digital over the telephone. “Caught me somewhat off-guard so far as the finality of it. However I believe if you happen to’re in that constructing, you kinda knew one thing doubtlessly was going to occur sadly.”
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Nov 9, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich watches his crew play in opposition to the Chicago Bears within the second half at Soldier Discipline. (Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Hurst added: “Frank’s an important man with an important message. It’s simply sadly within the NFL typically that doesn’t correlate to wins and I believe that was the scenario we discovered ourselves in. We want Frank the very best, however having a brand new voice in there’ll hopefully soar begin some issues, and we are able to begin piling some wins on the finish. Simply get momentum heading into the offseason.”
Whereas unlucky, it’s the fact of how the NFL works: Irrespective of your previous as a coach or participant, wins trump every little thing. Reich was a stable coach with the Indianapolis Colts earlier than heading to Carolina this yr, going 40-33-1 throughout his five-year stint with the crew as their head coach.
Nevertheless, Reich’s previous didn’t match the current, although, because the Panthers personal the worst file within the NFL and proprietor David Tepper didn’t like what he noticed. Reich was fired on Monday after the 17-10 loss to the Titans, making him the primary coach because the 1970 merger to be fired in back-to-back seasons after Colts proprietor Jim Irsay moved on midway by means of the 2022 marketing campaign after Indy went 3-5-1.
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The Panthers additionally moved on from assistant head coach/operating backs coach Duce Staley in addition to quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. Particular groups coordinator Chris Tabor will assume the position of interim head coach.
Reich additionally famous to the Charlotte Observer that, whereas he’s not executed teaching, it’s “in all probability the ultimate chapter of my NFL journey.”
It’s definitely not the top of the street for Hurst and his teammates, although, as they attempt to sit up for the remaining six video games on the schedule. As Hurst talked about, concussion protocol has stored him out since Nov. 9 when he confronted the Chicago Bears, however he’s hoping to get again on the sphere this Sunday in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the street.
It’s a troublesome scenario to be in if you happen to’re the Panthers as a result of, like Hurst put it, “you’re actually not taking part in for a lot.” But it surely’s not within the nature of an NFL crew to only roll over and stop.
Hayden Hurst #81 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates a catch in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts within the fourth quarter at Financial institution of America Stadium on November 05, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Eakin Howard/Getty Pictures)
That’s the mindset Hurst says is in that locker room proper now.
“Going out and taking part in for delight,” he stated is the message being despatched all through the crew. “I kinda stated it for a number of weeks earlier than I used to be out with a concussion. Throw offensive manufacturing out the window, throw numbers out the window, throw wins and losses out the window. Go play for delight. Go on the market, attempt to fly round, hit folks. That’s all you may actually ask for at this level.”
Hurst additionally thinks it’s a reflective time for gamers, particularly on the offensive facet of the ball. Reich and different coaches could have been those whose jobs have been on the road, nevertheless it’s on the gamers, too.
Many will level fingers at rookie quarterback Bryce Younger, this yr’s first general draft alternative by Carolina, for why this group is thirtieth in yards per sport and twenty ninth in factors scored. That’s not the case in Hurst’s eyes.
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Collective blame is the reply.
“I believe prime down, you may kinda look your self within the mirror on this offense and be like, ‘At this level, I wasn’t adequate for Bryce. At this level, I wasn’t adequate,’” he defined. “That’s the [offensive] line, at operating again, receiver, that’s myself. There’s occasions he’s hit me open and I’ve made a number of drops. That’s uncharacteristic of me, however I’m man sufficient to sit down there and look myself within the mirror and be like, ‘Nicely, I’ve received to return to the drafting board and be higher.’ So I believe no person on that offense is excluded from that. We’ve received to throughout be higher.”
The silver lining by means of a misplaced season? Hurst isn’t seeing anybody giving up, and that’s all you may ask for with playoffs not within the image.
“Very straightforward whenever you’re a 1-10 crew to kinda pack up for the vacations and head residence, however I haven’t actually seen that but out of anyone offensively,” he stated.
Hayden Hurst #81 of the Carolina Panthers warms up previous to a sport in opposition to the Miami Dolphins at Arduous Rock Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Pictures)
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What the long run holds for the Panthers begins with Tepper discovering a brand new head coach he trusts to groom Younger and revitalize the locker room. Till then, Hurst hopes his Panthers teammates have delight in themselves to proceed combating facet by facet every week because the common season begins to return to a detailed.
