Panthers P Johnny Hekker: ‘Players aren’t guessing’ with new coaching staff
Did another Carolina Panthers player just throw another thinly-veiled shot at former head coach Matt Rhule? Well, it sure sounds like it.
A few weeks ago, it was tight end Tommy Tremble, who stated that this spring is the first time he’s felt like he and the team have been “coached up.” And on Wednesday, it was punter Johnny Hekker, who said the following about new head coach Frank Reich and his staff during his interview on 104.9 Fox Sports Upstate’s Game On with John Ellis:
“There’s no guessing going on,” he stated. “You know the information that you’re getting is vetted, tested, coming from reliable sources. I mean, really generational coaching lines have started with some of the coaches on our staff, and there are some that are up-and-comers from other coaching trees that are on staff, too.
“Coach Reich has been an incredible leader thus far and just a real clear communicator of what he expects from us, what he wants from his coaching staff, how he wants us to collaborate and, really, approach this season of growth together. He realizes—just like any good team or organization or company—in order for you to become a success, everyone has to be communicating clearly, openly and honestly.”
Reich helped bring an all-star supporting cast with him to Charlotte. The impressive group includes assistant head coach Duce Staley, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and assistants Jim Caldwell and Dom Capers—all of whom either have head-coaching experience or are expected to be in serious consideration for it in 2024.
And that’s something the Panthers really didn’t have from 2020 to 2022. Hekker continued:
“So I think that, really no matter what way you look at it, players aren’t guessing, ‘Does this coach really know what he’s talkin’ about and does he really have my best interests in mind?'”
Hmmm . . .
Anyway, Hekker hopped on with Ellis, in part, to raise awareness for the Prisma Health’s Children’s Hospital #WeCare Campaign. For more information on the campaign, click here.
