Thursday, September 5, 2013

So was Steve Smith right about Chudzinski?



Steve Smith says former Panther offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski got "too cute" in pursuit of a head-coaching job with Carolina's play-calling in 2012.

Steve Smith fired a shot across the bow Wednesday, saying Rob Chudzinski's ambition hurt the Carolina Panthers' offense in 2012.

In a teleconference with Seattle-area reporters -- Smith was not available to Carolina-based media Wednesday -- No.89 said: “The prior offensive coordinator really was positioning himself to just apply for that head coaching job. I think our offense suffered a little bit because of that. At times, we got cute. We did things that weren’t necessarily us, like the under-utilizing of (fullback) Mike Tolbert. But we’re out of that. The past is the past.”

"Chud," as everyone calls him, is now the head coach at Cleveland. Smith's comments were the most negative ever directed at the Panthers' playcaller in 2011 and 2012, although Tolbert earlier this preseason made a reference to what he called "a lot of broken promises" regarding his own use in 2012. I believe Smith's comments echo an undercurrent among a number of Panther offensive players -- this is something that has been whispered about, for sure, but outside of reporters' earshot until now.

Here's what I think: Smith is correct in at least one sense. There's no debate: Tolbert was not used enough last year until the very end of the season. The guy can play. He's a fine short-yardage back, and he's really good out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. He's about to get used a whole lot, too, assuming his body holds up, with Jonathan Stewart out the first five weeks.

Another thing I didn't like about "Chud's" offense -- too many carries (and hits) for Cam Newton. No way your quarterback should lead the team in rushing in the NFL, but Newton did in 2012 (the first time that happened since Donovan McNabb for Philadelphia in 2000). Too much risk.

But in another sense Smith is wrong. To imply Chudzinski put his own personal goals in front of the Panthers winning doesn't make sense to me. For "Chud" to get a job, Carolina had to do well. I think he called plays to win, not to impress owners around the NFL. If it did both, so much the better. And he was innovative. He brought the "read-option" to Carolina in 2011 before RG3 made it much more well-known. He had some incredible gadget plays that worked (remember Richie Brockel's TD)? He certainly got Smith the ball a lot (well, that was Newton throwing it but still).

Smith had 1,000-yard years in both 2011 and '12 in Chud's offense after a terrible season in 2010 with Jimmy Clausen as his QB. And Chud's two offenses at Carolina ranked very high in team history (setting a team record for yards in 2011 while ranking No.7 in the NFL and then a more modest but still respectable No.12 in 2012).

So, like many controversial comments, Smith's has some truth to it but is not entirely true. It's very possible Smith will find something to complain about in Mike Shula's more conventional offense, too, before this season is over -- it certainly hasn't looked good in the preseason.

12 comments:

Thomas said...

Well, it turns out that Carolina did NOT have to do well for Chud to get a head coaching job. Last I remember the Panthers were under .500 last year and didn't make the playoffs.

Anonymous said...

Thomas , spot on.

Scott, looks like you got "too cute" trying to write an article...

rb said...

Just compare the records of Shula and Chud as offensive coordinators.

Anonymous said...

Tolbert is a good pass catcher out of the backfield?
If the pass is above his shoulder pads, he is not going to catch it...EVER!

Mediocre pass-catcher at best.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Smith. It was more of the truth in the first few weeks in the season. The offensive plays that were ran in the first few weeks of the season may have cost us a wild card spot.

rwhit said...

Scott, I don't think Smitty was saying that he was putting a HC position ahead of the team winning, just that he was trying to do too much because he wanted to be a HC. It just so happens that they did poorly in the beginning of the season.

Anonymous said...

shula playcalling = predictable. gotta keep those defenses off balance.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy the fact that the Seattle media is getting this info first.

Charlotte reporters need to ask Steve and others truly interesting questions instead of just going along with whatever is happening and not rocking the boat.

Break some real news, ask the tough questions. Praising and protecting Cam and Rivera seem to be the main goals of our local media.

Anonymous said...

No offense Scott, but I'll take the word of a player that is in the locker room, at practices and is tuned in to insider politics of a team than a beat writer on the outside looking in.

Shane P said...

As far as I'm concerned, Smitty can say whatever the hell he wants.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like people have too much time on their hands to post things they know nothing about. Were you in the locker room or at practices? Some of these players need to grow up and stop blaming the coaches! Maybe they need to change their own attitudes and take the blame for their own performance!

Anonymous said...

You are a joke Scott.