Report: Panthers HC Matt Rhule, OC Ben McAdoo have ‘increasing communication issues’

Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is considered by some as a “quarterback whisperer.” But, based off some recent rumblings, he may have to use his voice a bit differently.

According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, the lines of communication between McAdoo and head coach Matt Rhule haven’t been exactly clear. In fact, they’re supposedly getting worse.

“There have been increasing communication issues between McAdoo and Rhule before and during games as McAdoo attempts to direct an offense that is struggling mightily, according to multiple league sources not authorized to speak publicly,” Wilson writes. “McAdoo is working to fix what appears to be a dire situation for an ineffectual offense.”

The ineffectual offense currently ranks last in the NFL in total yards per game (262.3), plays per game (53.5) and third-down conversion rate (25.5 percent). Unfortunately, there have been little to no indications that the unit is even getting any better through four weeks of miserable play.

Last Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals saw the Panthers, who carried a seven-point lead into the break, run the ball just twice in the second half—on the first two plays, in fact. That’s particularly interesting, as far as Wilson’s report goes, considering how Rhule has repeatedly expressed his desire to establish the run for over a year now.

Their Week 4 fate was, instead, put into the hands of a struggling Baker Mayfield—who’s thrown a league-high 10 batted balls while averaging just 186.8 passing yards per contest. Star running back Christian McCaffrey, meanwhile, totaled just eight carries in the defeat.

Whether this latest whiff of turmoil is true or not, Carolina most definitely has to find some harmony somewhere. And for this regime, they might have to find it very quickly.