Pat Welter covered the Panthers' 29-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and joins Kacy Hintz on WRAL Sports Xtra to discuss Matt Rhule and Cam Newton's futures with the franchise.
well, let's bring Pat Welter back into things. He joins me now from charlotte of course, as we continue to break down this panthers 29 21 loss to Atlanta, Pat, it was cam Newton's third start and fourth game overall since returning to Carolina, we know that turnovers continue to be an issue. But do you think he is still not rules quarterback? Well, Matt rule said yes after the game, he said that PJ walker getting in here was always part of the game plan. They wanted to put him in after the third or four series. They feel that right now he still gives them the better chance on the two minute drill. Now P. J walker come in and letting things up. Maybe you do have a little bit of a QB controversy. But P. J walker turned it over just like cam Newton did. But I did think that cam Newton overall played well in this game. He moved the ball down the field, he was able to run it effectively. It's just those turnovers. Those catastrophic turnovers is the way that matt rule put it. And cam Newton has disappointed in himself. As anybody else. We heard some of the guys say after the game that they felt more prepared on offense than they had all season long and we're gonna get to Jeff Nixon here in just a moment, Pat. But as far as head coach, Matt rule goes, you're there at the game, you are seeing maybe what's happening on the sidelines or away from the play. Do you think rule has lost this team at all? Well look Casey, they've changed quarterbacks several times. They've now changed the coordinator. So the natural progression is for all eyes to be on matt rule. And what happens with his job next. And look, they have lost their last five home games, two and five at home on the season. That's not going to sit well with ownership. But at a certain point the plane does have to be on the players. And I think that's what you heard in the postgame brian Burns said, this is our bed. We've got to lay in it cam. Newton said that he's got to hold himself to a higher standard and look that rules not throwing the passes out there. But at a certain point it does have to fall on him. I'm gonna switch gears to Jeff Nixon, of course, he was the running backs coach. He is now in for the now fired offensive coordinator joe brady. But this was his first game calling plays at this level. But we know that him and rule go back a long ways. But just given the way this game unfolded, how would you grade Nixon's first performance here at the panthers? Well, it's a loss so you can only give it so good of a grade. I'm going to go incomplete because he's not the one turning the ball over for the Panthers, but in a lot of ways he put them in a position to win Matt Rule said he liked the tempo, he liked to run past split. He said a misunderstanding about why he changed coordinators is because of the running game, but it was because of the passing game two and well, really loved the completion numbers from cam Newton in this game. And I think we're going to see from Nixon is a guy that's going to play to the strengths of his team. I think we saw cam Newton at his best in a lot of lights today. And Robby Anderson afterwards said that he's never felt more prepared all season. So that's got to be a good side and going forward Casey. Well, Pat, what's not a good sign is there now? Five and eight and it only gets tougher from here as they head up to Buffalo Pat Welter thanks so much.