The same day the Panthers fired their special teams coach after the touchdown that wasn’t, the assistants that remained were freshening up resumes, and making sure everyone knew the kind of job they were doing.
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott pointed out for the fifth straight game, his defense held opponents to 20 points or fewer. Of course, the Panthers gave up a pick-six, a return touchdown and a safety Sunday to lose 36-14, their fourth loss over that span.
“I’m not taking anything away from the wins and losses. That’s the most important thing of our business,” McDermott said, via Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. “But I’ve got a goal as a defensive coordinator and a vision, and we’re moving forward toward that vision.
“Anybody who was at the field yesterday I think saw that those guys played tough, aggressive football through and through until the end of the game. And when the game was going the way it was going, to keep coming back and keep coming back and keep coming back, that speaks about what’s going on the defensive side of the ball.”
This is what it’s come to for the Panthers, an every-man-for-himself situation for the second time in three years. The entire organization is gripped with the stark reality that major changes are coming, so it makes sense for anyone with anything to crow about gets it out there for the world to see.
Saying it in a press conference is a lot cheaper than postage for 31 envelopes, anyway.