Can Carolina Panthers hang on to Rob Chudzinski

Every time Rob Chudzinski successfully calls one of his trademark “big chunk” plays, it’s a bit of a catch-22 for the Carolina Panthers:

The 25-yard-plus gains put the offense that much closer to the end zone, but they also raise the profile of an offensive coordinator whom some observers think will draw interest as a head-coaching candidate after the season.

With his vertical passing game and a three-headed running attack, Chudzinski has had the Panthers ranked among the league’s top-five offenses throughout his first season in Charlotte. Chudzinski has taken advantage of rookie quarterback Cam Newton’s unique skill set, incorporating a read-option scheme similar to what Newton ran last season at Auburn.

The Panthers do not want to lose Chudzinski after one season.

While Chudzinski said he’d like to be a head coach at some point, his focus is on his current job.

“If that opportunity comes someday, great,” Chudzinski said Monday. “If not, I’m right here, right now in what I’m doing.”

After Jacksonville fired Jack Del Rio last week, ESPN’s John Clayton mentioned Chudzinski among the offensive assistants the Jaguars might consider.

Chudzinski said he has not been contacted by the Jaguars.

“I don’t even listen to it, pay attention to it,” Chudzinski said of the speculation. “I’m the type of person, I’m about the here and now and trying to focus and do the best job I can do. And that’s right here. I love this team. I love the things we’re doing. I love the direction we’re going. We have the Atlanta Falcons this week. … So that’s what I’m focused on completely.”

Panthers coach Ron Rivera knows what it’s like dealing with the distractions that come with having your name linked to vacancies. Rivera, the former Chicago and San Diego defensive coordinator, interviewed for eight head-coaching jobs during recent years before the Panthers hired him in January.

Rivera said Chudzinski “absolutely” has the makeup to be a head coach, but this is not the time to discuss it.

“It’s something I won’t address because we have four games left. Chud will hear it and do what he has to do. The one thing he’s done and told me is his focus right now is on what we are doing,” Rivera said. “Because of that, I respect it and I’m not going to bring it up.”

“It’s the same thing as coach (Norv) Turner did with me,” added Rivera, referring to the Chargers coach. “You have to think about the task at hand. If he’s anything like all of us who have gone through it, he’s already got something prepared. You have the whole offseason to prepare for these situations. Now you’re playing, the focus is on playing.”

Chudzinski, 43, was dialed-in Sunday during a 38-19 win at Tampa Bay, where the Panthers scored touchdowns on their first two possessions to take a lead they never relinquished. Chudzinski called about 80 percent of the plays on those drives off a script, as he typically does on the first two series before making adjustments.

The Panthers had four plays of 19 yards or more on the first two possessions – a pair of Jonathan Stewart runs, a reception by tight end Greg Olsen and a 27-yard catch by Newton on a trick play.

“When you can go out and your first two drives are touchdowns, you’d love to start out every game that way,” Chudzinski said. “And certainly I felt good about the plan going into the game, and the guys did a great job executing all day long.”

After finishing with the league’s worst offense in John Fox’s final season, the Panthers are No. 5 this year with 397.6 yards a game. They have the fifth-ranked rushing offense, and are among the top eight in passing yards, first downs and scoring offense at 24.2 points a game.

Chudzinski, who spent two seasons as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator, said the entire offensive staff contributes to the game plan. He said offensive quality control coach Scott Turner, Norv Turner’s son, had the idea for the throwback pass to Newton.

“That’s the good thing that’s been really nice about our staff. Everybody chips in and has input and has ideas,” Chudzinski said. “If you go back through these weeks, there’s a little bit of everybody in it. That’s real positive and I’m fortunate to be in a situation where we have a bunch of guys like that.”

The Panthers hope the man known as Chud stays in that situation a while longer.



(charlotteobserver.com)