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As you know, the Carolina Panthers foolishly fired head coach Ron Rivera this week. Secondary coach Perry Fewell is the team's interim head coach. What very few people are talking about, however, is that Scott Turner, the team's quarterback coach and the son of Norv Turner, is taking over offensive coordinator duties. Norv will be the team's assistant head coach. The younger Turner has never coordinated an offense before.
The Chargers did something similar to this four weeks ago. They fired their offensive coordinator and handed the play-calling duties to a first-timer, quarterback coach Shane Steichen. Los Angeles did win their first game with Steichen calling plays, but they are 0-3 SUATS since then. Steichen's lone win came at home against Green Bay, a non-conference opponent. Turner's first game as play-caller will be on the road against a division rival that his team lost to three weeks ago by a score of 29-3. Also, Steichen had an experienced quarterback in Philip Rivers to work with. Turner is working with a quarterback in only his 11th career start, who is averaging only 5.8 net yards per pass attempt, with 10 interceptions and 6 fumbles. This is a situation that is ripe for mistakes and miscues.
In addition to that, Carolina lost defensive lineman Dontari Poe two weeks ago. Prior to losing Poe, the team was allowing 5.0 yards per rush. Since losing Poe, the Panthers gave up 248 rushing yards to the Redskins and are now allowing 5.3 yards per rush.
Fewell was the interim head coach for two games with Buffalo in 2009. In his first game in charge of the Bills, he lost on the road by a score of 31-3. Fewell's opponent? The Atlanta Falcons.
From what I've been able to find, when an NFL team fires their head coach mid-season and the team is on a bye week, they are 3-5 SU and 6-2 ATS in their next game, including 2-0 ATS since 2010. However, when a team fires their head coach midseason and they are not on a bye week, they are 12-24 SU and 11-24-1 ATS, including 8-10 ATS since 2010.
Meanwhile, Atlanta's offense is entering this week about as healthy as they've been all season. Wide receiver Julio Jones is back, along with tight end Austin Hooper, and right guard Chris Lindstrom. The team's punter, Matt Bosher, also came back, but then he injured himself in practice on Friday. How does a punter injure himself in practice?
Atlanta is a team that plays hard for head coach Dan Quinn, even if the team is eliminated from playoff contention. They closed out last season on a 3-1 SU run, despite a losing record. Under Quinn, the Falcons are 12-4 SU and 9-7 ATS in the last four games of the regular season.
Last week's loss for Carolina might have been their "dream crusher." They know their chances of making the playoffs are now slim to none.
Fly Falcons fly.
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