Charlotte 49ers mailbag: Hot seats, QB shuffles and what’s up with the O-line?

With win No. 1 under the Charlotte 49ers’ belt, a tall task awaits Biff Poggi’s team in Bloomington on Saturday.

Concluding the non-conference schedule with a road trip to take on Indiana, an undefeated Big Ten team, Charlotte will challenge the Power Four program with third-string quarterback Trexler Ivey leading the charge.

Almost beaten by visiting Gardner-Webb a week ago, injuries have plagued the 49ers and they are missing their top two quarterbacks in Max Brown and DeShawn Purdie, as well as other players on both sides of the ball.

With questions on availability, quarterback play, hot seats and coaching decisions, The Observer answers all of your questions in this week’s mailbag.

Hot seat talk

@CLTpad: How hot is Biff Poggi and Mike Hill’s seat right now?

Following a four-year extension from Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber, announced Sunday afternoon Mike Hill is under contract as Charlotte’s athletic director through 2030. As detailed in Charlotte’s news release on Hill’s extension, highlights since Hill took the job in 2018 include a successful transition to the American Athletic Conference, eight conference championships in 2022-23, and a first-place finish among 131 FBS schools in the Excellence in Management Cup, which recognizes athletic departments that maximize fiscal resources and translate to championship success.

While Charlotte has had undeniable success across many of the 19 programs on campus, the biggest cash cows, men’s basketball and football, haven’t seen those same levels of winning.

Aaron Fearne seems like the right hire for Charlotte’s men’s basketball program, notching a top-three finish in the American in his first season. However, for a program with a Final Four appearance in 1977 and consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in the early 2000s, a near-20-year drought to the big dance has raised questions.

And for football, the program is 21-37 since Hill brought Will Healy into the fold — his first football hire on the job. Poggi is currently 4-11 as head coach, and Charlotte hasn’t won a home game against an FBS program since November 2022.

Poggi, currently under contract until Dec. 31, 2027, has shown some promise for Charlotte’s program, nabbing a top-tier quarterback transfer in Max Brown from Florida, adding notable coaches to his staff and generating buzz for the program with his charismatic personality.

But the wins haven’t come as initially promised, outside of Charlotte’s first win in the intra-conference rivalry against East Carolina.

Poggi and Hill display a solid relationship, and with Charlotte pulling off the comeback victory over Gardner-Webb last Saturday, Poggi’s position as head man is safe.

Quarterback controversy?

Bradin Routh @Ginger_Bradin: Why did it take Purdie getting injured for Charlotte to make a change at quarterback? Do you think Trexler should be your quarterback for the time being?

The matter of fact of the situation is this — Poggi was riding with his three-star true freshman quarterback until the wheels fell off. Purdie committed three turnovers, five turnover-worthy plays and took six sacks, but Poggi was standing by the Baltimore native.

“We’ve got an exceptional young talent, and we’re going to ride with him until our starter Max (Brown) comes back,” Poggi said of Purdie.

With Purdie “banged up,” according to Poggi, Ivey will get the start on Saturday at Indiana. Ivey played in 11 games last season, starting five, and had an up-and-down season marred with turnovers (10 interceptions), but highlighted by a 17-point comeback victory on the road against Tulsa. Ivey showed growth on Saturday night against Gardner-Webb, making quick decisions and getting his playmakers the ball with on-time, accurate passes. With Charlotte needing five more wins to reach their first bowl since 2019, the locker room has confidence in Ivey, and he gives Charlotte the best chance to win right now.

@49ShadesofGreen: Is Max Brown likely to return in the next couple of weeks?

Sporting a sling on the sideline last week, it’s not likely that Brown will return to action anytime soon for the 49ers. Although Poggi won’t provide a timeline, with an injury to Brown’s throwing hand, expect Purdie or Ivey to start for the 49ers well into conference play.

Struggles up front

@Tintin049: Why is the offensive line struggling so much? They seem to not be able to protect the quarterback or open up holes in the running game.

With just one returning starter from a season ago, cohesion was always going to be a struggle for this group — but progress is evident. All five of Charlotte’s offensive linemen posted pass-blocking grades of 78.3 or better against Gardner-Webb, led by the tackle combo of Kendall Stanley (86.3) and Jonny Hassard (86), according to Pro Football Focus.

Guards Mitchell Mayes and Jordan Spasojevic-Moko each gave up a sack, in part due to Purdie holding the ball too long. Purdie had an average of 2.71 seconds to throw, and 2.86 when the Runnin’ Bulldogs sent the blitz, which they did on 54.5% of their snaps. After replacing Purdie heading into the fourth quarter, Ivey was never under pressure on 12 dropbacks.

Missing lead tailback Terron Kellman, returnee Hahsaun Wilson has been Charlotte’s most productive back. Committing to the run is something Charlotte has shown little to no desire to do this season, marring the team with an average third down attempt of 8.2 yards.

@NormDaNiner: Can we please get the ball to Henry Rutledge in space?

Henry Rutledge is one of Charlotte’s most explosive player on offense. Despite serving as the primary kick and punt returner, offensive coordinator Mike Miller has utilized Rutledge sparingly on offense, playing 16 snaps through three games. In one of his five snaps against North Carolina, Rutledge scored a 28-yard catch-and-run on a feed from Purdie.

Tight end Colin Weber understands Rutledge’s game-changing speed.

“You can put him anywhere on the field. There’s a lot of ways we can get him the ball. Anytime he’s got the ball in space, he’s dangerous. That’s somebody you’ve got to game plan for.”

Calling plays and Steve Wilks

Mike Laney @MdLaney4: The two-point conversion decision. Why?

When trailing by 14, analytics say to go for two after scoring a touchdown, to potentially give yourself the win with another touchdown, rather than tying the game. After O’Mega Blake’s first score as a 49er, Charlotte had the momentum, but the first two-point conversion play didn’t fit the situation, forcing Ivey to sail the ball.

I agree with the call to go for two in that situation, even operating with a third-string quarterback. But you have to draw up a play that fits your personnel and situation.

Zach Meade @Zack_Meade: Steve Wilks season in Charlotte?

Poggi and a trio of players have attributed Charlotte’s second-half resurgence to Steve Wilks’ electrifying halftime speech, but asi a voluntary advisor, it’s hard to imagine Wilks taking a larger role with the program, especially following Poggi’s recent comments.

“Steve wants to go be a head coach in the NFL and he will be,” Poggi said. “I think this is probably his last hurrah in college football. He’s off this year, he’s local and he wants to help us.”

Wilks’ guidance and leadership with the players have been evident, pulling individuals aside and talking through reps at practice, as well as working with both the offensive and defensive staff.