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View Full Version : Panthers Defense loses all four major coaches

BlindSite
01-22-2009, 03:37 PM
Earlier in the month there was speculation surrounding the Panthers' asssisstant coaching staff with Ken Flajole (linebackers) being pursued by the St Louis Rams as defensive coordinator and Sal Sunsieri leaving for a college coaching position.

On Tuesday of this week it was announced that both Trgovac and Lewis were likely to stay in Carolina. Trgovac especially since he'd been offered a contract and stated publically he was keen to accept the address the problems with the defense, that caused the team to drop from 2nd in points and 8th in total defense to 12th in points and 18th overall in just 6 weeks.

Tim Lewis wasn't expect to leave after he wasn't offered the DC job in any of the places he'd interviewed.

Its just been announced that Trgovac has decided, to leave the Panthers and Lewis is bolting to Seattle to become their Dbacks coach.

So the panthers defensive staff now consists of Sam Mills III the "quality assurance" coach and Gillhamer (safeties and corners).

At least the quality of the safety coaching will be good...





Its really difficult to say what kind of impact this is going to have on the draft, free agency and all the rest of it since a lot of the coaching carousel is kind of winding down. Part of me is ever-so-pissed that Trgovac didn't announce this to the team a lot earlier and maybe we could've kept either Flajole or Sunsieri as the coordinator, two guys fans have wanted for years to take over.

Now the strength of the team which has always been the front seven has lost the three coaches who built it and schemed around it.

The only coach I can see being a possibility at this direct point is Herm Edwards, if he gets his marching papers, he's got big ties to Fox, they were team mates, and still are friends.

Thoughts?
Gay Ork Wang
01-22-2009, 03:38 PM
umm Team Boards?
BlindSite
01-22-2009, 03:41 PM
I think it kind of affects the whole dynamic of the NFC South and the NFC in general next year since the Panthers finished as the number 2 seed and won a lot of games through defense?

If anquan boldin has two threads because he threw a hissy fit, surely the alteration of the NFC's 2nd seed's most pivotal aspect deserves one.
CC.SD
01-22-2009, 03:41 PM
Time to bring in somebody who can run a 3-4 and make a last ditch effort to keep Peppers.
Gay Ork Wang
01-22-2009, 03:43 PM
I think it kind of affects the whole dynamic of the NFC South and the NFC in general next year since the Panthers finished as the number 2 seed and won a lot of games through defense?

If anquan boldin has two threads because he threw a hissy fit, surely the alteration of the NFC's 2nd seed's most pivotal aspect deserves one.
yea...i dont think Boldin deserved it either. but i dont see how this is gonna change that much in the NFL
BlindSite
01-22-2009, 03:46 PM
Time to bring in somebody who can run a 3-4 and make a last ditch effort to keep Peppers.

I don't really mind that idea, Brayton could feasibly play end in a 34 in a pinch and we've got Lewis and Kemo who could potentially make the shift.

HIlee Taylor has 4.5 speed and could shift to OLB, as good Johnson who fights to keep bulk.

It'd be new for Fox, but it seems to work pretty well for Tomlin. Is Mangini still out of work??
Gay Ork Wang
01-22-2009, 03:50 PM
he was the first to get a job
BlindSite
01-22-2009, 03:53 PM
It was a joke about Mangini.

I don't think there's much chance of the team switching away from a 43 or the team keeping Peppers.

All I know is, there's not much out there as far as top tier coaching talent goes.
scottyboy
01-22-2009, 04:01 PM
tim lewis is the epitomy of epic fail, something panther fans mocked giants fans for saying when he was hired as the secondary coach. they now realize how terrible he was
HChu
01-22-2009, 04:20 PM
If they wanted to make the jump to a 3-4 couldn't they make a run at Romeo Crennel?
gpngc
01-22-2009, 04:33 PM
This is setting up perfectly for an underachieving season, the firing of John Fox, and the inevitable hiring of the hometown scowl himself.
ShutDwn
01-22-2009, 06:00 PM
tim lewis is the epitomy of epic fail, something panther fans mocked giants fans for saying when he was hired as the secondary coach. they now realize how terrible he was

Chill, Panther fans said we will see, and our secondary did play well last year, just no pass rush. This year, a little pass rush and bad Lucas and Marshall.
...
01-22-2009, 06:52 PM
Let's just trade Peppers for Boldin. Then both posts and teams can live in harmony!
bigbluedefense
01-22-2009, 06:53 PM
your defensive staff improved by leaps and bounds by the simple dismissal of Tim Lewis.

worst. coach. ever.
ShutDwn
01-22-2009, 09:34 PM
your defensive staff improved by leaps and bounds by the simple dismissal of Tim Lewis.

worst. coach. ever.

Yeah, its hard to tell how bad he really was, but I believe it was somewhere around terrible. Gamble did well, but I think that is because Gamble can really play well in many different styles, Lucas and Marshall not so much, they rely on being up tight on receivers and being aggressive.


All these firings will make it blatantly obvious who has been at fault for the defensive woes, was it Fox or everyone's favorite whipping boy Trgovac? We will find out next season.