Position coach could bring big impact

Lost in all of the Julius Peppers hoopla this weekend was the fact that QB coach Mike Mcoy left for Denver. The Panthers immediately hired Rip Scherer.

No doubt this came based on a recommendation by Panthers Offensive Coordinator Jeff Davidson. Davidson and Scherer were peers in Cleveland.

Scherer has held a wide variety of coaching positions in both college and pro ranks, including a college head coaching position for five years in Memphis.

So how does this effect the Panthers? Mike McCoy failed to develop one young QB into even a competent backup. Many will point to the successes of Jake Delhomme and credit McCoy, but Delhomme was already developed fully when he arrived in Carolina, and one could make a strong argument that Delhomme has regressed since 2003.

McCoy was given more than a handful of young quarterbacks, high on talent and low on experience. McCoy was unable to mold any of these players into a competent backup, much less an adequate starter. This fact, more than any other, indicates a real lack of talent at the QB coaching position.

Enter Rip Scherer.

The Panthers were not the only team interested in Scherer’s services. San Francisco also interviewed him for the same position last week. Scherer again in San Francisco  interviewed on the recommendation of another ex Browns coach. He is known as more of a technician than McCoy. Scherer has always been a believer in mechanics. When Brady Quinn arrived in Cleveland, Rip tweaked his mechanics and improved Quinn’s accuracy.

The bottom line here is that the Panthers could hire someone who has an instant chemistry with Jeff Davidson, who is willing to actually mold players into something the offensive scheme calls for, even if that means actually coaching a player up and adjusting mechanics if needed.

The happiest guys on the team this week are Josh McCown and Matt Moore. They now have a clean slate and a more level playing field to compete for the backup position. With this new QB coach, for the first time in many seasons, Panther fans may be able to see a home grown Panthers QB take the field as a starter.