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Potential Assistants

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
Posted

Right at this point, we have two staff openings, specifically at Defensive Backs Coach and Wide Receiver Coach.  Per Voth, that'll likely soon be three as Ken Dorsey will either be hired away to be the Bills offensive coordinator or will just be let go by the Panthers.

So who are some of the options for the available - or possibly soon to be available - positions?

Here are a few, and just so you know I'm not taking most of the internal options all that seriously.  Yes, they're possible, but I'm hoping we don't go that route.

Forward...

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DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Perry Fewell was the first name listed as a potential backfill for former DB Coach Steve Wilks after his ascension to defensive coordinator, but Fewell was hired to be the DB Coach for the Jaguars after his old boss Tom Coughlin took a front office position there.  Since he's out, here are some other choices.

Ray Horton (former Browns DC) - experience as both a DB coach and a DC with a very solid reputation; no Rivera connection

Dennis Thurman (former Bills DC) - loads of experience as a DB coach; has also served as a DC; no Rivera connection

Charles "Peanut" Tillman (former Bears, Panthers DB) - the popular choice, but also an unlikely one as he has a TV career; no coaching experience (unless you count last year with the Panthers)

Chris "Hitman" Harris (assistant DB coach, Chargers) - Rivera and Panthers connection; super smart as a player but relatively inexperienced as a coach

Curtis Fuller (assistant secondary coach, Panthers) - the internal option; he's actually got more coaching experience than Harris but all of it as an assistant

Jeff Fisher (wait, WHAT?!) - hey, he and Rivera go way back; it could happen if he were willing to take a step back (which means it won't happen)

Ricky Manning Jr (assistant DB Coach, Seahawks) - this isn't happening either, but I bet you didn't know he was coaching in Seattle, did you?

OTHER POSSIBILITIES: Jeff Hafley (recent 49ers DB Coach) Chuck Cecil (recent Rams DB Coach) Sam Garnes (former Bears Assistant Secondary Coach; was previously on the Panthers staff) Al Harris (Chiefs Assistant DB Coach; Rivera connection via Eagles) Tim Hauck (Eagles Assistant DB Coach; also Rivera connected via Eagles) Louie Cioffi (former Browns DB Coach) Richard Rodgers (Panthers assistant DB coach; for the love of all that's holy please no)

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WIDE RECEIVERS COACH

The retirement of Ricky Proehl came as pretty much a shock to everyone.  So who might we get to replace him? There are actually a few decent options available though most of them have little or no connection with Ron Rivera.  And the one that does...yikes!

Jerry Sullivan (former WR coach, Jaguars) - longtime and well respected coach in the NFL; once coached at the University of South Carolina; no Rivera connection

Bob Bratkowski (former WR coach, Titans) - another guy who's been at it for a long time; has had multiple stints as an offensive coordinator; could also be a QB coach but receivers are his specialty; spent a season coaching Matty Ice in Atlanta about six years back

Greg Lewis (former WR coach, Eagles) - has worked with Rivera twice, but has been coaching five years in the NFL and has had five jobs; he's yet to last more than a single season anywhere; that can't be good UPDATE: Lewis is joining Andy Reid's staff in KC.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES: Cameron Turner (Panthers assistant WR coach; Norv's nephew; inexperienced, but technically has more coaching experience than Proehl did when he took the job) Mike Groh (recent Rams WR coach) Bob Bicknell (recent 49ers WR coach; has been coaching receivers the last five years but has way more experience as an offensive line coach) Fred Graves (Steve Smith's college coach; famous for having guys catch bricks; coached receivers here for two years before Rivera fired him in 2012, so...unlikely)

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QUARTERBACK COACH

This is the place where we don't technically have a job opening yet, but Voth says likely we soon will one way or another. It's in this area where you'll find some of the strongest connections to the team and the current coaching staff.  But are they the best candidates?  Judge for yourself.

Norv Turner (former OC, Vikings) - old friend who Rivera wanted as an OC at one point; would he take a step back and coach quarterbacks?  unknown, but worth asking

Scott Turner (former QB coach, Vikings) - left the Vikes after his dad's awkward retirement; previously coached here and has a good rep; light on experience but has dad as a resource

Chris Weinke (former QB coach, Rams) - has the Cam Newton connection and is known to the Panthers as well; how much of Jared Goff's struggles have to do with him?

Rick Dennison (former OC, Broncos) - loads of experience as an OC; only one year as a QB coach but a well respected offensive mind; no Rivera connection but was in Denver as a coach when Gettleman was there as a scout UPDATE: Dennison has been named the Offensive Coordinator of the Buffalo Bills.

George Godsey (former OC, Texans) - started working his way up as an NFL coach in the Patriots system; relatively inexperienced, no connections to Rivera or Gettleman; probably a long shot

OTHER POSSIBILITIES: Jim Fassel (radio personality, former Giants head coach; unlikely but there's a Gettleman connection from his time with the Giants and even a year with the Broncos; who knows if he might want to get back in the NFL again; ironically enough, has worked with former Panthers radio voice Bill Rosinski on Westwood One radio broadcasts; his son John is available too if we want a new Special Teams coach); Outside of Fassel, the other honorable mentions are slim pickings like Kevin O'Connell (recent QB coach; Browns, 49ers) and Kevin Patullo (former Jets QB coach)

_________________________________________________________________________

Definitely some intriguing names out there.  Others could also be available but since news on assistant coach contracts is rarely if ever available, there's really no way to know if an existing DB coach with another team might actually be available.

So far this offseason, outside of Fewell we haven't had anything much at all in the way of coaching targets, interviews, etc.  The Panthers don't seem to be in a hurry, but of course that could change.  The upcoming Senior Bowl week is generally considered a de facto job fair for unemployed NFL coaches, so if these positions aren't filled before then we might talk to some guys there.

And thus, let the speculation begin.

(or has it already?)

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DelhommesTheMan Newbie

DelhommesTheMan

Posted
Posted

Norv should be brought in as the QB Coach/Assistant Head Coach that Wilks now I believe vacates as the DC. It should be made very clear to Shula that him and Norv work closely together, and let Shula feel the fire. Rivera says competition brings out the best in us, we'll bring in the competition for Shula and have him and Norv get this offense right.


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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2 hours ago, chknwing said:

when did Voth say Dorsey was going to be fired?

Regarding Dorsey's interview for Bills OC...

Black & Blue Review ‏@BlackBlueReview

whether he gets this job or not, it’s very likely the Panthers will have a new QB coach in ‘17

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MHS831 Grand Master

MHS831

Posted
Posted

This does bring to mind a thought I had earlier in the month---How did everyone spend so much time bashing Shula when Proehl seems to have been given a pass? Look at Benjamin's play and attitude  issues, the lack of development in that Funchess character, and the disappearance of Philly Brown?  Where was K. Garrett at the end of the season?  What about Byrd--a talented slot WR with the skillset to beat out Brown? 

We blamed Shula, and perhaps rightly so, but the OL cards he was dealt + the injuries, an underperforming WR corps, and a regressing QB with poor mechanics---Hard to win with a 29 year old RB that averaged 3.8 yards per carrry and an all-pro TE.

Personally, I wonder what Dorsey is going to say during his annual review. 

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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2 hours ago, countryboi said:

why wouldnt they just promote Richard Rodgers Sr. then hire an ex player to be the Asst Db coach?

We already have another assistant DB coach in Curtis Fuller.

And oh hell, no. The only reason Rodgers is still on staff at all is because Rivera didn't want to fire him after he coached the special teams down to dead last in the league (they were college teammates).  

Had to shoehorn him in somewhere, so we wound up with two assistant defensive back coaches.

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billionairemonk Newbie

billionairemonk

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4 hours ago, Cam El said:

Norv Turner would be interesting if he would do it. He obviously has loads of experience to help Cam and if Shula didn't turn things around, Norv could possibly slide right in, after getting to know the personnel.

 

3 hours ago, DelhommesTheMan said:

Norv should be brought in as the QB Coach/Assistant Head Coach that Wilks now I believe vacates as the DC. It should be made very clear to Shula that him and Norv work closely together, and let Shula feel the fire. Rivera says competition brings out the best in us, we'll bring in the competition for Shula and have him and Norv get this offense right.


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

all of this

 

great post, OP, excellent info

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imminent rogaine Experienced

imminent rogaine

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Posted

Great teams ALWAYS have former head coaches on the roster  in lesser roles.. coordinators, poisons coaches, etc..most of the time, the reason they were an HC is because they were very good in previous roles.  bring in as much experience as you can. My exception here would be peanut as he has the playing experience and the leadership that would instantly make the players take note. 

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