Panthers hire Richard Rodgers, Asst ST coach

[Zithers]

http://www.panthers.com/news/article-2/Rodgers-named-assistant-special-teams-coach/3aff494d-cf9b-493e-83f5-493f95a081e4

Richard Rodgers, who was teammates with Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera at the University of California, has been named the team's assistant special teams coach. He will work with special teams coordinator Brian Murphy.

Rodgers comes to Carolina from Holy Cross, where he spent seven years - six as defensive coordinator and one as secondary coach. In 2011, five Crusaders from Rodgers' unit earned All-Patriot League honors.

A two-time second-team All-Pac 10 Conference selection as a player, Rodgers was the Golden Bears special teams captain for three seasons. He called “The Play” in the huddle to defeat Stanford in 1982. Rodgers was the second and fourth player to handle the ball on the famed five-lateral kickoff return for a touchdown on the final play of the game between the two rivals.

After playing professionally in the Canadian Football League and Arena Football League, Rodgers began his coaching career at Diablo Valley Community College in 1989. He moved to San Jose State in 1995, working with the secondary and special teams for two years.

He then tutored cornerbacks and oversaw special teams at Portland State from 1997-2000 before having a four-year stint as secondary coach at New Mexico State from 2001-04. Additionally, Rodgers was a coaching intern with the Oakland Raiders in 1996 and coached for the Scotish Claymores of NFL Europe in 1998.

[Guest Irv]

did he coach rudy?

[rayzor]

head scratcher.

[Panthro]

yay?

[Woodcookedbbq]

But can he play DT?

[rayzor]

maybe he'll help with ST coverage units?

i don't know.

[jtnc]

wtf?

[Pinstriped_Panthers]

Sounds like Rivera is just trying to expand and build the coaching staff his own way. I think he just wants another person helping out with ST, which makes sense to me. I trust the guy - if he sees something in Dick Rodgers - then I have no problem.

Could this mean the Panthers will improve the special teams roster in the off season?

[Frizzy350]

im guessing they brought him on because murphy is on thin ice. if STs go sour early this year, Murphy loses the job and this guy takes it.

[Kevin Greene]

Let's hope he makes a difference.

[Woodcookedbbq]

im guessing they brought him on because murphy is on thin ice. if STs go sour early this year, Murphy loses the job and this guy takes it.

I'm not sure Murphy is on thin ice. Rivera got a little testy with Joe Person when he asked if Murphy was to blame because of poor ST play. He said "Don't ask that! Because I AM satisifed with his job performance."

[rayzor]

im guessing they brought him on because murphy is on thin ice. if STs go sour early this year, Murphy loses the job and this guy takes it.

i hope not.

i'd like a guy running special teams with significant experience doing it.

the last time the pantehrs hired a guy to run special teams with this little experience we wound up with danny crossman.

[jayflip]

This guy must've saved Rivera's life back in day and RR owed him a favor.

[Snake]

I'm not sure Murphy is on thin ice. Rivera got a little testy with Joe Person when he asked if Murphy was to blame because of poor ST play. He said "Don't ask that! Because I AM satisifed with his job performance."

I dont see Rivera throwing anyone under the bus even if he is not happy with them.