steve wilks interview on panthers.com

[rayzor]

actually pretty good. seems like he's really excited to be back home here.

http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Senior-Bowl-Report/48a264b6-10fb-4fad-934d-b2f527da85e3

the dude is about as good a DB coach as you can get.

just a reminder of what he's done...

San Diego’s pass defense has vastly improved with Wilks as its secondary coach. Prior to his arrival, the Chargers ranked 31st in the NFL against the pass. In 2009, his first year with the team, the Bolts improved 20 spots to rank 11th, before leading the NFL in 2010 in pass defense and total defense. The opponent’s passer rating against San Diego’s defense in 2010 was the league’s fourth-lowest (76.2), and the Chargers allowed the fifth-fewest touchdown passes in the NFL (18).

link

he also did quite well in chicago and was massively respected by players even though the team made him a scapegoat and had him fired for sucky DB play after they moved to a soft tampa2.

anyway...merge with the ther thread if needed.

[The Other Colbert]

He sounds like a very underrated pick up by Rivera

[frash.exe]

upgrayed

[Jackofalltrades]

I love this hire, I wonder if this will effect the draft any.

[davos]

He was up to Assistant Head Coach / Secondary

That's great. We got the guy who's taken care of Weddle over the years and helped him grow

You know what, you never know...those ast. head coaching jobs could mean this is the type of guy that knows how to do something more than just a positional basis. His attitude may hint that is a great defensive rallier on the sidelines. Nice. Great history, great player development, and looks ready to be here a while.

My expectations are growing for this defense at a nice rate

Achievements:

"San Diego’s pass defense has vastly improved with Wilks as its secondary coach. Prior to his arrival, the Chargers ranked 31st in the NFL against the pass. In 2009, his first year with the team, the Bolts improved 20 spots to rank 11th, before leading the NFL in 2010 in pass defense and total defense. The opponent’s passer rating against San Diego’s defense in 2010 was the league’s fourth-lowest (76.2), and the Chargers allowed the fifth-fewest touchdown passes in the NFL (18).

Wilks came to the Chargers from Chicago where in 2006, the Bears led the NFL in takeaways, won the NFC Championship and appeared in Super Bowl XLI.

A head and assistant coach on the collegiate level for 11 seasons, Wilks was named Division II Defensive Coordinator of the Year in 1998 by American Football Quarterly magazine after Savannah State led the nation in total defense."

SDC website

[mr beauxjangles]

so was it him or rivera that we should attribute defense improvement to? or players? just curious. it's really easy to write a bio for a coach making them sound like they are responsbile for accomplishments/stats. when did you ever read a bad one?

i'm not saying he's a bad hire, or that he isn't an excellent hire. i'm just saying don't go off his bio.

[Lumps]

I love this hire, I wonder if this will effect the draft any.

Sure as hell hope so. I feel I'll only be content with a CB at this point.

[davos]

so was it him or rivera that we should attribute defense improvement to? or players? just curious. it's really easy to write a bio for a coach making them sound like they are responsbile for accomplishments/stats. when did you ever read a bad one?

i'm not saying he's a bad hire, or that he isn't an excellent hire. i'm just saying don't go off his bio.

I'm not personally but they generate a positive attitude and basically just list what he's accomplished so far. I think its nice from what I see. He has been promoted at fast rates throughout the course of his short career.

[Razeyfingers]

I like that he's already accomplished one of his main goals in life and hope he's ready to find the next one.

[Pinstriped_Panthers]

This is going to be a great addition to the coaching staff. Perhaps he can improve the quality of the current DBs on the roster. (Mainly Sherrod)

[rayzor]

I love this hire, I wonder if this will effect the draft any.

maybe, but i also see it affecting FA.

i can see several former DBs wanting to come here and play for him.

i've got to admit i'm paying more attention to guys that can be solid ST guys for us as well. one played for him at SD, steve gregory. pretty decent safety but a great STs guy. another is corey graham for the bears who led the league in special teams tackles last year. he's also a decent corner looking for a chance to compete for PT. he had 3 INTs last year in very limted PT. both gregory and graham are FAs this year.

we could go for craig steltz as well. he got a chance to start this year and really did well. dude's a SS, though. we could move godfrey to FS.

just brainstorming...

[rayzor]

so was it him or rivera that we should attribute defense improvement to? or players? just curious. it's really easy to write a bio for a coach making them sound like they are responsbile for accomplishments/stats. when did you ever read a bad one?

i'm not saying he's a bad hire, or that he isn't an excellent hire. i'm just saying don't go off his bio.

it was both coaches, imo.

both are very respected for what they do. rivera as a DC and wilks as a position coach.