Will New Panthers DC Ron Meeks Bring Creativity to the Panthers D?

There is a lot of good, positive stuff in this post from Colts GM Bill Polian on new Panthers DC Ron Meeks. The big question Panther fans have is whether Meeks can inject some life into a defense that became too predictable in the last half of the season. If Polian is right then Meeks is at least capable of bringing some creativity and spirit to the defense:

"But Ron has a broad enough knowledge that he can tweak it. He can adapt the system to almost any player. So in some respects he might be more creative in Carolina than he was when he was in Indianapolis."

The deeper question though is will John Fox let him? If you want an example of how Fox ‘meddles' with the defense Steve Reed cites this example:

Fox, whose background is also on defense, likes to have a hand in what goes on in Carolina's defense. In each of the past two seasons, Fox went as far as to sit in on defensive meetings, something that might have ultimately led to Trgovac's decision to leave the team last week and a take a voluntary demotion to join the Green Bay Packers as a defensive line coach.

I wouldn't think just sitting in on meetings is considered meddling but if he's taking over the meeting that's a different story. Hopefully Meeks will garner enough respect Fox gives him free range to change things. If your expecting big changes you might be disappointed. Meeks in several descriptions sound like ...well...John Fox:

One of the things I like best about him is he's the same positive guy every day," Polian said. "He doesn't change a whole lot. Winning doesn't make him too high and losing doesn't leave him too low.

How many times have we heard the ‘don't let the highs get too high or the lows get too low' slogan? He's always positive? He mostly sounds like another Fox. If there is one thing that I think will be the difference maker for Ron Meeks its this:

"He's as good of a defensive backfield coach in terms of concepts and motivating guys as there is, and that includes Dom Capers, whom I hold in high regard," said Polian, who spent three seasons as the Panthers general manager from 1995-97. "Ron knows techniques and coverage and he is a good judge of talent. He knows what it takes to the play the position. And he's a great motivator."

The Panther defense really needs another motivator not to take away anything from Jon Beason. Hopefully this season Beason won't feel like he is solely responsible for getting the troops psyched.