New Panthers DB Coach Wilks Very Happy to Be Back Home

by Jaxon on Jan 25, 2012 1:01 PM EST in Panther News & Notes

Homecoming stories are always a pleasant read, and even better when they involve your own team. Some people run from their home towns [cough, Peppers] but others are excited to get back:

"To come back home is really just the icing on the cake. It's definitely great," said Wilks, who graduated from West Charlotte in 1987 and played at Appalachian State... "I have a lot of love and passion for the city of Charlotte, being born and raised there."

Now if only we can convince a few key free agents to adopt Charlotte as their hometown... the story goes on to discuss Rivera's conversation with Ron Meeks, whom Wilks replaced, when Rivera asked Meeks last offseason to essentially take a demotion to DB Coach.

"To ask a guy to take a step back and really be in the backseat, that was tough. It was unfair for me to ask. That's something I should have reevaluated before I did it," Rivera said Tuesday at a Senior Bowl practice. "And I told Ron that. Ron and I had a great conversation, and Ron felt, too that it was tough."

There is no indication as to whether Meeks knew he was a one year stop gap until Wilks would be able to come over. Maybe Rivera really didn't know if it would pan out anyway so I guess no need to make Meeks aware of that.

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Even more, Meeks had never really worked in an aggressive scheme.

He’s been a cover 2 guy his whole career.

I like to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack.

by ERL on Jan 25, 2012 1:03 PM EST reply actions

Meeks signed with the Chargers

by rscott94 on Jan 25, 2012 1:50 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Yeah, I saw that.

Interesting that we basically traded DB coaches.

by NX75649 on Jan 25, 2012 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

Wasnt Meeks asking if there was a position for him with the new staff when Rivera was hired? Regardless i feel Meeks did his best from being a Cover 2 guy/Bend dont Break coach (thanks Fox) to trying to implement his system into an aggressive scheme.

by Rvdbbw on Jan 25, 2012 2:23 PM EST reply actions

Fox didn't instill that bend but don't break mentality in him

That is just how Meeks has always coached.

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by Tater596 on Jan 25, 2012 3:52 PM EST up reply actions

I hope he can get a DC job again...he was pretty good when he was ours...

In ’09 they were # 8 in total defense with him as the DC….Fell to 18th in that 2010 debacle of a team….additionally were #4 and #11 respectively in pass defense.

Rocking the boat and righting the ship! Making the moves needed...Go Panthers!!!

by UNCMattyt99 on Jan 25, 2012 3:51 PM EST reply actions