Wow...Ron Meeks is 32nd?

[Chaos]

Dan Morgan did say that Fox has his finger in every ass in the organization, and that he's taken over the defense in the past when things aren't working so I guess it wouldn't completely surprise me if there was some degree of truth to this statement. However, calling him worse than the Giants or Lions D-Coordinators is laughable.

Fixed

[Ranger1]

Well, Meeks isn't such a great coordinator if Fox has to go in and improve things. Our D was pretty terrible for awhile there, but got really good towards the end. Who knows.

[CatMan72]

How would this guy be privy to information like Fox taking over coaching from Meeks?

Sounds like his analysis is based totally on ass-umptions.

[HPPantherzfan]

Meeks did suck at Indy so I highly doubt a change in atmosphere made him a great DC...I believe Fox probably did take over the coaching of the D when it started to pick up! It was almost as bad as the Indy D at the beginning of the year! Coincidence?

[Swarly]

Yeah it's a stupid list. The only disappointment I had with his scheme is during the game vs. Miami. Had them on 3rd and long and since we were running a zone and not putting any pressure on the QB, Davone Bess was able to exploit the zone and get open for that crucial 1st down that ultimately cost us the game. Can't give receivers that much time or they'll recognize where the players are just floating and find a hole.

Other than that, we were #4 in pass, #8 overall, #4 in take-aways.. Don't really see how anyone can say that's the work of a terrible defensive coordinator..

[GreatPoupon]

i don't know about 32nd... but it does seem that meeks' system relies on having the best athletes consistently making outstanding plays on their own. At the end of the season it started to work. But the schemes and positions he puts the players in does seem vanilla and simple for the offense to understand.

is that why everyone was saying that the panther's defense was "confusing" brett favre?

[HPPantherzfan]

is that why everyone was saying that the panther's defense was "confusing" brett favre?

Confusing a 40 year old mans mind vs confusing a young sharp stud are two different things...Hell as fast as AP runs past Favre on a hand off confuses him...go figure!

[KBRed]

If this was the case, Fox taking over the defense, I'm pretty sure there would be discussions of letting him go. Also, Peppers said he enjoyed working with Meeks and had better opportunities this season.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

is that why everyone was saying that the panther's defense was "confusing" brett favre?

I believe the word was "contusing."

[GreatPoupon]

Meeks did suck at Indy so I highly doubt a change in atmosphere made him a great DC...I believe Fox probably did take over the coaching of the D when it started to pick up! It was almost as bad as the Indy D at the beginning of the year! Coincidence?

i dont know that those meeks/indy D's were as bad as you say. he did have peyton manning on the other side of the ball. as i recall they were close to top ten a year or two under him. and known for creating turnovers - that much has held true here as well.

[GreatPoupon]

Confusing a 40 year old mans mind vs confusing a young sharp stud are two different things...Hell as fast as AP runs past Favre on a hand off confuses him...go figure!

eli manning looked pretty confused too.

as for meeks, check his bio:

Under Meeks' direction, the Colts produced one of the best defensive performances in franchise history in 2007. They led the NFL in scoring defense with 262 points allowed and finished third in total defense - the team's highest rating since 1971 - by surrendering just 279.7 yards per game. Additionally, Indianapolis generated the second-most take-aways in the league with 37 and tied for second with 22 interceptions. Safety Bob Sanders was named the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year.

In 2006, Meeks battled through injuries on a unit that peaked during the playoffs, holding three-of-four opponents to less than 100 yards rushing en route to a Super Bowl XLI championship. During the 2005 campaign, the Colts stood second in the NFL in scoring defense, yielding only 247 points - the lowest 16-game total in club history. Indianapolis' stingy defense held six opponents to nine points or less. Three players: defensive end Dwight Freeney, linebacker Cato June and Sanders, earned Pro Bowl honors.

The previous season, the Colts were first in the NFL with a plus-19 turnover margin after forcing 36 turnovers, which tied for third in the league. The defense also collected 45 sacks, which tied for third in the NFL, as Freeney set a team record with a league-leading 16 quarterback takedowns. In Meeks' first year in 2002, Indianapolis improved from 29th to eighth in the NFL in total defense and jumped from 31st to seventh in scoring defense.

[HPPantherzfan]

I stand corrected then! I just remember all the bitching and moaning about how soft and undersized their defense always was under him! The supperbowl year they were energized by some 5'3" guy flying all over the field cause no one could see him

[GreatPoupon]

I believe the word was "contusing."

i stand corrected.

[Carl Spackler]

Wouldn't be shocked to see them rank us last in everything. I mean, we had the worst rec-Oh wait, what's that? We were 8-8? Wouldn't know from what I read.