Crossman assistant Jeff Rodgers named new special teams coordinator

[Kevin Greene]

Bobby April or this guy...what a tough call that was.

[rico6]

Typical Panthers move I'm afraid.

"Mediocrity is good as long as it's not 32nd in the League"

[panthers55]

I think under the circumstances it was a good move. I expect that before they promoted him they discussed the situation and had him discuss the vision they he for the special teams and were satisfied that he could do the job.

He has experience at the professional level as well as collegiate so he is qualified to do the job.

It is important for an organization to hire from within as well as look outside on occasion. Assistants and coordinators work much harder when there is a chance for promotion and this reinforces the notion. Lets give the guy a chance to see what he can do before we throw him under the bus. Great coaches were assistants at one point or another. And many times guys who are promoted may not embrace the philosophy of their predecessor but aren't in a position to rock the boat. Once there they can change things up and implement their own ideas.

[2jakefansinva]

All I know is that Crossman is gone.:cheers2: .......It really doesn't matter to me (at this time) who has replaced him. I'll give him all the rope he needs.

[Kevin Greene]

Panthers stay in-house for special teams coach

Posted by Evan Silva on January 30, 2010 2:59 PM ET

The Panthers have stayed in-house for their new special teams coordinator. Formerly a "special teams assistant" for Carolina, Jeff Rodgers was promoted Saturday into the full-time gig. He replaces Danny Crossman, who was fired and landed with the Lions.

Rodgers was the special teams coordinator at Kansas State in 2008, when the Wildcats led the country in blocked kicks and scored six touchdowns on returns. Rodgers oversaw the development of KSU receiver/return ace Brandon Banks, who would go on to earn Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year honors as a senior.

Banks, a decorated former high school sprinter, projects as a slot receiver with lots of return value in the pros and is eligible for April's draft. Fittingly, the Panthers need upgrades at both positions. Rodgers' hire may increase the chances they use a mid-round pick on the versatile homerun threat.

...

[Darth Biscuit]

Thanks KG, I just saw this too... the guy's not some amateur... he's coached a program at the college level, apparently pretty well... he may stink, but he may be a good coach who was just stuck behind Crossman.

[KillerKat]

"Hey Fox and Hurney, you have the worst Special Teams in the league and it took Richardson to step in for you to fire your Special Teams coach. What will you do next?"

Fox and Hurney: "Promote from within."

F**k Im so sick of the bullshit from these two. If you've been having one of the worst ST units for years, its time for some new fresh blood from somewhere else. Not promoting from within.

The only hope we have of improving is that this guy has only been with us 1 year and probably would be a little different, but thats not a given. But if you ask me, I'd rather be ALOTTA different than a little.

[Kakarot]

...

reading this helped out, and made it easier for me to atleast give him a chance. i hope he does well.

[GRWatcher]

reading this helped out, and made it easier for me to atleast give him a chance. i hope he does well.

me too

[KatsAzz]

I like this move that i saw coming when they first hired Rogers.He should have been named ST coach last year.

A lot of Panther fans will hate the move because they wanted someone outside the organization with a big name (i.e. Bobby April) but I actually like the move. He'll be much more familiar with the players and he may infuse some youthfulness and excitement to the unit since he's only 32. Plus he has a pretty good track record at Kansas State.

The Panthers special Teams were very good for many years,. We had Michael Bates as a pro-bowler for kick returns in '97, and '98. Then he was the pro bowler for kick coverage in '99, '00, and '01. then Steve Smith was the Pro bowler in '02 for kick returns. We also had Kasay in '97, and Sauerbrun in '02, '03, and '04 make the pro bowl as special teams as a Panther. Special teams has been a weakness for only a few years. It was a strength for a lot of years!

[SMACKDAB]

I don't think it is as much people hate the move, it's just that it is SO predictable, with what this organization does time and time again.

Sometimes it is if we have no fight, no hunger to get better where we need to, and take advantage of getting what is needed while the getting is good....and the players can't' make those choices. Not one single one, or all combined can get the ball rolling on that end of the field.

I'm not saying April would have been the answer, but we get caught with our pants down far toooooooooo many times.

[Snake]

One things for sure. He cant do much worse then Crossman. If he dose then I really dont think he should be in the NFL next year.

[Sloth]

...

Brandon Banks is 5 foot 7 inches tall and weighs in between 150-160lbs. He was also busted on charges of battery and unlawful possession back in December. No way do we touch this guy.

Not that you were recommending him or anything, just saying.

[Sloth]

As for the hire: who else is going to come work in a lame duck situation? It was promote a nobody or hire a scrub. We already suck at ST, unless this guy teaches them to cartwheel down the field, it doesn't really matter much.