Steve Wilks the new secondary coach for Panthers

[CPF4LIFE]

If nobody is sweating Steve Smith declining at 33 yrs old why the hell are we even thinking about it for Gamble at 29??

[futurecoach91]

Because everyone is always so hard on Gamble. Cuz he always goes back and forth. Good season, and then a bad season. Everyone is critical. Chris Gamble is fine.

[DawgzLife]

If nobody is sweating Steve Smith declining at 33 yrs old why the hell are we even thinking about it for Gamble at 29??

I can only speak for myself, but...Gamble has probably 2-3 top notch starting years left in him. We currently don't even have a capable starter on the opposite side (Munnerlyn? Hogan..possible, but not yet determined). If Gamble goes down & we end up with Munnerlyn & Standford or even Hogan as are starters, is anyone comfortable with that? Not me.

Smith. Likely has 2 more top noth years left, but by end of those 2 years will definitely be a #2, not a #1 WR. He has already said this himself...not for 2 years, but going into this year. We have some other developing WRs in the team, so I am not as concerned about that. Yes, would be nice to get a true #1, but even with LaFell & Gettis coming back, we should be good at WR for the next year or 2. Agin, it would be great to have an elite #1 going into next year, but Cam spread the ball & we have a lot of offensive playmakers.

That is a brief reason why I think CB is more important. 1 season ending injury & our defense declines significantly.

This reminds me of the people who were saying we were 'good' & should not worry about our DTs prior top this season...that worked oput well, didn't it?! :o

We have to remember we can say anything now, but next off season is when we will each see if we have accounted for reality or not.

[Gin and Juice]

I know there are multiple people who think this & I have the brightest hopes for Hogan as well, BUT...what has Hogan does (at this point) to make people secure that he is the answer. He played very little this year & didn't do anything cthat should lead us to think he is elite. He didn't play bad either, just not much of anything.

Gamble, no matter how well he played this year, is getting older & will begin losing a step. We do need a starting CB & I feel this is the year to get 1 (depending on if the quality is there, which is very possible at our slotting...if we trade down a ways then go OLB). The only other position I think we should look at #1 overall (edit: I meant 1st round; our 1st pick overall) would be OLB. WRs, DTs & OGs can be found in later rounds.

This new secondary coach will probably change the play even without new players, but I feel we need at least 1 more piece. We are not inshambles, but need an addition of a playmaker & re-tooling with the other players we have. I think our secondary will be very good next year...but we need to get pressure from DTs too to make that happen.

Seen any reason why he can't be elite? No offense, but I'm gonna trust RR on this one! he drafts a CB in first two rds. and obviously Hogan is not the answer!

[futurecoach91]

I can only speak for myself, but...Gamble has probably 2-3 top notch starting years left in him. We currently don't even have a capable starter on the opposite side (Munnerlyn? Hogan..possible, but not yet determined). If Gamble goes down & we end up with Munnerlyn & Standford or even Hogan as are starters, is anyone comfortable with that? Not me.

Smith. Likely has 2 more top noth years left, but by end of those 2 years will definitely be a #2, not a #1 WR. He has already said this himself...not for 2 years, but going into this year. We have some other developing WRs in the team, so I am not as concerned about that. Yes, would be nice to get a true #1, but even with LaFell & Gettis coming back, we should be good at WR for the next year or 2. Agin, it would be great to have an elite #1 going into next year, but Cam spread the ball & we have a lot of offensive playmakers.

That is a brief reason why I think CB is more important. 1 season ending injury & our defense declines significantly.

This reminds me of the people who were saying we were 'good' & should not worry about our DTs prior top this season...that worked oput well, didn't it?! :o

We have to remember we can say anything now, but next off season is when we will each see if we have accounted for reality or not.

So then lies the question? Lafell or Gettis? or Alshon Jeffery.

If you pick Lafell/Gettis, we draft defense.

If you pick Jeffery, then we fill defense in second round and fa.

[futurecoach91]

Seen any reason why he can't be elite? No offense, but I'm gonna trust RR on this one! he drafts a CB in first two rds. and obviously Hogan is not the answer!

WHAT!!!

Hogan has played in two games and looks alot better than Munnerlyn.

Don't bash Hogan, he was supposed to be drafted in the late first round but had an injury that knocked him back. Give me a break man!

[Woodie]

I know there are multiple people who think this & I have the brightest hopes for Hogan as well, BUT...what has Hogan does (at this point) to make people secure that he is the answer. He played very little this year & didn't do anything cthat should lead us to think he is elite. He didn't play bad either, just not much of anything.

Gamble, no matter how well he played this year, is getting older & will begin losing a step. We do need a starting CB & I feel this is the year to get 1 (depending on if the quality is there, which is very possible at our slotting...if we trade down a ways then go OLB). The only other position I think we should look at #1 overall (edit: I meant 1st round; our 1st pick overall) would be OLB. WRs, DTs & OGs can be found in later rounds.

This new secondary coach will probably change the play even without new players, but I feel we need at least 1 more piece. We are not inshambles, but need an addition of a playmaker & re-tooling with the other players we have. I think our secondary will be very good next year...but we need to get pressure from DTs too to make that happen.

I don't disagree that we need another CB, but don't confuse what we, the fans, have seen of Hogan with what the coaches have seen. While he didn't get much PT this year, he was practicing for most of the last half a season, and from pretty much every report I have seen, was holding his own against all of the WR's...including Smitty. Reportedly, he impressed everyone in practice. So I would not be at all surprised if he is penciled in at CB#2.

[DawgzLife]

Because everyone is always so hard on Gamble. Cuz he always goes back and forth. Good season, and then a bad season. Everyone is critical. Chris Gamble is fine.

Gamble was arguably (but probably not much argument) the best player on defense this year. It is not about Gamble declining 'now'. Why such short-sightedness?

We have to look at our #2 CB position (we have none really right now that we know of) & how to solidify this D for the long-term.

I can't see anyone other than Hogan, or Butler, even possibly developing into a #1 or 2 CB. I think they are both great nickles, but not #2s. So our current options are: Munnerlyn? No. Butler or Hogan? Closest possibilities, but questionable. Standford? No. Thomas? No. Instead of naysaying, what do you think our needs & a plan moving forward should be?

[futurecoach91]

Gamble was arguably (but probably not much argument) the best player on defense this year. It is not about Gamble declining 'now'. Why such short-sightedness?

We have to look at our #2 CB position (we have none really right now that we know of) & how to solidify this D for the long-term.

I can't see anyone other than Hogan, or Butler, even possibly developing into a #1 or 2 CB. I think they are both great nickles, but not #2s. So our current options are: Munnerlyn? No. Butler or Hogan? Closest possibilities, but questionable. Standford? No. Thomas? No. Instead of naysaying, what do you think our needs & a plan moving forward should be?

Ok my plan would be put Hogan at CB#2 and pick another CB in the third round. Let them compete.

and We def. have to go linebacker in the first round i think to replace thomas davis because everyone knows he will get injured again.

With Beason returning i feel that alot of the players on defense will step up again because Jon Beason is their leader. Things will be ok next year with defense.

[DawgzLife]

WHAT!!!

Hogan has played in two games and looks alot better than Munnerlyn.

Don't bash Hogan, he was supposed to be drafted in the late first round but had an injury that knocked him back. Give me a break man!

My thoughts on Hogan are that as fans we have incomplete info. Only the caoching staff has seen him practice or play for any signifcant time, so as a fan...can you blame me for being concerned b/c we have not seen anything from him?

I said earlier I have high hopes for Hogan, but are you saying a 4th round CB selection with character question marks coming out is positively our answer at the #2 slot? If so, maybe you can break down the limited playing time on him better than me. I don't want us going into a playoff season with high hopes vs. rewal answers.

That's my reasoning. I don't think that historical references to an old league are valid tho. Meaning, a team can & should have 3 starter quality CBs on a team. This league is more than ever a passing league. Drafting a CB is not giving up on Hogan, IMO.

[DawgzLife]

Seen any reason why he can't be elite? No offense, but I'm gonna trust RR on this one! he drafts a CB in first two rds. and obviously Hogan is not the answer!

So if RR drafts a 1st round CB that means Hogan should be cut?! Strange. Maybe you have inside info.

[DawgzLife]

I don't disagree that we need another CB, but don't confuse what we, the fans, have seen of Hogan with what the coaches have seen. While he didn't get much PT this year, he was practicing for most of the last half a season, and from pretty much every report I have seen, was holding his own against all of the WR's...including Smitty. Reportedly, he impressed everyone in practice. So I would not be at all surprised if he is penciled in at CB#2.

Good post Woodie, I agree. I just read your post now, but actually mentioned that in 1 of these recent posts ('we haven't seen as much on Hogan as the coaches have').

Like I mentioned earlier as well, I think this is a big decision for the coaching staff, b/c realistically we should be in the play-offs next year against the likes of Megatron, Colston (hope NO is not even in the playoffs tho), Jennings, Jordy Nelson, etc. Is Hogan at that level? If yes, then we don't spend a #1, 2 or 3 on another CB...if questions, we should.

I honestly hope he is the answer. Then we can spend a high pick on another position.

[Gin and Juice]

So if RR drafts a 1st round CB that means Hogan should be cut?! Strange. Maybe you have inside info.

No! Just saying, if RR invest a high pick in a CB then I think RR will show he is having doubts about Hogan's ability to be #2 CB. If RR feels we have a solid #2 in Hogan then we are pretty much set a CB and will not need to invest a high pick into a CB, especially with many other obvious needs and needs that us fans aren't even aware of......which leads me to feel confident that LaMichael James will be our pick in Rd. 2. WE NEED PASS RUSH MORE THAN "ELITE" SECONDARY. We need a FS worse than CB #2, imo. I think if we take Kirkpatrick in Rd. 1 then he will be our new FS.

[DawgzLife]

Ok my plan would be put Hogan at CB#2 and pick another CB in the third round. Let them compete.

and We def. have to go linebacker in the first round i think to replace thomas davis because everyone knows he will get injured again.

With Beason returning i feel that alot of the players on defense will step up again because Jon Beason is their leader. Things will be ok next year with defense.

I agree on OLB. That's where I want our 1st rounder to be....BUT...not if we pick where we are sitting. Brown is not rated that highly. Would need to tradedown. I am not 1 to be a bout pick value, but they need to work hard to move down if they go OLB. It's about the off-season, so ratings may change or Hurney may rank Brown as worthy of #8 or 9, but I've heard that from noone at this point.

If Hogan is determined to be able to stop (ok, hold his own against) a guy like Megatron, then by all means stay with him as the #2. I just don't want to figure out next year that he is not the answer & lose in the playoffs due to that fact.

I agree with you on Beason's impact too. + I've never really liked Meeks secondary, so I thin Wilks should make a huge positive impact as well.

Here's looking forward to a solid team on both sides of the ball next year! :D