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January 02, 2008
Source: Bengals interested in Panthers assistant
Panthers defensive backs coach Tim Lewis is being considered for the vacant Cincinnati defensive coordinator position, according to a league source. Lewis joined the Panthers before this season and previously was defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. It’s unclear if the Panthers have given the Bengals permission to talk to Lewis.
-- PAT YASINSKAS
Posted by Observer Sports on January 2, 2008 at 05:57 PM | Permalink
Comments
You must have got some bad information on this one Pat. I mean, our secondary wasn't too great this season. Why would someone want Lewis after that?
Posted by: Matt West | Jan 2, 2008 6:09:30 PM
MW is right. All of our cornerbacks seemed to take a step back this year. A couple years ago when Lucas got here everyone thought he put up pro-bowl #s. Marshall looked good but it seemed that he did not progress as much as many thought he would. The same can be said for each db.
Posted by: BDUB | Jan 2, 2008 6:23:40 PM
Please take him. Take some more with him
Posted by: Willy | Jan 2, 2008 6:31:50 PM
That is not good. No our secondary was not great, but we had two guys who weren't even starters playing the safety position, also quinten teal looks like a guy who can contribute. Lewis did a remarkable job with those guys... I heard Buckner on the radio saying how Lewis was in Pitt and was widely viewed as one of the best position coaches in the league. As for Lucas and Gamble, I'd say both showed improvement from last season (which really wasnt hard to do) Gamble looked pathetic last year, this year he may not have had many highlights but teams rarely threw in his direction, and Marshall continues to look like starter material for many years.
Fire Fox!! Fire Hurney!! Trade Peppers!! Lets sign David Carr!! Fire Tyrgo!!! Thank you all for not running this organization.
Posted by: m | Jan 2, 2008 6:38:49 PM
Yes take all the assistants and everyone in the front office and a bunch of the uninspired players and all the fans that walk in at the end of the first quarter and all the fans that yell at the real fans that stand up and cheer. We need to replace them with some real football people.
Posted by: BDUB | Jan 2, 2008 6:44:15 PM
M, please tell me I did not catch the sarcasm on the D. Carr comment.
Posted by: BDUB | Jan 2, 2008 6:47:28 PM
Hope you still love the status quo when the head of the lucky sperm club makes it so you have to buy NFL network to watch the Panthers.
Posted by: Willy | Jan 2, 2008 6:47:54 PM
That will be fine on Lewis leavin,That wont hurt us a bit,The Real thing is, will the Duo stay?,Marty or Fox,I think Marty gose,but thats another page,AnyWay,Marshall is better than Lucas and Gambel,Those 2 have lost some steps,The BIG problem is,If you get rid of both,A rookie comes in,and guess what?,He gets burn everytime,They better make sure they get another CB thats been in the league or a rookie that can catch on FAST,GOOD LUCK!
Posted by: #1 Fan | Jan 2, 2008 6:47:59 PM
"Real Football People" Like Jerry Richardson: the only active owner who actually played in the NFL and won a Championship. Like John Fox who like Vince Lombardi inherited a 1 win team and took them to a SuperBowl, like Jeff Davidson: a guy who was groomed in the Patriots system and helped develop guys like Ben Coats and was considered by Weiss a great offensive mind. Yeah, we really need some football guys in here.
Posted by: m | Jan 2, 2008 6:53:30 PM
Hard to blame the DBs (or the DBs coach) for the mediocre pass defense. It's hard to cover as long as the Panthers' DBs are required to - when there's no pass rush. The coaches did a credible job with the DBs, especially considering they only had on starting-caliber safety.
Posted by: Wayne | Jan 2, 2008 6:53:56 PM
The guy had to work with a makeshift safety core. Remember Minter and Salley were penciled in as the starters, then all of a sudden he's got Deke Cooper and Chris Harris to try and get ready. All things considered, you cannot put the blame on him
Posted by: m | Jan 2, 2008 6:56:55 PM
It's also hard to tell just how much blame to place on the other coaches on the team. The defense's tactics have been very frustrating to watch for years already, ever since Del Rio left. He had an aggressive attacking defense (as he now has in J'ville), but Trgo's defense always lays back and lets things happen in front of them. Do you blame Trgovac for this 'scared' approach, or is it really just another symptom of Fox's crippling conservativism? I don't know, but if Trgo were to be let go, I doubt it would matter who took over - they'd still play a lay-back unaggressive style, as long as Fox is in control.
Posted by: Wayne | Jan 2, 2008 7:00:57 PM
Well what do you suggest the team do M?
Posted by: BDUB | Jan 2, 2008 7:01:57 PM
With regards to what?
Posted by: m | Jan 2, 2008 7:04:19 PM
Lack of pass rush, turnovers, 3rd down stops, etc....
Posted by: BDUB | Jan 2, 2008 7:05:55 PM
Last time I checked Fox was the Head Coach when Del Rio led this "famous" aggresive defense I keep hearing about. So what makes you guys think that it's not Fox's style to be aggressive on D? Up until this year the defense has been ranked in the top 10 every year Trgo has coached them. Some of you guys make it sound like the Panthers have had the worst D in the league for years.
As far as Lewis is concerned I think he did a heck of a job considering the poor pass rush.
Posted by: panthersrule | Jan 2, 2008 7:10:48 PM
The middle of the field was always open no matter who we played.
Posted by: BDUB | Jan 2, 2008 7:13:55 PM
In my opinion, the defensive struggles were caused by the lack of offensive production. Most defenses in the league will struggle when they are on the field a large majority of the game. On games when the offense was clicking and making first downs, the defense usually played well also. Lack of pass rush partly can be blamed to an aging Mike Rucker and Peppers who either dropped into coverage or just gave up on plays. I think Lucas should be released and Marshall step into the starting role. As far as turnovers they had many fumbles thanks to Harris but not too many int's, but turnovers nonetheless. Deke Cooper is a decent player, but not a great FS, Harris is a SS and we need an upgrade at the FS position. I think Fox must become more aggressive like when Del Rio was around, this soft defense will not cut it any longer
Posted by: m | Jan 2, 2008 7:15:53 PM
The Panthers have some great talent to build around. Beason, Marshall, Harris, the new DEs. If the front office can make the right decisions and avoid the bad ones (Morgan?!) then we could be back in the playoffs next year.
Posted by: BDUB | Jan 2, 2008 7:36:20 PM
Not a shock here...Lewis ran a good D for a few years with the Giants before he was let go as the scapegoat following last season. Truth be told, if he gets a good offer, I'm sure he will (and SHOULD) take it. As for the job he did with the secondary this year, I think he did a fine job, particularly at safety. Chris Harris showed himself to be a player, but it's easy to forget that he had never even been a full-time starter before arriving during training camp. We gave up the short completion this year, but I rarely saw us give up the bombs like we did to players like Marques Colston, Marcus Pollard, et al in the past. We were 6th in the league at allowing 1st down completions through the air (32.4%), and we also ranked in the top 10 in YPA. That we were this successful given the utter lack of a pass rush and the questionable talent level of our safeties shows that Lewis must have been doing something right.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jan 2, 2008 8:03:54 PM
Please take Trgovac instead. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Chris | Jan 2, 2008 8:39:04 PM
How can the DB's and safety cover all game..? When your 170 million defensive line has Only 22 sacks.. Gamble and Lucas are good CB's when there is preasure on the QB.. hell, we made Falcons QB Harrington look like a Number #1 pick..!! Wait a minute he was a number 1 pick..:)
Posted by: Catsnmbr1fan | Jan 2, 2008 9:19:42 PM
Those of you talking about how the secondary wasn't that good this year are really showing a lack of knowledge. The secondary actually played pretty good when one considers that the re was often zero pressure on opposing QBs. Thus, they were able to stand in the pocket giving receivers more time to come open. Also, factor in that Deke Cooper isn't a starting caliber safety and Gamble lacks the instincts to break up a pass.
Posted by: Jerad H. | Jan 2, 2008 9:37:34 PM
I think our priorities is to beef up the offensive line and bring in a a dt who can rush the passer. they need to attenmpt to trade kemo and foster for chad johnson or the housh. chad used to play with smith and they would make a stellar duo. draft oline and safety and dt. sign some low end free agents on the defense. maybe some will become good role players. morgan would be great as an olb beside beason and davis but i think they need to make a serious run after lance briggs.
my wish list is they pick up lance briggs, chad johnson, flozell adams or one of the colts lineman.
could you imagine beason briggs and morgoan?
with davis seward andersonand diggs to back up?
Posted by: James | Jan 2, 2008 10:21:31 PM
Have a nice trip.
Posted by: Ken | Jan 3, 2008 3:54:15 AM
Yea James, Cincy is going to give up a pro bowl WR for 2 average- bellow average starters. Keep dreaming.
Posted by: Billy | Jan 3, 2008 5:05:25 AM
It's hard to consistently play good defense when your offense only has 10 minutes time of posession for the game and is 0 for infinity on third down.
Posted by: JT | Jan 3, 2008 5:42:15 AM
do you guys know anything at all about football? check the stats.. panther's secondary, aside from the sporadic play from our secondary, was considered a strength ... i say get rid of turdovac first before lewis.. he did a good job w/ harris and come on deke cooper? he is, in my opinion, the reason marshall has picked up corner so quickly.. there is a reason the bengals want him, this is no secret... panthers ranked DEAD LAST in the pass rush this season and still could adequately bring the pain in the secondary.. i think the DBs in general did a pretty good job considering. what about our special teams? if the panthers need to do any personnel changes, it should be danny crossman. there is no excuse for all the pooched punts and the slow development of a talent like ryne robinson. also, get rid of sunseri, he's done nothing but turn our once feared and talented d-line into a bunch of panzies ..
Posted by: Shaun | Jan 3, 2008 6:59:43 AM
Tim Lewis was one of the bright spots of our coaching core this season. The secondary was much better than last season, without the help of Mike Minter.
Posted by: Derek | Jan 3, 2008 10:02:44 AM
It's hard to isolate the job that Lewis did this year. In my opinion he didn't have alot to work with. Our corners were burned frequently on the smoke route because they were playing too far off the receiver(example TO on Marshall for a 10 yd TD, and then Gamble too many times to count with his no tackling self). Maybe this was necessary because the defense was in prevent most of the time. If Fox wants to show he is serious about the future then Trgo and Crossman must be replaced.
Posted by: rick | Jan 3, 2008 10:15:43 AM
Great article!
Posted by: Ros | Jan 3, 2008 11:58:57 AM
It isn't an article. Articles are found in the actual newspaper, not the blog section of the website. Although the 'articles' aren't really anything to brag about.
Posted by: Stanley | Jan 3, 2008 12:01:19 PM
I'd be surprised if he gets hired.
Posted by: DReed | Jan 3, 2008 12:12:39 PM
Hmmm, no one has asked to talk to Trgovac. What a surprise. It would be my dream if he left, and we were able to get someone who actually can create new ways to get pressure from the front seven.
Posted by: jp1906 | Jan 3, 2008 2:51:13 PM
Source: Panthers interested in Bengals reciever.
Posted by: Chessy | Jan 3, 2008 4:59:34 PM
You fans on this website is the worst fan so negative act like nyou know all I'm not going on this website no more i mean no wonder Panthers players don't care that much about this website you guys act like losser like you live to be negative yes the panthers need to step it up but please some of you people comments are crazy and make you woner do you have a life.
Posted by: jackson Panthers | Jan 3, 2008 5:29:30 PM
OK, jP. We really don't want to decipher any more of your horrifically spelled posts anyway.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Jan 3, 2008 5:56:19 PM
I hope they take more coaches and players Prehaps the Panthers could offer cash incentives.
Posted by: 60 Clover | Jan 5, 2008 6:20:40 AM
No, MW is wrong.
The secondary did a pretty decent job considering the defensive line was not able to apply much pressure at all this year. In fact, their sack total was the lowest in the NFL this year. If you give a QB time a reciever is going to get open regardless of how good the coverage in the secondary is.
Posted by: Jim | Jan 5, 2008 10:09:18 AM
Alot of people here have short memories. You can not blame everything on the Secondary coach. You must remember that the secondary lost a leader in Mike Minter at the beginnig of the season and never recovered. That part of the team is looking for someone with experience to lead them.
Posted by: Animal187 | Jan 6, 2008 6:47:04 AM
Was i the league source????
I posted that early yesterday on the forum, seriously not to bag on the Observer, but if a fan i finding out info like this before a professional newspaper then something is really messed up......
Posted by: 07 | Jan 6, 2008 7:14:46 AM
Funny Procton, I just read another blog where you said you had no nuts. You are one confused individual.
Posted by: BG | Jan 6, 2008 7:30:41 AM
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