Panthers Staff Faces Unusual Challenge: Mesh With News Coaches

In 2003 the Carolina Panthers advanced to the first Super Bowl in franchise history, relying especially on solid team chemistry and a defense led by first-year defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac.

If the Panthers are to return to the Super Bowl this season, they will again need a leader in his first year with the team to flourish and mesh with the rest of the staff.

For the first time in several years, the Panthers underwent significant staff turnover in the 2009 offseason. Four defensive coaches left. They were replaced by new defensive coordinator Ron Meeks and assistants who came from other teams. Meeks did not bring any of his colleagues from Indianapolis with him. How these new assistants jive with each other and with eighth-year head coach John Fox will go a long way toward determining the Panthers' success in 2009.

Here is a look at the Panthers' new coaches on defense:

--Meeks, Defensive Coordinator

Meeks, 54, coordinated the Indianapolis Colts defense for the last seven seasons. He helped the Colts win the Super Bowl three seasons ago and led their defense to top-10 NFL finishes in fewest points allowed five times. Meeks has been coaching in the NFL since 1991. He spent one season with the Dallas Cowboys, then five as the Cincinnati Bengals defensive backs coach (1992-96). Meeks has also coached DB's in Atlanta (1997-99), Washington (2000) and St. Louis (2001). He helped the Rams and Falcons reach the Super Bowl, coaching under Tony Dungy disciple Lovie Smith in St. Louis. Dungy hired Meeks the following season. 

Meeks, who played defensive back at Arkansas State and for five seasons in the CFL, began his coaching career by tutoring DB's at four colleges from 1984-90.

--Brian Baker, Defensive Line

Baker coached the Rams' line for the last three seasons. A 14-year NFL coaching veteran, Baker has also tutored the defensive line in San Diego (1996), Detroit (1997-2000), and Minnesota (2001 and 2004-05). He coached linebackers for the Vikings in 2002 and 2003. Baker, who played linebacker at Maryland under head coach Bobby Ross, started his coaching career by joining Ross' staff with the Terps in 1984. He followed Ross to Georgia Tech in 1987 and to the NFL with the Chargers in 1996. He then moved with Ross to the Lions.

--Ron Milus, Secondary

Milus coached the Rams' secondary for the last three seasons. A 10-year NFL coaching veteran, Milus has also worked with secondaries for the Broncos (2000-02), Cardinals (2003) and Giants (2004-05). Milus, who played cornerback at the University of Washington, began his coaching career as an assistant at Washington (1991-98) and Texas A&M (1999).

--Richard Smith, Linebackers

Smith coordinated the Houston Texans defense for the last three seasons. A 22-year NFL coaching veteran, Smith also coordinated the Miami Dolphins defense in 2005. Smith previously was an assistant with the Houston Oilers (1988-92), Broncos (1993-96), San Francisco 49ers (1997-2002) and Detroit Lions (2003-04). Smith, who played offensive line at Fresno State, began his coaching career as an assistant at Rio Hondo Junior College in California in 1979.