Meeks Already Talks Tough with Panthers

Ron Meeks, former defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Indianapolis Colts, has moved on from Indy and is now reworking the wiring of the Carolina Panthers’ defense, and it seems as if he’s already made his mark in Carolina. Meeks will get the chance to work with Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers after all this season, and the Panthers’ defense is sure to be an improvement from last year. While Meeks has been setting the bar high in Carolina, his high demands and oft-heard lectures have been beneficial and almost welcome so far this season for some players.

D.J. Wilson, a third-year Panther at nickel back, is one such player who has taken criticism from Meeks in stride, saying, “(Meeks) is like that uncle that sits on the porch when you’re out playing football in the front yard. He’s going to tell you every little move. I love it. It’s good. We all love it.” Though he’s motivated by Meeks, Wilson is also his own biggest critic, saying, “One thing about it is that no coach, no coach, no player, no fan has higher expectations for me than I have for myself. I expect to get coached hard even if he doesn’t say anything, because I expect to coach myself for when I go in and watch film. The good players are the ones that analyze themselves harder than anybody else does.” With an attitude like this and a defensive coordinator like Meeks, Wilson is one top contender for ample playing time this season.

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