The Carolina Panthers have reported that interim head coach Steve Wilks has made further changes to his coaching staff this morning. Defensive backs coach—and longtime Matt Rhule assistant—Evan Cooper and defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni have been dismissed.
This doesn’t come as a huge surprise after a horrific defensive effort yesterday against the Cincinnati Bengals allowed that team to jump out to a 35-0 lead just by halftime. The team has reported that defensive coordinator Al Holcomb will take greater responsibility over the defense as a whole, while assistant Bobby Maffei will take a leadership role with the defensive backs and assistants Don Johnson and Terrance Knighton will coach the defensive linemen.