The Panthers announced on Monday they have fired defensive line coach Brady Hoke and cornerbacks coach Jeff Imamura.
Assistant coaches Brady Hoke & Jeff Imamura relieved of dutieshttps://t.co/vAmIK8PR3T
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 3, 2018
The team confirmed that defensive coordinator Eric Washington’s job is safe and he will continue to oversee the defensive front seven.
Rivera will continue to call plays and have a heavier influence on the secondary moving forward.
The moves come as the Panthers are mired in a four-game losing streak that put their playoff hopes in peril.
While the offense found new life under Norv Turner, Rivera’s defense has fallen apart.
Ron Rivera explains why he made changes to the coaching staff this morning pic.twitter.com/3hjeH1f7HF
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 3, 2018
After Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team the Panthers crushed earlier in the season, Carolina has generated one takeaway since Week 10 after earning 15 in the first eight games.
The Panthers defense entered the week struggling to get pressure on the quarterback and failing to cover on the back end.
Someone has to be the fall guy.
Or in this case the fall guys.
