The predraft hiring of new Panthers wide receivers coach Lance Taylor from Stanford sparked the rare kind of gossip that actually turned out to be true. When the Panthers decided to go outside of the organization for a position coach who just happened to have been the offensive guru who helped lead Christian McCaffrey to over 2,000 rushing yards in 2015, it fed the rumor mill that the Panthers might be interested in the Stanford running back with the eighth pick. While many believed Taylor’s appointment in February foreshadowed draft day, this hire actually came about when former wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl resigned and presented Taylor as one of three recommended replacements to head coach Ron Rivera. While Taylor was eventually the hire, the other two choices are currently on the coaching staff: Cam Turner as assistant QB coach, and Jerricho Cotchery as assistant WR coach. The former Cardinal runnings back coach being able to give inside information about McCaffrey’s work ethic was simply icing on the cake; his successes as a coach were the reason he was hired.
While Taylor was running backs coach at Stanford, he helped guide McCaffrey to the first 2,000 yard rushing season in Cardinal history (2015) and almost 2,000 total yards and 16 scores the next year. Although having a special talent like McCaffrey always helps, as Taylor told Panthers.com:
“He made my job so much easier, I love Christian as a person and player. He’s great because of how he works and prepares. I’ve said this to people, he reminds me of Luke Kuechly with his work ethic and leadership on and off the field. He’s the first one in the building and the last to leave. He wants to study, he wants to perfect his craft. That’s what makes him special.
While McCaffrey was picking up all the yards, fifth-year-senior Remound Wright amassed 13 scores as the short yardage back. Taylor would win Football Scoop’s Running Back Coach Of The Year Award in 2015 for his role in the rushing attack.
Before joining the Stanford coaching staff, he spent a year in Carolina, learning under wide receivers coach Ricky Proehl. The Panthers wide receivers would improve their touchdown output by more than half (16 in 2013 vs. 10 in 2012) and help Cam Newton to his first NFC South championship and playoff appearance with a 12-4 record.
Photo: Panthers.com
He has also spent time with the tight ends as an assistant for the New York Jets (he helped his top two tight ends Jeff Cumberland and Dustin Keller finish with the second and third most receptions on the team during his tenure) and as wide receivers coach for Appalachian State University in 2009, where the Mountaineers finished 11-3 and won the division title behind school records for both receptions (284) and passing yards (3,621).
Although the youngest position coach on the Panthers staff (35, which is also the author of this post’s age – who’s more successful? You judge.) has spent the last few years coaching running backs at Stanford, he feels incredibly comfortable with leading the Panthers wide receiving corp to it’s best years ahead. He tells Panthers.com writer Max Henson:
“Receiver is more of my natural position. I played the positon in college and have worked with receivers at the college and pro level; I feel comfortable jumping back in that room – kind of like riding a bike. I don’t think there will be much of a transition. I think it was more difficult for me going from the receiver room to the running backs at Stanford. That was a new position for me and there were some things to learn, and that helped me grow as a coach. It was a very valuable experience.”
Between a fully healthy Kelvin Benjamin, a more experienced Devin Funchess, rookie speedster Curtis Samuel and veteran additions like Charles Johnson and Russell Shephard, the Panthers wide receiving group is the most talented it’s been in years. Lance Taylor has a lot of tools in his toolbox.
History says he knows how to use them.
