Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240105
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Long
Dom Capers' vision for the Carolina Panthers began to take shape Monday, his first day on the job as the NFL team's first head coach.
"Defensively, we want to have an attacking, aggressive style of defense,'' he said. ``On offense, we want to be balanced. I think it's important you can both run and throw the football. If you're one-dimensional, it becomes much easier for a team to defend you.''
Capers, 44, was named the Panthers' coach at a news conference Monday afternoon.
He had spent 23 years as a defensive assistant coach, the past three as defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Panthers' owner, Jerry Richardson, called him a ``borderline genius'' on defense.
However, Capers said he will broaden his influence as Carolina's head coach.
``A head coach has to have knowledge and control of all phases of the game,'' he said. ``My background has been on defense, but I assure you I will know as much about what is going on with the offense and the kicking game as I will about the defense.''
Capers said he also will play a significant role in personnel decisions and will emphasize finding fast, physical players.
``In the NFL today, speed is of the essence. It's hard to be competitive and it's hard to win unless you have speed,'' he said. ``We'll attempt to get as much speed as we can and be as athletic as we can on defense.
``You have to work to have a tough, physical football team. Over the length of a season, tougher, physical teams will prevail.''
Capers said he has begun to discuss with Panthers officials the pool of players available in the veteran allocation draft Feb.15 and the college draft April 22-23.
``Evaluating personnel will be a priority here over the next few weeks,'' he said. ``What we do will depend on what's available. We're going to need to take a good look at what's going to be available in the expansion draft, what the strengths are in the college draft and make a decision based off of what unrestricted free agents might come available.''
Capers signed a five-year contract, which he said is a commitment from the team that is vital to building a winner.
``When you start talking about free agency and you start putting a top-quality coaching staff together, when you're starting from the ground level, it's important that you have a contract that gives you the ability to put together the type of people you would like to put together,'' he said. ``It's appealing to them because they feel there's stability.''
Building a winner from an expansion franchise won't be easy. Capers made no promises, except to work hard.
``There is no timetable set as far as winning. I'm not a big timetable guy. We're going to want to win every game. We're going to be committed to doing the best job we can do and have the best football team we can have, but it's important as you go along you keep in mind the foundation you're setting for the future.''
Capers said he didn't know of Richardson's pledge to win a Super Bowl within 10 years until after he signed his contract, but called it a realistic goal.
``I can't stand here today and tell you we will do it, but I do know this: There won't be a staff in the NFL that will work any harder than this staff to provide you with winning football and the type of team that will make the people in the Carolinas proud.''
Hard work, organization and preparation are three of the primary qualities that drew the Panthers to Capers, whom Steelers players said usually was the first coach to arrive at work and the last to leave each day.
Said Richardson: ``One of the things Joe Gibbs kept emphasizing to me is, `Jerry, you've got to find a coach who is consumed.' We believe Dom is consumed.''
The decision to hire Capers was made Friday, Dec.30, after team officials returned to Charlotte following interviews with Capers, former Philadelphia Eagles coach Rich Kotite and Buffalo Bills assistant head coach Elijah Pitts.
Richardson said he asked Panthers president Mike McCormack, general manager Bill Polian and director of business operations Mark Richardson to write on a piece of paper who they wanted to hire as head coach and why. Jerry Richardson said he also did this.
Richardson then gathered each piece of paper and the same name was on them all: Dom Capers.
Polian described what he liked about Capers this way: ``Great character. Great work ethic. Sound, solid philosophy of football. Great background. Tremendous organization. Tremendous teacher. Great attention to detail.''
Monday night, Capers wrote in his journal the highlights of the day he became a head coach.
Asked at the news conference what he would write, Capers said:
``I'll certainly make a point of the attendance and the enthusiasm. If this is any indication of the type of fan support we're going to have, it's a great situation to step into.''
by CNB