Veteran cornerback Charles Tillman‘s retirement hits the Carolina Panthers in a variety of ways.
The Carolina Panthers come into the 2016 season with a serious depth issue in their defensive backfield. Losing Josh Norman was the starting point and the retirement of Charles Tillman is another major blow. Even though the team made strides to correct the issue through the draft; losing Tillman’s experience, veteran leadership and play-making skills comes at a bad time for the unit looking to build on their success from the 2015 season.
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Tillman revealed his plan to retire on Monday, doing so in a funny video clip that went viral before the end of the day. In 13 years of professional service Tillman became one of the most dangerous defensive backs on the field and a cornerstone to the Panthers’ defense last season, even though he missed four games due to injury.
It was his innate ability to use the “Peanut Punch” to force fumbles at an astounding rate. 2014 was the only season in which he was unable to force a fumble, but he only appeared in two games that year. In 2012 he forced 10 fumbles, which includes the four he forced against the Tennessee Titans which is a record for that play since it has been recorded.
If the Panthers were able to bring Tillman back, he was set to be an important part of the rebuilding of the Panthers’ defensive backfield. The addition of James Bradberry, Zack Sanchez and Daryl Worley through the draft gives the Panthers youth, but there is a void on experience within this unit.
Kurt Coleman and Colin Jones are the most experienced players on the current Panthers roster who play in the defensive backfield, but none of the cornerbacks on the Panthers’ roster have more than five years of service in the NFL.
Norman proved that a young player can have the ability to step into a major role and excel. It was during his third year in the league that he emerged as a leader on this vaunted defense. With his departure the question becomes who is going to become the leader on this group. Tillman has the presence and abilities, but stepping away at this point in time hurts the Panthers in a way the organization didn’t need in any fashion.
The question now becomes where the veteran leadership will come from on this Panthers’ defense. Thomas Davis, Kurt Coleman and Luke Kuechly are the first names that come to mind. That trio contributed a lot to the Panthers’ success last season. Tillman’s leadership was a valuable contribution to that unit. While none of them will shy away from the responsibility, but carrying more of the load with veteran leadership is now an additional part of their responsibilities list.
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Heading into the 2016 season, the Panthers’ defensive backfield is the biggest question that fans, experts and opponents are asking. First the team lost Norman, and now they are hit by another blow with Tillman retiring. If Carolina is going to build on the success experienced last season, this group may need to make a big move to add to their backfield.