Jo-Juh-Jo-Juh-Jo-Juh-Josh Norman

[Seltzer]

RR is a very competent defensive coach.

 

Absolutely he is.  Questions about his ability to be a top-notch head coach are extremely valid, but Rivera has proven long-term has is a very good defensive mind (without all the non-sense guys like the Ryan brothers, Gregg Williams, etc. bring).

 

I think owners like JR typically gravitate towards defensive minded guys bc they are typically more problem-solving oriented (i.e. how to stop offenses when all the rules favor offense).  As part of that though, defensive coaches instinctively are more inclined to view situational football in terms of risk-mitigation versus offensive guys.  Which manifests itself as being more conservative.

 

Both styles can be effective, but both styles have their limitations.  I truly believe the Panthers could have won more games in 2011 (and 2012 to a lesser extent) had Rivera reigned Chud in more on some of the high-risk plays on 3rd and short.  Conversely, though, Chud's offense was surely a hell of a lot more interesting than the Shula show.

 

Personally, I think a lot of the reason Rivera promoted Shula instead of hiring an outside coach was so that Rivera could exert more influence over play-calling.  And that style worked last year with a dominant defense, and hasn't with a mediocre defense.

 

That does smack of a failure of Rivera as a head coach, though.  Great HC's are willing to cede control to an innovative coordinator for the betterment of the team.

 

John Fox had an issue with that as well.  Jeff Davidson??  John Fox doesn't have that issue now bc he has Manning, but that was certainly one of his failures as well.

[Mr. Scot]

coach speak should always be taken with a ton or two of salt, however, so praise for weak players doesn't necessarily mean he really thinks that.

we also don't know the reason why Norman was on the bench. was it disciplinary on the field (being where he's supposed to be), was it disciplinary off the field (banging RR's daughters), we don't know. What we do know is that despite being in the 'doghouse' RR kept him around. So he clearly liked him as a player, if he could just get him to perform the role he wanted him to.

It's not just coach speak if he makes them starters, though.

I agree that Rivera is one of the best defensive minds in the league. It's the head coaching duties (game/clock management, personnel evaluation, depth chart setting, etc) where he fails.

[L-TownCat]

Norman and Bene will be a good duo for a while.  now we just need a competent CB2.

[fieryprophet]

There's a lot of revisionist history going on right now. Norman has been on the fan's sh*t list for ages and his numerous early mistakes were a source of frustration for everyone. Now that he's playing within the system and doing what he's supposed to do, and seeing the commensurate playing time, everyone's acting as if the coaching staff left him on the bench for the hell of it. It's been true as long as football has been played: you don't play within the scheme, you don't see the field. I'm very happy to see his improvement but I'm not going to pretend that he shouldn't have figured out what it took to play a LONG time ago.

[t96]

When it comes to Xs and Os, yes.

When it comes to setting a depth chart and deciding who's the best player...well

 

Name an instance where he played somebody over someone else who was much better, on defense.

[PantherFanOne]

Given a little more time to get experience,Norman could be a real good man to man type coverage CB,something that would really help our defense.

[Panthers8969]

I don't get the title

[Mr. Scot]

Name an instance where he played somebody over someone else who was much better, on defense.

 

Besides the guy we're discussing now, how's Colin Jones doing?

 

And do you wanna stand by the idea that playing Charles Godfrey was a good choice?

 

[Jackofalltrades]

Treeface?

This place gets dumber and dumber by the day.

[Nick_81]

I'm very happy to see his improvement but I'm not going to pretend that he shouldn't have figured out what it took to play a LONG time ago.

This is just his 3rd season...

[t96]

Besides the guy we're discussing now, how's Colin Jones doing?

 

And do you wanna stand by the idea that playing Charles Godfrey was a good choice?

 

Colin Jones has played well situationally, and while I definitely think Harper needs to be done, you can't claim 100% that Rivera's making a bad decision with him. Jones, Boston, Lester are all not much better than Harper if at all. Only problem I have is at this point the younger guys should get the playing time, not the dinosaur. As for Norman just because he's playing well now does not mean he would've been before. He looked absolutely horrible prior to this year in real games. And we had a 12-4 record last year and defense 2nd to only the Super Bowl champs. Can't say he did anything wrong not having Norman in. And he's had him starting this year when healthy. You can't seriously add Godfrey in this.... Bene got hurt and we put in the only other player who could play there. Yes he sucked and got cut but we didn't have anybody better than him. Dock wasn't on the team then so there was no decision to play Godfrey over Dock. 

[Mother Grabber]

Besides the guy we're discussing now, how's Colin Jones doing?

 

And do you wanna stand by the idea that playing Charles Godfrey was a good choice?

 

Charles Godfrey has been cut, so he's not starting.  So has every other defensive player you mentioned.  The offensive players are still here due to cap and talent pool restrictions.

[Udogg]

It's more a case of just looking at results.

How many guys that Rivera praised (Sione Fua, Legedu Naanee, Charles Godfrey, Byron Bell, Nate Chandler, etc) are either out of a job or playing poorly right now?

On the flip side Josh Norman, who was kept on the bench, suddenly looks pretty good?

 

So are you saying he was playing great before he was benched?  That he showing such flashes of brilliance that it made no sense to bench him?  I'm talking in actual game play, not TC superstar.  

[Lumps]

One can only think what type of player Norman would be by now if Rivera was a competent head coach.

Norman is going to make mistakes. He is aggressive and that will lead to mistakes and big plays.

Had he been given the chance a year or two, he likely would have really been able to refine his game and be a much more developed pro.

Completely agree. Come along way since day 1, Ron? Really? That's because he's been allowed on the field to learn finally after your dumb ass benched him. All of a sudden he's coming along but nothing's changed except he's allowed to play. Yea he'll make his mistakes but he is the best DB we have and it's not even close, I see it in person every home game clear as day.

Out of all the weaknesses this coaching staff has, evaluating talent or blind loyalty, whichever it might be is their biggest. (followed closet by game management)