Strickland & Henson's take on the tightening bond between G-man & Rivera after this season

[top dawg]

Link

 

Gettleman got his first general manager job at the conclusion of Rivera's second season as a head coach. Rivera, coming off a 7-9 season, had to prove his worth to a new boss who might want to bring in his own staff. Right after Gettleman was hired, the pair went out for a meal to begin the process of getting to know each other and figuring out if they'd be a match.

 

Two NFC South titles and a Wild Card win later, they're on the same page as they prepare for a pivotal offseason of work.

 

"Given the roller coaster season we had, I'm just really proud of the accomplishments and where we've finished," Gettleman said. "Ron Rivera, his staff and the players just did a great job of keeping on. They believed and kept working, and the proof is in the pudding. 

 

"We talk all the time and we are honest with each other - there's a crazy concept.  If I'm not happy with something he is doing then I tell him, and if I'm not doing something he likes then he tells me. We look at it and we discuss it, but it doesn't happen all that often quite frankly. But we talk all the time, and there are no agendas or secrets."

 

 

 

I don't know about anyone else---because things were shaky for a moment---but that's a sight for sore eyes!

 

 

I have been critical of G-man about a few specific things, but I believe he has done a good job so far overall, especially considering his patient and apparently ultraconservative philosophy of team building. I knew he wasn't going anywhere.  Many people have been hypercritical of Rivera in my opinion, and many wanted him gone (and still do), but I always said that I didn't believe he was going anywhere either.  Turns out that G-man is a lot wiser than many give him credit for, not only in regards to Rivera, but Newton as well.  There will be no fall guys this off-season.  Building a team takes time, and if you have to take a step back in personnel due to the business side, then you're probably going to take a step back on the field...at least until everyone who is a wet behind the ears, injured, or both gets up to speed.  That's just the reality, and G-man gets it.  This is where his steadfast patience really is a virtue. No wonder Rivera, reigning Coach Of The Year, seems very comfortable in his position. 

 

Can't wait to see what happens with more experience and talent.  I'm thinking "consistency".  Hopefully that will not only be realized in regards to Cam, but the entire organization.  Realistically, I think that its going to take more than a year, but give us a couple of years, and I think that we will have passed most of the growing pains.  You know what that means (and I am not being Huddle-esque either)?  Super Bowl!

 

 

[PhillyB]

Bup Bup.sound

how do you code sound files?

[DaveThePanther2008]

Year three begins shortly. I am excited about this offseason since Dave said we have graduated from Dollar Store Dave to something less frugal.

He'll be wise in how he spends his free agent money but I am excited to see what he brings us.

[R0CKnR0LLA]

I'm glad we kept Rivera for another season, if for no other reason than the crop of HC candidates this year is pretty terrible. Still wish we would go after a new OC and STs coach but whatev.

[Fox007]

Still need OC and ST upgrades.....as good as GMan is at evaluating talent I'd like to actually see what his own staff would be if he started from scratch but Rivera has earned another year or two obviously so we'll see.

 

The players do play hard for him but his game management is still super terrible....if Rivera does learn from his mistakes and improves along with his players then we have a chance to be really nasty for years to come.

[ChinaPanther]

Listening to Gettleman at the end of season presser, The problems on offense were personnel related. We lacked speed in the WR core this year. The only guy who was fast was Philly. If Shula is doing what he was doing at the end of the season this year, he's fine as an OC. Going to a no huddle really helped the offense. Shula is really good at coordinating a rushing attack. As long as he is our OC, You can pretty much guarantee that this offense is going to rush for 2000 + yards. Last year we had the 11 ranked rushing attack and this year we were 7th. That's a big reason why we have won the division 2 years straight. The division is going to have problems competing with that unless they steal our identity which is possible. You can't put play calling on Shula at the end of the season also. Gruden said in the Arizona game that Shula was calling in 2 different plays to Cam and Cam had the freedom to audible to a different play if he wanted to. The passing game with Shula leaves something to be desired but the rushing attack is very prolific. If Gettleman gets better personnel in the WR core, I think you will see this team be much better in the red zone. Last year we were very good in the red zone I think. Top 10 in the league if I recall. His game plan against Seattle was the right one. We just need to execute that game plan with efficiency but we didn't do that. You have to be aggressive passing the ball against the LOB. If you are running the football and dinking and dunking against Seatlle, You'll end up with 7 points against them and that isn't good enough to beat them. 

[The Huddler]

Tldr

Idc about getts and rivera sword fighting..

Win next season. Build around Cam.

win fuging games

[CPcavedweller]

Year three begins shortly. I am excited about this offseason since Dave said we have graduated from Dollar Store Dave to something less frugal.

He'll be wise in how he spends his free agent money but I am excited to see what he brings us.

 

Being Frugal and being broke are two different things. Quite frankly, we were on life support as far as cash goes the past two seasons forcing us into the bread line. We finally got a better job and now we can actually go buy food with a little more nutrition.

[ThPantherFan]

Rivera, this season, will either make it or break it.  There's more to the big picture than what we get to see as fans.  Jeremy gets a lot of inside that he passes to us, but he is limited on what he can say.  I think Rivera will have a chance to be a great coach for years to come, IF he has supporting players and front office people.  He has to have the players needed to make it happen.  Unfortunately, due to Hurney, we are still cap strapped.  Yes, we have been told we're coming out of it, but coming out doesn't mean we are out.  Another one to two years (if Gettleman doesn't do something stupid) will see us clear to get better upgrades.  It was proven this year that we have some pretty good, young, and ambitious talent.  Looking forward to the next season.

[L-TownCat]

If the dollar store gets us to the playoffs back to back years, what will a bigger budget get us?

[rayzor]

Bup Bup.sound

how do you code sound files?

 

http://www.carolinahuddle.com/boards/gettleboard/bupbup.mp3

 

there's probably a better way.

[MHS831]

Year three begins shortly. I am excited about this offseason since Dave said we have graduated from Dollar Store Dave to something less frugal.

He'll be wise in how he spends his free agent money but I am excited to see what he brings us.

 

Me too, but I don't expect DG to ever go after the high-dollar free agents.  This offseason is better not only because we have cap room, but because we have fewer needs..

[AviationMX]

Honestly I think the last two seasons have been duct tape and dollar store, when Smitty was cut it was a signal that although we didn't have the cash- Getts was going to work on chemistry even if didn't save cap space. The secondary was a mid season surprise that only came because we had some young players willing to be trained by the coaching staff. The Ol is another surprise... 

 

I'm not a fan of Shula but how do you tell if an OC is any good with a crap OL and QB that was hurt and still learning his trade? If he is gone, it's fine with me.

 

Rivera has done a good job in keeping the locker room engaged in an awful season and managed to be in position for a gift playoff game. i like Rivera's style, even with some rookie mistakes, he doesn't get high to or too low and the players ( and apparently the rookies) respond well. Ditka said that he knew where every player was supposed to be on every play as a Bear and although he didn't say much, the other players listened to him.

 

I'm looking forward to the next couple of years with Getts/Rivera, it will be a slow climb but I like the trajectory we are on now...looking forward to some home playoff games in the coming years. 

[PanthersUnited]

When it comes to Rivera my only major gripe is why on earth did he totally retire Riverboat Ron and completely stopped going for it on 4th downs after it worked so incredibly well last season? That's why our beat writers suck, not one time has anyone questioned Rivera on this and it is a very big deal and the thing that actually turned out season around last season. Does anyone here have an explanation?