Perhaps Rivera and Shula and Cam are finally learning

[top dawg]

I've pretty much said continually over the last year that Ron Rivera, Mike Shula and Cam Newton (and Dave Gettleman who is now gone) would have to get their acts together for us to get back to championship calibre. 

Well, things were extremely shaky on the offensive side of the ball for the first three games, but Cam being a bit out of sorts and not yet fully prepared---at least from a physical standpoint---obviously affected those games more than many of us know. That, along with the fact that Shula was still formulating exactly how to incorporate Christian McCaffrey into the offense, dealing with the loss of Olsen, and getting his feet up under himself in general caused the offense to be very much disjointed the first few weeks.

Now, things are coming together. After reading David Newton's article today on Ed Dickson, I feel that the lightbulb may actually be turning on for the three most important people who can affect this offense. 

Though the article is indeed about Dickson, the most important thing for me was this:

"Ed is a really good football player that we might have overlooked a bit."

Just the fact that Rivera believed in Dickson, where most didn't, is good. The fact that he knew and basically admitted that he and Shula "overlooked" a player that obviously has the skills to produce in a notable manner is great. You see, it may mean that they will finally trust and get the players on the field that can make some plays, and actually get them a little more involved in the regular flow of the offense. Perhaps injuries won't be the only time we see guys who are essentially role players given an opportunity to make a legitimate impact. 

So, yeah, Dixon's skills as a pass catching TE were overlooked, but hopefully not anymore. We may need him at some point, even after Olsen returns. The more weapons the better, right? Sometimes you can't afford to overlook anyone on offense because the opposition is basically "giving that person to you." For the last couple of games, Cam seems to have grasped that concept, "Take what the defense gives you!" He is spreading the ball around with great success, and that's when Cam is at his best. 

Isn't it "funny" that now that Rivera and Shula are giving guys an opportunity to make an impact---not "overlooking" them as in the case of Big Ed, and/or "using them incorrectly" as in the case of Devin Funchess, and Cam is actually "seeing" these guys that the offense is taking off?

I've said it several times during this season, we have what it takes to get to the dance this season, and I'm not accepting anything less. So far, everyone seems to be answering the call.

Sure, Rivera and Shula are still philosophically conservative  (or so it would seem), they seem to be learning---maybe even adapting as time goes on. Some of you may not be able to see it, but I thought I'd at least try and point these little victories out. Perhaps greater victories are in store for the future.

[rayzor]

still need to see them be aggressive through 4 quarters, but still looks like they are trending up.

[Khaki Lackey]

I just wish Ron would stop with the prevent defense and prevent offense with 20 minutes left in the game. 

[thefuzz]

Just now, Khaki Lackey said:

I just wish Ron would stop with the prevent defense and prevent offense with 20 minutes left in the game. 

I don't think this will ever stop, it's who Ron is.

The more wins he gets playing that way, the more likely he is going to be to continue.  Too often I have posted that Ron is just as happy winning by 1 as he is by 21.

[saX man]

DItto Rayzor. 

We need to stop going into prevent in 3rd quarters. Be aggressive..be be aggressive 

[Udogg]

Sigh... 

Ed Dickson was just as open in our first 3 games of the season.   Cam has to throw the ball. 

Everyone here has seen the switch go off.   Last 2 games has been the Cam we all know exist.  Due to injury and practice that Cam hasn't shown up till now.   Saying Shula or Ron Rivera have changed is crazy.   

Oline has played dramatically better compared to 1st 3 weeks, and Cam has played dramatically better.  That's it. 

[countryboi]

everyone says that they want Ron to continue to be aggressive for 4 quarters but almost everytime he has sat the clock it has worked out in his favor. what incentive does he have to change? 

[CRA]

Just now, countryboi said:

everyone says that they want Ron to continue to be aggressive for 4 quarters but almost everytime he has sat the clock it has worked out in his favor. what incentive does he have to change? 

Ron is predictable.

Ron is just about always analytical/defensive minded Ron....

until he gets burned badly doing it in a season or we get our backs against a wall.  Then Riveraboat emerges. 

[top dawg]

1 minute ago, Udogg said:

Sigh... 

Ed Dickson was just as open in our first 3 games of the season.   Cam has to throw the ball. 

Everyone here has seen the switch go off.   Last 2 games has been the Cam we all know exist.  Due to injury and practice that Cam hasn't shown up till now.   Saying Shula or Ron Rivera have changed is crazy.   

Oline has played dramatically better compared to 1st 3 weeks, and Cam has played dramatically better.  That's it. 

If you don't see how at least Shula's play calling was a lot more creative the last couple of games (particularly, the last game), then you just don't want to see it.

[top dawg]

Rivera said they misused Funchess. Funchess becomes magically productive. Rivera says we need to get Dickson more involved as a fix to the offense (not the fix), and magically Dickson goes off. 

Don't give the coaches any credit! SMDH

[Zaximus]

It doesn't matter how well out players do, Rivera will let our prevent defense let any offense come back and he'll have the offense play "not to lose" and help them come back as well.    These are the major downfalls of Rivera and like said already, probably won't change.   There is a reason his record is pretty bad on games decided less than 3 points and the fact there has been so many games in that category shows this as well.  

[Harbingers]

21 minutes ago, thefuzz said:

I don't think this will ever stop, it's who Ron is.

The more wins he gets playing that way, the more likely he is going to be to continue.  Too often I have posted that Ron is just as happy winning by 1 as he is by 21.

A wins a win. Better to win by one than not at all.

[KSpan]

I figured they would have learned something after 2013, and especially after 2015. But alas, here we are again, asking if anything is being learned 7 years into the HC's tenure.

[Moorgan]

Thought I saw a tweet yesterday (maybe from Voth) that the defense blitzed 7 times on the Lions' last drive. That's not prevent defense. I also noticed that the offense (with the exception of 1 series in the 3rd quarter) often threw more often than the typical run, run, pass, punt or even run, run, run, punt of a prevent offense. Basically, I'm challenging the notion that we played prevent in the 4th quarter. But I have no stats to back it up. It's the internet, I don't need facts.