We're on the verge of being a very good team... How to fix our issues.

[poorboysrev]

I really don't know why we seem to hate bootlegs, rollouts and the hurry up offense so much... Rivera needs to go into riverboat mode and stay there 

[Jon Snow]

2 minutes ago, poorboysrev said:

I really don't know why we seem to hate bootlegs, rollouts and the hurry up offense so much... Rivera needs to go into riverboat mode and stay there 

Because Ron wants a slow methodical clock chewing offense that keeps his defense rested and the other teams offense off the field.  

[TheRed]

If this many Panthers fans continually chime in with "Ron Rivera needs to go back to Riverboat Ron" as this season goes on, there's no way a guy like Tepper won't notice the same thing they are. This isn't comatose Jerry Richardson we're talking about.

[Bronn]

The only riverboating Ron has done this year has been the kind where he's removed the paddles from the wheel and is just floating in space as the wheel turns and does nothing.

[archer4364]

No we're not. We almost lost to the one of the worst teams in the league at home and then choked against a team our main divisional rival blew out by 20+. Our coaching is subpar (looking at you Eric Washington) and our execution is poor. I was expecting to be a playoff team this year but it's not looking like we're going to make it there. In all likelihood we'll drop the game in Philly and be fighting for our season against one of the better AFC teams the week after that. 3-4 and it's over. 

[Cuttinedge]

Ron’s  defense is predicated on the other team “NOT” executing.

I’d rather become a proactive defensive team that makes other teams make mistakes.  Not a defense that hopes they’ll make a mistake 

[Billy Love]

we've been on the verge of being a really good team, a really long time. Nothing ever changes with this Ron Rivera regime...NOTHING!

[Khyber53]

@Bronn makes some very good points and while I don't agree with everything he posted, when he's right, he's really right.

My differences are on the defensive side, where I think the bend don't break style of defense is a very good one. Modern offenses are built to take the top off of the field and strike deep into the opposing team's side of the field. Vertical threats open up underneath routes and open up running opportunities... we all understand that. In the red zones, though, the field is compressed and the back of the endzone works just like another sideline to corral in receivers and coverage needs. In the red zone yesterday, we held them three times to field goals which is something the rest of the league isn't doing so well. We play more effectively because our LBs have to roam less territory and cut off intermediate routes better. Our pass rush benefits from the lack of dump off targets and our DBs can get on and stay on their men better (usually).

I would like for our defense to be more stout against the run, though. There's no question that we're not as strong as we once were up front, and we look soft at times. I was hoping the return of TD would help this, but maybe he needs a week or two more to get back to speed.

Really, though, the biggest help our defense could get is from the offense, though. We play slow ball and that's just not working out. We could go into the ins and outs of Norv's game plans, but it comes down to this: the game flows through the QB and how do you put his strengths against the weakness of the opposing side. Cam is not a field general who can pick apart complex coverages and schemes. Cam is a gifted QB with a massively strong arm, extreme confidence and the ability to take the ball himself down the field at a moment's notice, and not just toward the sidelines. The slow set up, complex plays we are running makes it a chess match between our OC and their DC. And there's the problem, he's playing chess but he has folks like Cam, CMC, Moore and Samuels to play with. He has to do a better job of matching the game plan to the weapons he has.

Run some no huddle offense. Get Cam a wristband. Make sure at least two of your young speedsters are on the field at all times. Pick a DB and run go routes at him every play rotating between Smith, Moore and Samuels until the guy is ready to drop from exhaustion. Run Olsen and someone into the flat every play to draw their LBs back and away from the running lanes.

And dang, let Cam be Cam. He's frikking amazing when he controls the game.

 

[Khyber53]

15 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

Because Ron wants a slow methodical clock chewing offense that keeps his defense rested and the other teams offense off the field.  

In Ron's defense, it really is a great idea to do that. We post too many three and outs for that to work, though.

[FugAllY'all]

14 minutes ago, Cuttinedge said:

Ron’s  defense is predicated on the other team “NOT” executing.

I’d rather become a proactive defensive team that makes other teams make mistakes.  Not a defense that hopes they’ll make a mistake 

What you just described is a "bend but don't break" defense, which is what Bill Belichick has won 5 Super Bowls with. Now, Belichick is a defensive matchup genius and moves all 11 players around like chess pieces to find the perfect matchup, but he doesn't coach aggressive tactics. The real difference is on the offensive side of the ball, where he lets Tom Brady go out there and try to score touchdowns every drive, so it doesn't matter if the defense gives up a bunch of field goal attempts. Eventually, after a couple quarters of trading touchdowns for field goals, you start making mistakes to catch up. 

[TheCandyMan]

So I know Rivera is a defensive head coach, and he sets how he wants things run, but what we're seeing on the defensive side of the ball be partially due to the fact that we're on our 3rd DC in 3 years?

[steveSmokin_D]

Said exactly what i was thinking. However it wont change. Only way it does is if Tepper gets on Ron or the players go to Ron. Im not looking forward to the philly game because it will be the same old mess.

[Peppers90 NC]

Cover 3 only works with an effective pass rush and LBrs who dont all go to one spot.

[Peppers90 NC]

15 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

In Ron's defense, it really is a great idea to do that. We post too many three and outs for that to work, though.

I'm feeling the new trend, score as much as possible and challenge the other team to keep up. Most likely, they will make enough mistakes to keep them from doing so, even if we end up giving up a lot of points.

I was really surprised to see we only gave up 288 yards, it felt like 488.