How Much Pressure is Rivera Under?

[Khyber53]

49 minutes ago, hepcat said:

eing hard to find is valid. And I think that's why Rivera still has a job with the Panthers this season and probably next season. But after that....we'll see.

Actually, I think rather how hard it is to find a good coach in the NFL, more specifically it's mighty damned hard to find even a fair to middling head coach in the NFL. The turnover rate is incredible and it is such an incredibly complex job that almost all who attempt it fail, not even counting those who can never rise that high. 

I think Ron is in the fair to good level, and with a solid defense and a good QB, and limited injuries he can get the wins. I mean, he has the best active coaching streak versus Bill Belichick. That says something. A lot of coaches are 0 and bunches versus NE over the last two decades. 

Keeping Ron isn't betting everything on single good hand of poker, when it comes to the ownership's perspective. It's playing for the long game, trying to make it through the night's hands with more money than you started with. And once in a while, old Riverboat Ron gives you a shot to play for a really big take and an epic win. He gives you a shot. Statistically, that's better than the average.

I think we're right now at a changing of the guard thing with head coaching in the NFL. We're all waiting for the next big thing to hit, someone to come in and  revolutionize the game. Lombardi held court until Madden and Shula came along to reset the league, Madden held until Bill Walsh revolutionized things, who held serve until Jimmy Johnson shook things up, and that generation gave way to Bill B up in New England. New England has ruled the roost for two decades now and it is time for the next generation/evolution of the game. Some think the new wrinkle is happening already in Philly and with the Rams. I'm not sure, though. It's hard to tell what is really revolutionary and what is just a temporary adjustment. Before 2000, Bill B was just one of the many head coaches that had been fired by the Browns, a distinction that is just as dubious today as it was then.

And that is why Ron is still good value for the money. He can competitively coach in this day, this environment. He's not revolutionary (unless this new hybrid defense rocks the world like Buddy Ryan's 46 did in its day), but he's a fighter. 

And I just like the guy.

[mc52beast]

Under JR I feel like Ron wasn’t under constant pressure to win. JR allowed things to happen that no competent owner would ever allow. 

Ron knows that Tepper will demand excellence out of this franchise, which means he is under tremendous pressure to bounce back from a very disappointing season. He has taken ownership of the defense and as it goes so will Ron. 

I’m guessing a p/o berth is important to Tepper this year but I’m not sure he would fire Ron if we don’t make it. It’s year one of his new “hybrid” defense. Guessing Tep will give him time.

[Ivan The Awesome]

There is no reason to not be competitive and win against the saints. We should not over look them but we sure as hell should not be afraid of them. 

[SmokinwithWilly]

I don't think it's going to be about how the team finishes with its record as much as how he coaches. If we see the same Ron we've seen forever, loyal to coaches/players when they should be fired/benched, playing not to lose vs playing to win, it is what it is, poor time management, just all around mediocrity, then I think we see RR hit the pavement. 

[sml1950]

RR is getting close to his “use by this time” date of 10 years.  Players start closing their ears and minds to the “I’ve heard it all before “ and teams get comfortable with keys and how he coaches games.  Tepper’s association with the Steelers history of coaching continuity only goes so far.  His first job has been to build from the ground up with the practice field and new HQs.  Now he’s building the team infrastructure with analytics and coaching management.  He’s putting everything in place to attract the very best players and coaches going forward.  My sense is that he has his ear to the ground and is looking for the next young “genius” coach.  When he identifies him he’ll make a change.  Marty could be retained, but the GM choice will be like the Jets, someone who shares the coaches vision.

[MountaineerChemist10]

I like Rivera, but he seems to have 2 different personalities; conservative coach or Riverboat Ron. I think after the Atlanta/Panthers game in '17 (4th & inches, Ron wanted to punt, Cam & Funchess get pissed), he's finally let go of conservative coach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xqbTTnbDVo

If it's another losing record or even 9-7, he's done. Time for him to go 100% Riverboat Ron.

[Lumps]

Besides counting byes and 2015 how many playoff games has RR won?

Tired of being one and done come playoff time and not having back to back winning seasons. RR has had plenty of talent around him to do better.

worst thing that can happen is a 9-7,8-8,7-9 season and god forbid another one and done playoff showing, where the team looks ok. Then we don’t have high draft picks and are stuck in mediocrity.

At that point I’d find another HC. Anything outside that is either an extension or firing.

[thefuzz]

3 winning seasons out of 8.

1 playoff win outside of 2015.  ONE.

Has not won the division in 3 seasons.

6-12 against the division over the past 3 seasons.

 

If he and Marty aren't on the hot seat, I don't trust that Tepper is any different than JR.

[Zaximus]

I think Ron is on the hotseat for a couple of years.    Even if we make playoffs and win a game this year.    Anything short of a Super Bowl.    We need consecutive winning seasons and we need a coach that can do that.  

[CPcavedweller]

On 6/19/2019 at 6:56 PM, Tbe said:

Agree. Playoffs. At the very least, the defense HAS to be great. Top 10 minimum. Otherwise, what purpose is Ron serving?

He's one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL. This isn't John Fox reincarnate we are talking about; he makes changes and is going for it. The results of defensive improvement when he took over play calling are self-evident. Three years and three defensive coordinators is hard to replace; couple that with the injury to Cam and you end up with what we experienced last season.

However, when the Panthers have a solid roster, history has been kind to us following seasons with a losing record. 

[Seltzer]

2 hours ago, CPcavedweller said:

He's one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL. This isn't John Fox reincarnate we are talking about; he makes changes and is going for it. The results of defensive improvement when he took over play calling are self-evident. Three years and three defensive coordinators is hard to replace; couple that with the injury to Cam and you end up with what we experienced last season.

However, when the Panthers have a solid roster, history has been kind to us following seasons with a losing record. 

Despite not getting the press some other coaches get, whether warranted or not, Rivera is undoubtedly respected as one of the best defensive coaches of the last 20 years.

Ultimately, I dont think this year will be a referendum on whether Rivera has a future coaching in the NFL. He certainly does, probably as a HC and certainly as a DC at worst.

I do think this year will be a referendum on whether he is the best coach going forward to get this team back to and win a Super Bowl. Every coach has a shelf life with a team. Andy Reid's time was up in Philly, even though he was and is a good coach.

While he may not have a big personality,  Rivera is not a flash-in-the-pan coach.  He has actual substance and can adjust his defensive schemes to be successful and has close to 15 years of proving this. His stoicism during games annoys some people, but Belichick is as stoic as they come also. It all comes to winning.

And that is really it. Tepper has made a fortune evaluating risk. Getting rid of Rivera should the team not make the playoffs and be trending in the right direction at the end of next season would be risky in the sense that there is a significant chance the next coach will not be as good as Rivera.

But unlike hedge fund management, winning a Super Bowl is ultimately an all-or-nothing proposition. There has to be risk in trying to obtain the ultimate reward with a Lombardi trophy.

As a Panthers fan, my 2nd biggest dream is to win a Super Bowl under Rivera. I like him as a coach and a person. But my 1st dream is and will be for the Panthers to win a Super Bowl.

And after 9 years of Rivera, if we cant do it this year, it is a legitimate concern that we will never reach that with Rivera and the team needs to move on to different leadership.

 

[Lumps]

7 hours ago, thefuzz said:

3 winning seasons out of 8.

1 playoff win outside of 2015.  ONE.

Has not won the division in 3 seasons.

6-12 against the division over the past 3 seasons.

 

If he and Marty aren't on the hot seat, I don't trust that Tepper is any different than JR.

The playoff disappointment is one really gets to me. Rivera gets to add a 7-9 playoff team to his resume and that team had not right to be there whatsoever. His one playoff win came from a desperate Cardinal team on and their third string QB and even then that game looked formidable when it should of been a blowout.

Then thinking about the 12-4 Panther team that got a bye and played the 49ers at home. Panthers heavily favored and we got thrashed by stupid poo.

Seems to me there is a certain complacency just making the playoffs as if it’s a super bowl, and while the W/L ratio of RR is good, heavily inflated by Cam and 2015, whenever  the panthers make the playoffs, it’s painfully obvious they don’t deserve to be there. That needs to end.

[panthers55]

Cam and Ron are tied at the hip. Both of their contracts are up at the end of 2020. Ron brought Cam in and if they don't win a Superbowl, I doubt either are here. Cam is as much on the hot seat as Ron is. With all the free agents we will have in the next 2 years, if we don't at least go deep in the playoffs this year and next, there will be major changes on both of the ball and on the sidelines. 

[Lumps]

35 minutes ago, panthers55 said:

Cam and Ron are tied at the hip. Both of their contracts are up at the end of 2020. Ron brought Cam in and if they don't win a Superbowl, I doubt either are here. Cam is as much on the hot seat as Ron is. With all the free agents we will have in the next 2 years, if we don't at least go deep in the playoffs this year and next, there will be major changes on both of the ball and on the sidelines. 

There is a possibility cam comes back looking great but the same coaching deficiencies are there and that’s what causes poor performance. I wouldn’t say they’re tied to the hip by any means. If the Panthers show a poor performance this year it will be a questions of why. I think Cams ability to voice back from shoulders issues impacts his contract more so than Rivera’s abilities. If he does bounce back and the Panthers lose for other reasons I see no reason to get rid of Cam and Rivera.