Gross talks about the Red Zone

[Mr. Scot]

I can deal with them not buying in immediately, as long as they do it in private.

[Sword]

couldn't he just be taking on the persona of his head coach..brutal honesty to the media being on of them? rivera isn't shy to speak his mind and he might not mind it if his players say what they feel either.

[csx]

I seen Matthews fall for Cams legs and he got up and pointed like Olsen tackled him down which didn't happen

He didnt throw the flag till Cam had scored. The more I watch it the more pissed off I become

After about 50 rewatches it looks like Shockey had his arms completely around Pickett bringing him down. It looks like the ref is looking at Kalil but he is watching Shockey/Pickett. Pickett gets up asking for the call and Shockey pretty much reacts like he's guilty. Another Packer is pointing at Shockey too.

I have no idea how they gave it to 69 though

[SOJA]

ummm this might be something better kept behind closed doors

[Mr. Scot]

couldn't he just be taking on the persona of his head coach..brutal honesty to the media being on of them? rivera isn't shy to speak his mind and he might not mind it if his players say what they feel either.

Depends on how he responds, I suppose. My gut tells me Rivera isn't the type to like this sort of thing, but we'll see.

For Gross, if you say it to a reporter, ya gotta expect it may come back to haunt you. And it's not like he's a rookie. He should know that.

[pantherclaw]

I'm sure gross didn't say anyting that he hasn't already expressed to the coaches.

[Mr. Scot]

Chudzinski's and Rivera's comments (same article)

“The red zone is a very specific part of the game,” coach Ron Rivera said. “It’s also part of the game that really you need time both offensively and defensively to become a good red zone team. I know from my defensive experience it is about reps, reps and reps, and you can never make up for those reps as you get going.”

...

“It’s a little bit of everything,” said offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski said. “Everything down in the red zone is magnified. The windows are tighter to throw in, there are more defenders near the ball and obviously penalties and those types of things are magnified as well. We had a little bit of everything happening to us so far and we have to really just focus in and finish the drive. That’s what we talked to the guys the last couple of days.”

...

That said Rivera is convinced the team will get better in the red zone as the weeks pass.

“As we go and as we develop, that is one thing in my opinion we’re going to continue to work on and grow with,” Rivera said.

Added Chudzinski: “It’s something we have to keep working through and we’ll be fine with it. We’ll make improvements and start getting the ball in the end zone.”

Side Note: Reed needs a better proofreader/editor :sosp:

[Carolina Fan]

You guys, Gross is not that stupid... he is obviously saying that publicly so teams stack the box in goal-line situations :rofl:

[HearMeRoar]

Gross and the rest of the OL need to step their game up and start making holes for the running game if they want Chud to utilize the run game more.

Run blocking has be atrocious through the first two games. Open up the lanes for Double Trouble, and if the results are positive Gross will see more run plays called.

[KSpan]

If you're Rob Chudzinski or Ron Rivera, does a comment like this one - made to the media by one of your team leaders - bother you?

hes simply saying what needs to be said and basically called out the whole oline including himself for not being up to speed enough to garner the trust of their coaching staff

This - Gross is not knocking the coaching staff here. He could have been more direct about it, but he's saying that the line has not given them reason to trust the running game. If a smart player like Jordan didn't flame the coaching staff last year, he sure isn't going to be doing it 2 weeks into the new regime.

[CatMan72]

I read Gross's comments as calling himself and the rest of the offensive line out, not the coaching staff.

[Davidson Deac II]

I read Gross's comments as calling himself and the rest of the offensive line out, not the coaching staff.

This. He is definitely not calling the coaching staff out, and I am surprised anyone would think that he is. He is saying that we are throwing it so much because the run game isn't working and that a big part of the reason its not working is poor performance from the oline regarding run blocking. Its a true statement, and a good statement from Gross.

[Cape Fear Cat]

NFL lineman pride themselves on pass protection and run blocking, since thats there job. Our line has done a solid job giving Cam time, but the rb's havent been to the second level all year, YET. Only play I remember it happening was when J-stew had a sweet run from the goal line to like our 40 our something like that. It was called back by a holding call I do believe, also believe it was the cardinals game.

With that being said I feel Gross is just saying they need to do there job, in order to be more successful. Sounds like team captain talk to me. Willingness to put blame on his shoulders in order to have some wins.

Atta boy gross

I agree with Jak3Allen. I suspect he's not calling out the coaches as much as his fellow linemen, saying that the reason Chud doesn't trust them is because they have repeatedly failed to run block successfully. Carry on, Mr. Gross.

[Chaos]

Whatever you think of Gross' individual performance, I'd say that as a unit, the reason Chudzinski isn't "trusting them to get it done" right now is because they aren't.

Really hate to say that, but objectively speaking, it's true :(

This is how I see it too. In my opinion, Gross is implying that Chud isn't confident enough in the running game right now to call on it in the short yardage or red zone situations. If the O-line wants to build the trust in the running game, it's on them to execute when the run plays are called.

If we see Williams or Stewart ripping off 5 yards here and 8 yards there, more running plays will be called.