Rivera Remarks 12-26-11

[DoWorkBson]

*Insert my NJP inside info post.

Thomas Davis is doing well. The previous ACL surgeries were performed by Panther Doctors. This current one has been done by Mr. Tommie Jone himself Dr. Andrews. Davis who I would say is an expert on ACL surgeries says that his knee feels completely different than before. Much stronger and much father ahead.

I love TD but wasnt he on a 1 yr deal last year. He still wants to play. If he says his knee is weak who would sign him. I have no problem with giving him a one year vet minimum with a lot of incentive money, but I do not expect him to be able to finish a season.

[Doyle]

*Insert my NJP inside info post.

Thomas Davis is doing well. The previous ACL surgeries were performed by Panther Doctors. This current one has been done by Mr. Tommie Jone himself Dr. Andrews. Davis who I would say is an expert on ACL surgeries says that his knee feels completely different than before. Much stronger and much father ahead.

What do you expect Davis to say? Ah it feels OK I guess... He wants another paycheck and will say anything to get it. Not that I blame him. Davis is history as far as the Panthers are concerned.

[chknwing]

Whomever they draft, can not have had history of injury.

[jasonluckydog]

Suck for Luck!!

[TheOracle]

http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Ron-Rivera-Presser/2e69f85e-df11-4b73-8484-dee773218f81

A few points covered:

Naanee broke his foot, and will not play Sunday.....all four (Armanti, Tutu, Pilares and Adams) should see the field on Sunday depending on the package. How much is to be determined.

Major props given to Smitty on the LaFell TD for hustling up-field and cutting off three on the defensive pursuit. Said it was as unselfish as it gets and indicates that Smith buys into what the coaches are trying to do. Also said Gamble continues to impress and showed a lot making tackles on RB's inside the box from the corner.

Asked about biggest off-season needs, said he doesn't know yet, but getting guys healthy was the primary concern now. Plans to evaluate and decide on plans about the team's biggest off-season needs in the next few weeks.

Thinks that talk from outside of DT being the biggest need is a stretch in light of how certain players have stepped up to play (mentioned Neblett, Kearse and Shirley) and is expecting Ron Edwards back next year. Said "To me the Tackle position is not really a concern, but we'll see...we'll evaluate..."

Asked about Otah- said "Jeff's here every day working out, doing a heck of a job. Real happy about what he has done........you can't have too many good players."

Looking forward to playing against the best effort the Saints can give....

Linebacker is now a major need. Going into next season expecting too much from Davis OR BEASON, would be a mistake.

[Marguide]

We also need to draft a couple of offensive lineman, and build depth there. We have actually been very healthy there this season.

We are probably ok at OL. Remember that the current lineup is not what was planned for the season. Otah and Schwartz made up 40% of our starting O-line going into the year. Get them back and we have decent depth, especially if they bring back Hangartner.

[pantherclaw]

What do you expect Davis to say? Ah it feels OK I guess... He wants another paycheck and will say anything to get it. Not that I blame him. Davis is history as far as the Panthers are concerned.

yup. It's all about another paycheck.

Why don't you just admit ya don't know davis well enough to say anything?

Davis is all about football. He loves to play the game.

Davis has made money.

It's more about davis not wanting to give up what he loves to do.

Keep talking about the paycheck though.

[JawnyBlaze]

I think CB is definitely our #1 need. Gamble's resurgence has been somewhat wasted because it's easy for QBs to pick on Capt. The problem is after Claiborne is gone I don't think there's a 1st round quality CB :( If we could somehow pull off getting Claiborne in the 1st we could probably get a solid starting quality OLB in the 2nd and I'd be happy with the draft if it ended right there. Of course, I'd really like a P and K in the last couple rounds :)

Assuming Claiborne is gone before we pick, I think the 1st round value where we'll probably be picking at positions of at least moderate need will be at WR and OT. In that case there should be some good value at CB in the 2nd where we pick (Minnifield impresses me greatly, a lotta people like that Hosely kid, Jenkins could fall, Gilmore is another possibility). We'd just need to find an OLB in the 4th, or trade up into the 3rd, or find a FA OLB and our defense could be at least middle of the pack.

[MHS831]

sounds like a BPA Draft to me.

I saw it differently. We are probably drafting an OT. CB is not as bad as we thought with Butler and Hogan coming around, DT is not (to RR) as weak as it was, the Otah comments contained a message, but was not one of confidence. OLB is not a valid option. Even if Otah is back, Gross has a year or two left on the left side. We will not be drafting top 10 again. Everybody is shouting D, but protecting Cam is more important than any position on D. We going OT, baby. A LT is more valuable than the other positions, except QB. RR will draft RR.

[MHS831]

I think CB is definitely our #1 need. Gamble's resurgence has been somewhat wasted because it's easy for QBs to pick on Capt. The problem is after Claiborne is gone I don't think there's a 1st round quality CB :( If we could somehow pull off getting Claiborne in the 1st we could probably get a solid starting quality OLB in the 2nd and I'd be happy with the draft if it ended right there. Of course, I'd really like a P and K in the last couple rounds :)

Assuming Claiborne is gone before we pick, I think the 1st round value where we'll probably be picking at positions of at least moderate need will be at WR and OT. In that case there should be some good value at CB in the 2nd where we pick (Minnifield impresses me greatly, a lotta people like that Hosely kid, Jenkins could fall, Gilmore is another possibility). We'd just need to find an OLB in the 4th, or trade up into the 3rd, or find a FA OLB and our defense could be at least middle of the pack.

I see your point, but I also see that we already drafted 2012's CB in the fourth round in 2011. Hogan is a player. Butler played well down the stretch-needed time to learn the system. Martin sucks, making our CBs look worse than they are. When Gamble looked bad this year, did you notice that it was always when he thought he was getting help?

I personally like Munnerlyn at nickel, Butler and Hogan, and Gamble as the man on the #1. I think we are set at CB. Get better pass rushing and these guys look like all pros.

[ed bell]

We are probably ok at OL. Remember that the current lineup is not what was planned for the season. Otah and Schwartz made up 40% of our starting O-line going into the year. Get them back and we have decent depth, especially if they bring back Hangartner.

I can get behind this...Bell had plenty of work for experience this year....I know plenty of folks would love to see Otah cut loose, but it's not happening.

Go Defense in the first several rounds...

[rayzor]

i trust rivera's assessments more than i ever trusted fox.

if he has faith in our DTs going forward, i'm buying.

the otah thing is the hardest to swallow, but i'll wait and give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Marguide]

i trust rivera's assessments more than i ever trusted fox.

if he has faith in our DTs going forward, i'm buying.

the otah thing is the hardest to swallow, but i'll wait and give him the benefit of the doubt.

I don't trust Otah 100% either, but we should be ok as long as Bell is backing him up. Just don't count on using Bell somewhere else on the line.

[JawnyBlaze]

I see your point, but I also see that we already drafted 2012's CB in the fourth round in 2011. Hogan is a player. Butler played well down the stretch-needed time to learn the system. Martin sucks, making our CBs look worse than they are. When Gamble looked bad this year, did you notice that it was always when he thought he was getting help?

I personally like Munnerlyn at nickel, Butler and Hogan, and Gamble as the man on the #1. I think we are set at CB. Get better pass rushing and these guys look like all pros.

I hope Hogan can be our answer at CB2, but I haven't seen anything close to proof of that fact yet. He looked solid enough in his very limited time these past two games, but I'd be a little nervous if we don't get someone else in the 1st or 2nd or in FA. Need to see more of him before I, obviously just a fan, can trust him as a starter. Butler has looked solid too, but I don't think I'd want him as our long term answer at CB2 either.