Ron Rivera Comes To Defense Of Tackles

[wade]

I love Rivera and all, but what's about then?

[ladypanther]

I will trust Rivera until he proves to me I shouldn't. I believe he is highly qualified to evaluate DT's...or any other position on the D for that matter. I have seen no reason to question his judgement. Love that he is talking about this. So refreshing.

[rayzor]

I love Rivera and all, but what's about then?

they thought that coples would have been the BPA if kuechly had been taken.

[nagai]

I mostly agree with what the coach said. We will have to give our DT's time, and having Edwards back could be big.

But I do have to point out that our last 6 games included two against a struggling tampa team, one against the worst team in the league (Indy) a team that was without its starting qb and threw a rookie against us (Texans), and two teams that put up 30 plus on us (Atlanta and the Aints). In the Texans game, Foster abused us, but fortunately Yates screwed it up for them. In the Saints** game, Ivory abused us. Not sure if our tackle play really improved overall, or the competition just got weaker. IMO, its probably some combination thereof.

Yeah I agree. Look, I have no problems with what the FO is doing, people should have expected that largely BPA draft strategy from the start. It still doesn't change the fact that there are a lot of question marks at DT though. Furthermore, just because you think there's youth and talent at a position, does not necessarily mean that the position's OK, and it certainly doesn't mean that it'll hurt to add more bodies there. Hurney said the same about the WR position, we still got Joe Adams. Just a lot of coach speak imo.

[panthers55]

I love Rivera and all, but what's about then?

Coples would have played the 3 technique and the 5 technique. But if he had said that he we were going DE in th first it would have been a vote of concern against Hardy. I would think by saying he would play DT it was safer given that everyone said we need a DT. Remember how many folks said why would he draft Coples and play him at DT.

[wade]

they thought that coples would have been the BPA if kuechly had been taken.

That's all well and good, but it flies in the face of most of what he said in the article. Are they giving Hogan/Pilares "time to develop" by drafting a CB and WR this year or do they already see no future in either of them? It feels like nothing but damage control to me.

For the record I think the defense will be fine this year, but the potential lack of a pass rush still concerns me.

[rayzor]

That's all well and good, but it flies in the face of most of what he said in the article. Are they giving Hogan/Pilares "time to develop" by drafting a CB and WR this year or do they already see no future in either of them? It feels like nothing but damage control to me.

For the record I think the defense will be fine this year, but the potential lack of a pass rush still concerns me.

you don't understand BPA, then.

damage control? meh. have fun with your little conspiracy theory.

[mav1234]

he isn't saying "The best part of our team is our tackles!" He knows it was an area they could get talent to improve, but they also feel like it is an area where they have some good young players who can do well at the spot. So, while they would have taken a guy they thought was the best pick available at that spot to come in and compete with those young guys, that is much more about the player they feel Coples is than how desperate they are for a new DT.

[pantherdad]

He's looking at YOU.

[pantherdad]

Its like he is looking right into my soul.....

[koolkatluke]

Like I said before the draft (and I'm was on the drafting Cox bandwagon) what ever direction Marty and RR wanted to go I will support. That hasn't change if RR likes our DT. Then I believe in him.

[DaCityKats]

we will see.

[cultclassiccat]

I think RR is smart and throwing a bone to the NC locals who were yappn about Couples passing us...lil damage control maybe

[MadHatter]

That's all well and good, but it flies in the face of most of what he said in the article. Are they giving Hogan/Pilares "time to develop" by drafting a CB and WR this year or do they already see no future in either of them? It feels like nothing but damage control to me.

For the record I think the defense will be fine this year, but the potential lack of a pass rush still concerns me.

It dies not fly in the face of what else he said.

Gurney and Rivera were clear that they were drafting BPA. If they viewed Copleas as the. BPA at that pick, they would have taken him.

Just like they would have taken Kalil, Claibirne, Baron, etc

I believe the only positions they would. It have taken would be RB and QB. They would have easily traded those picks.