Ron Rivera Comes To Defense Of Tackles

[DawgzLife]

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

Good point! Can I give you some advice? Most of us huddlers are too lazy to click on links so most people may have just passed by your post.

It linked to CATMAN72's post where Rivera said he would have drafted Coples as a DT.

Why would Rivera even consider Coples if he was so happy with our DTs? (esp. to the point of making those who considered otherwise seem like impatient ignoramuses)

I think it is a great question. Rivera said himself for people to be patient & let them develop their players, so why would he consider drafting Coples? (don't come with the...he's specially gifted argument)

I'm not doubting Rivera's sincerity, but the 2 stances are somewhat incongruent.

[DawgzLife]

1. If the problem is youth (3 rookies and 2 second-year players), how does drafting more youth help?
   
2. For those who felt that we would have upgraded by drafting a rookie DT, here are some DTs from recent drafts who were actually rated higher than any DT in this draft and who have struggled so far: Dorsey, McCoy, Fairley, Ellis. etc.--
   
3. "But..but...I have already determined our 2 rookie third round DTs to be busts after 10 games following the lockout year...First rounders can contribute on a high level that would satisfy my lust for excellent DT play immediately!"--a knowledgeable fan
   
4. For those of you who still do not get why RR did not draft a DT, Ron Edwards is solid at the point of attack and coming of IR. You cannot compare every player on our roster to the best players at their positions league wide. That is pretty stupid in a salary capped league.
   
5. There are a few people on here (I am one) who were saying that we would NOT draft a DT-period. We were hammered for this opinion. I see that, instead of reflection and any form of acknowledgement of this fact, most of the peoplle attacking have moved on to attack others with newer opinions.
   

Good post, I agree with most of it.

#1: Exactly, but that's why him being so adamant, yet still considering drafting Coples at #9 for DT is so inconsistent.

#2: Exacty. DT is the often considered the 2nd or 3rd hardest psotion to come in as a rookie & produce (QB & WR are the other 2).

#3: Exactly again.

#4: Good point on player comparisions to the 'top' guy for every position.

I do disagree with the Ron Edwards comment tho. He will have to prove himself before I can make any kind of statement like that. He is aging, coming off of an injury & was declining prior to Kansas City deciding not to resign him. He does not appear anything more than a 'possible' stop gap...he has never been much of a presence by collaping the pocket..just stopping the run at the line (he's avg about 1 sack per year over his NFL career). We will see, but I just don't understand the Ron Edwards love before he takes a snap for us.

#5: Good job MHS831! (seriously) I was 1 thinking we would go DT, b/c I would like to see a pass rushing DT.

I DID NOT want to draft Poe or Brockers or Still b/c we have them or better on the roster already...I think you have over-simplified those of us who were wanting a DT. The only one I wanted was Cox...b/c of his ability to collapse the pocket & either get sacks or flush to QB so our DEs & LBs could destroy the QBs.

I don't think you guys were 'hammered' anymore than everyone gets hammered for ANY opinion on here (it's kind of the fun of things really). Just b/c the team chose a LB & Rivera defends out DTs doesn't mean you were right....or wrong. We will know within a few games if our interior line was set & Rivera was a genius or if we should have tried to solidify the interior.

BTW, to everyone...this is 1 of the most interesting threads & with good respectful opinion-sharing that I have seen for a while!

In all, I think our DTs willbe fine & that Rivera will be more involved with the D & that the LBs will do more blitzing than last year, which will further make our DL look solid.

[DawgzLife]

I don't think most people here realize how big of an upgrade that is at linebacker. (two all pro caliber guys vs to backups)

Yep, this is my contention as well. I can't wait to see the defensive schemes with LBs like this...even if Davis doesn't get back (which I hope he does). I don't trust our DC (Opie), but if Rivera is more hands on with the D than last year (b/c his head was spinning being a HC for the 1st time), then look out! I think our D will make 1 of, if not 'the', biggest jump in the NFL this year.

[DaveThePanther2008]

...where Rivera said he would have drafted Coples as a DT.

Why would Rivera even consider Coples if he was so happy with our DTs? (esp. to the point of making those who considered otherwise seem like impatient ignoramuses)

I think it is a great question. Rivera said himself for people to be patient & let them develop their players, so why would he consider drafting Coples? (don't come with the...he's specially gifted argument)

I'm not doubting Rivera's sincerity, but the 2 stances are somewhat incongruent.

Why would he consider Coples? BPA? Could Coples been a better player then Kuechly? I am sure that a discussion that Coples was the BPA at #9.

Could be smoke screens..... Coaches and GMs NEVER try to force someones hand in a trade? That is so unethical.

There could be a number of reasons why Coples or any other player on the D-Line was considered and Rivera still having faith in our young D-line.

[rayzor]

Good point! Can I give you some advice? Most of us huddlers are too lazy to click on links so most people may have just passed by your post.

It linked to CATMAN72's post where Rivera said he would have drafted Coples as a DT.

Why would Rivera even consider Coples if he was so happy with our DTs? (esp. to the point of making those who considered otherwise seem like impatient ignoramuses)

I think it is a great question. Rivera said himself for people to be patient & let them develop their players, so why would he consider drafting Coples? (don't come with the...he's specially gifted argument)

I'm not doubting Rivera's sincerity, but the 2 stances are somewhat incongruent.

considering that they said they were going to draft the best player and not let need dictate the decision, there is no problem. they obviously thought that kuechly was a better prospect than coples and said that they would have drafted coples if kuechly wasn't available. coples was looked at as someone who would be a better DT than DE so that is what position they would have drafted him to play.

it wasn't because of a "need" at DT that coples was considered. it was because he was/would have been the best prospect available at their pick.

[YoungPanthers89]

oh and coples lovers

@AdamSchefter

Quinton Coples was held out of 11-on-11 team drills because of what the Jets first-round pick says was "a coach's decision."

[KillerKat]

Thought it was more likely to pick up one in FA than drafting one anyway since we need more experience there. Still think we'll bring in another if a good one becomes available.

[ForMac]

Drafting more youth at DT is not what I wanted from the first round. Highly prefer another above average journeyman to teach the kids the ropes and continue to let RR and staff devolope them. Ron Edwards will serve the purpose if hes healthy and ready to go, only one in the draft with Kris Jenkins type potential was Poe, but not going to take him at 9. We already have 2 - 3rd rounders, wasnt anything in the draft any better then are young talent in the second. If we were not going to go OG in the 2nd there were other BPA's better then the 2nd round crop of talent.

[ed bell]

<snip> Highly prefer another above average journeyman to teach the kids the ropes and continue to let RR and staff devolope them. Ron Edwards will serve the purpose if hes healthy and ready to go<snip>

From everything I've read he's already been doing that since he got here despite the fact that he didn't play a single snap. Heard that he was very active in the meetings and was present at practices and in the weight room despite being on IR, just like Beason and Davis.

[MadHatter]

oh and coples lovers

Maybe it had to do with Coples' comment about how he already has most of the play book down. Rex laughed about this and said that they had given them less than 5% of their scheme and play book.

[YoungPanthers89]

Maybe it had to do with Coples' comment about how he already has most of the play book down. Rex laughed about this and said that they had given them less than 5% of their scheme and play book.

loltastic

[CRA]

Pretty much my default position.

Good schemes have been known to make players look better than they are (see: West Coast Offense) and that may turn out to be the case with Rivera and McDermott's defense in the future.

I agree. Just look at Philly all those years. Scheme got them the QB.

[BEASTfromdaEAST]

Wow Rivera saying the same thing only 2% of the Huddle has been saying this whole offseason, just goes to show you the actual horrific football sense 98% of this forum has on it.

[Floppin]

Wow Rivera saying the same thing only 2% of the Huddle has been saying this whole offseason, just goes to show you the actual horrific football sense 98% of this forum has on it.

Just like real life, most people really have no clue what the fug they are talking about half the time. That said, there have been a few of us who have said exactly what he's saying all off season.