Rivera should be praised for fielding a prepared team

[Marguide]

Too long, so I scanned.

You make some good points. Rivera has many, many good qualities. Yes, I felt the team was prepared.

On the other hand, I think Rivera is a bad game day manager. Some of his moves hurt rather than help the confidence of the team and players. And no, I'm not talking about the punt in the 4th. The 2 minute drill in the first half was a major blunder, but today, in his press conference, he did not find it reasonable to even be asked about it. And this was not the first time he has sent the team the message that he doesn't trust either the offense or the defense. These are the guys he chose to put on the field. Especially on offense, it's time to take off the training wheels. I assume the players know how to run a 2 minute drill. If they don't, then maybe they aren't as prepared as we'd like to think.

This team has enough talent to win. The line between winning and losing is razor thin most weeks. Some of Ron's decisions are costing us W's, and until he realizes this, there is little hope for significant improvement.

[cbully]

no praise!! that's his job!! to do so is like demanding respect from the wife for picking up the kids from school!

[Tarheels23]

I don't have a problem with not going for it on 4&1 as much as I do, not knowing your personnel.

I've been calling for Nakamura's head since the Tampa game, not sure if you remember, but he was the one at fault for the punt block. I also knew he wasn't starting material after the Jet's preseason game. He has a lot of heart, but he's nothing but a modern day Rudy.

It's also time to put Luke in the middle, the kid has been looking good, and it's time he took over the reigns.

[CarolinaNut]

i'm giving RR til after his 3rd year before i start calling for his head...i still firmly believe he will be a good HC for us...he's still learning how to be a HC...not everyone starts off like Jim Harbaugh...doesn't mean in time he can't be just as good

[rayzor]

you watch, it will.

btw.......who's Keith Moon

serious?

[rayzor]

nakamura did have a couple good pass deflections and a very helpful INT that would have ended up a TD and it wasn't like he was covering a couple scrub WRs.

not excusing that last play, but you could tell why he was given so much play time. i mean what was the other option? martin? the guy seems like one of those who's going to take it personally (which he has) and get better.

[rayzor]

totally agree with the OP, btw.

[Brooklyn Bully]

A coach should never get praise for doing his job. He should get praise for going an extra mile.

[LA_Panther]

My only issue was Chud's playcalling at the end of the game....

I would have went for it on 4th and 1...but I understand the decision

[Floppin]

My only issue was Chud's playcalling at the end of the game....

I would have went for it on 4th and 1...but I understand the decision

That's not Chud's call. Chud's only decision would have been deciding what play to run had Rivera decided to go for it on fourth and one.

[TruCatzFan]

Wow, professionals showing up to work! The fourth game of the season they haven't quit!

Hand it to Rivera! I don't know how he does it.

Ron Rivera is a conservative coach. I'm done defending him. He isn't the answer.

I usually like what you post here in general... But you have turned into quite the sour puss here as of late. Just try and get it over it. It SUCKED that we lost that game, no doubt about it. I also know that you are mostly objective in regards to this team... So I ask you to think about what you're saying and implying...

Yes he's a second year head coach... Yes he's made some mistakes, but so have the players on the field.

People can't be this blind and downright hateful because of a loss... I get venting for a few hrs after the game, I myself was Rabid the rest of the afternoon. If Cam holds onto that ball we win, and this is completely different. It's not Riveras fault, it's not Cam's fault... It's cliche but true in all sports... You win or lose as a team.

We gotta move past this just like our players have to and keep churning our legs... If not we will be 4-12 or God knows how bad it could be. Keep your heads in the game, it's a long season in which anything can happen. I'm still very optimistic about where we will go this year. Everybody knows we blew that game, hell even an Atlanta writer said as much on ESPN radio... But we have to move past it in order to get better. That goes for the team and the fan base.

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link... Nobody wants this season to be a disappointment... Not you or anybody.

Fighting through this adversity will build the character of this team... Like it or not, there's A lot of truth in everything I just said

[LA_Panther]

My only issue was Chud's playcalling at the end of the game....

I would have went for it on 4th and 1...but I understand the decision

Sorry, i was not clear...Chud's playcalling the last 2 possessions was my problem....He was channeling his inner John Fox....

90% of NFL coaches would have punted

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Fantastic post...

The defenseive scheme was on point.. Just some execution issues in the nameless secondary and poor tackling by everyone. If we actually had a legitimate FS starting it would have been a better outcome.

Rivera did not tell the gang..hey nakamura just stare down Roddy White and let him get behind you..

Players make plays..but not our players last week...apologies to Newton and Charles Johnson and Frank Alexander.

[megadeth078]

I agree with the majority of your post. But I knew nakamura had no business in there before that last drive. The same thing happened on that bomb td pass to white earlier in the game. He had been allowing white to get behind him all game, then falling backwards in front of him allowing the completion and preventing others from making a play on the ball. I fully expect Rivera to handle it the same way he handled Adams. No jersey for nakamura next week.

I'm not sure if putting in a completely unprepared Martin would have been smart.

In hindsight, yeah, but otherwise, I dunno. Next game, he should focus on having his depth prepared as well.