Josh Norman in the doghouse

[ItsPantone278]

The problem here is Rivera would rather bench players rather than coach them up. Benching rookies can really hurt a rookie's confidence. Coaches are supposed to coach up players. That's why they are called "the coach". Norman was good enough to start 10 + games. It's not like he suddenly sucks. If he is giving too much cushion, coach him to play tighter. If he can't choose which route to defend against, coach him to defend the best possible route and stick with it. Instead Rivera takes the easy way out and decides to bench him.

As far as Adams. Rivera benched him way longer than needed. A couple games at the most would've done it. Instead Rivera decides to not even bother coaching him up and keeps him in the doghouse to "set an example".

Another thing I saw Sunday was Armond Smith returning kicks. If Rivera knew Smith was a better option at kick returning, why not activate him weeks ago? Does it take over 10 weeks for him to suddenly decide Armanti isn't the answer and Smith is better? They certainly practice these things.

Finally, the biggest problem people seem to have is Rivera's hypocricy. He talks about benching players not performing to standards and "setting an example" or "wanting to look at the other young players" yet he trods Nakamura out on to the field every Sunday. Rivera is incompetent and lacks the leadership and coaching skills needed to be a head coach in this league.

Not coaching them up? You don't think this kids been getting a ton of coaching? Why make excuses for a guy who isn't getting it done when other guys are coming in his place and getting it done?

Sounds more like he's the problem than the coaches.

[Gucci Mane]

Gucci you are not my mothafukkkkkkkkkkkin ni99@. But you can't do it. I gave you guys and example of his clear cut suckfest in ATL. You are taking the easy way out, I knows Haruki has fuged up plenty, but not more than others who include, Gross, Amini, Hangman, Norman. and most def James Anderson and Beason before IR.

You could take all of those people you just listed's mistakes over the whole season, and it still wouldnt amount to the suckness of one game that is Nakamura.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Rivera continues benching players who don't deserve to be benched.

Exactly, Nakamura should have been cut a long time ago. Yet he benches the better corner we have. Sorry, captain is #2. Norman was playing well.

[ItsPantone278]

Exactly, Nakamura should have been cut a long time ago. Yet he benches the better corner we have. Sorry, captain is #2. Norman was playing well.

Norman had a completion % over 75 the last four games highest by far on the team and one of the highest in the NFL.

[Montsta]

Gucci you are not my mothafukkkkkkkkkkkin ni99@. But you can't do it. I gave you guys and example of his clear cut suckfest in ATL. You are taking the easy way out, I knows Haruki has fuged up plenty, but not more than others who include, Gross, Amini, Hangman, Norman. and most def James Anderson and Beason before IR.

He kind of fugged us against NYG by playing 40 yards deep. But that is also on McDermott. If you don't think your free safety can play free safety at 20 yards away from the LOS, then that FS has no real business being out there.

[Montsta]

And none of us know why Norman was benched. He's a friggin late round rookie we took a flyer on. He's not guaranteed a damn thing. Unless he is balling out, Rivera might just want to see what kind of talent there is at CB on this roster in the next few games because the season is already lost. It could be forward thinking from a coach who could possibly be here next year. If the next guy blows and you lose, no harm no foul. If he kills it or at least shows progress, maybe you reduce Gambles cap number, let Captain walk via FA, put Norman in the slot where he can play man all day, and go from there. It might not be Rivera hating players for the sake of hating them.

[ItsPantone278]

He kind of fugged us against NYG by playing 40 yards deep. But that is also on McDermott. If you don't think your free safety can play free safety at 20 yards away from the LOS, then that FS has no real business being out there.

The depth isn't always referring to the spot the player lines up but the often the depth the player plays at when the play is live. So many of you seem to think the coaches are just controlling these guys like its a video game or something.

[Icege]

From what I've read about Josh Norman, I don't think his confidence is going to be shaken by being on the bench.

I also think that this is an audition for Captain Munnerlyn's replacement.

[Montsta]

The depth isn't always referring to the spot the player lines up but the often the depth the player plays at when the play is live. So many of you seem to think the coaches are just controlling these guys like its a video game or something.

I said it was on McDermott and Nakamura both, because I'm not there at practice, defensive meetings, or looking at sideline photos to determine where the coaches expect him to be at the start of any given play. So no, I don't think the coaches control player position like a video game. I, unlike most folks coaching from their Cheetoh stained sofas, don't pretend to know where every player is expected to line up on every given play. So I spread the blame around to all parties involved. The fact that he has played so far back over multiple stretches makes me wonder if he can't cover at a normal distance, why is he so far back?

[Swaggasaurus]

Exactly, Nakamura should have been cut a long time ago. Yet he benches the better corner we have. Sorry, captain is #2. Norman was playing well.

what the fug are you guys watching! I swear half of you take the opinion of the popular huddle stance and repeat it as your own.

[ItsPantone278]

I said it was on McDermott and Nakamura both, because I'm not there at practice, defensive meetings, or looking at sideline photos to determine where the coaches expect him to be at the start of any given play. So no, I don't think the coaches control player position like a video game. I, unlike most folks coaching from their Cheetoh stained sofas, don't pretend to know where every player is expected to line up on every given play. So I spread the blame around to all parties involved. The fact that he has played so far back over multiple stretches makes me wonder if he can't cover at a normal distance, why is he so far back?

Honestly, I just think the game is a little too fast for him and there is really no telling if he will be able to catch up. He can be at least a situational player now, but Im willing to bet Rivera would've rather played someone else from the start. Turns out Norman just didn't have the chops, now we have to hope he can find a way to work back into the rotation, but I really don't see it.

He seems to have some special talents, but he was thrown into a situation and showed a lot of bad on tape. Lets hope its a Joe Adams situation where he finds his way back on the playing field.

[Vagrant]

I have been saying it for a long time, Josh Norman has too much mouth for how well he plays. I don't like it. Put in the work, put in the history, and then run your mouth as much as you want. He acts like he's already gone to the Pro Bowl with the way he runs his mouth. Every time he gets beat, he gets up looking for somebody else to blame. I can't stand it. Josh Thomas has done twice as well and quietly.

[Thorrez]

Some posters here are just amazing. "Norman played great in the begining of the season so he will always be great and Rivera is an idiot".

It is obvious you do not watch coaches film reruns or check high quality stats like profootballfocus (the payed for type). Norman played a lot better in the beginning of the year. Other teams now has tape on him and can expose his weaknesses. Those are the facts here.

To me the benching is not suprising. He give up couple of completions, has one defended (that might not even be thinks to him but a receiver drop) and he celabrates like he just won the Super Bowl. Confidence is a good thing but he has to much of it compared to the level he is playing at the needs to be remided he is not Champ Bailey.

In the process we get to see if Dockery is worth keeping.

Norman is still a great 5th round pick-up. He can still be coached to be a, I hope, very solid starter at corner. And benching him is a way, in my opinion worth trying, to get him there.

[koolkatluke]

I don't think people are so mad about Norman's benching as they are the hypocrisy of some of RR benching decision. Adams get the dog house for 1 bad game but Naka plays until he gets hurt after having a few bad games. Martin has to kill himself to get playing time for making the same mistakes (last year) that Naka was making this year. Armanti has made 2 catches this season and done nothing on special teams. Gettis (who still has more catches even thoe he has missed almost 2 years) can't get a sniff of playing time.

I know RR says he wants to look at young players. But isn't Gettis young? When is he going to look at him?