Regarding Ron Rivera...why would next year be any different?

[NanuqoftheNorth]

Based on what we have seen so far after two years:

If you are looking for someone with fair to bad game time decision making capabilities, Ron's your man.

If you aren't particularly concerned with offensive performance for 6-8 games at a stretch, Ron's your man.

If you are a traditionalist at heart and long for the good old days of 500 Fox ball, Ron's your man.

If you enjoy watching a team overestimate itself against weak competition like Kansas City, Ron's your man.

If you catch yourself fondly reminiscing about our slow starts out-the-gate these last two years, Ron's your man.

If you find that the anticipation of the Panthers partaking in playoff games is just too stressful to handle during the holidays, Ron's your man.

[Kevin Greene]

The Steelers are perennial contenders who had a lousy season largely because Cowher's mind was on retirement. The Packers were also pretty good too but had a crappy 2005. I'll give you that the Saints had a miraculous turnaround with the addition of Payton and Brees, but that's not the norm.

I don't want Newton having to start from scratch in a new system just as he's hitting his stride in this one.

Wait, what?

Can you provide a link so I can read up on this?

Quite an interesting opinion.

[Rags]

Maybe I'm overstating it, but the team has talent. I don't think Hurney was the issue.

huh

well

Let's look at that, shall we

Since 2007, we've drafted 49 players, out of those players, only 24 are still on the team, and of those 24. 24! That's a really small number.And only 14 of them have started more than 3 games this season, with mixed results from them.

[Mr. Scot]

This thread is definite "reset button" mentality.

I'm not necessarily sold on the notion that Rivera is 'the man', though I do think he's showing improvement now. I'm less sold, however, on the idea that if we haven't built a perennial contender in two years, we need to jettison the coaching staff and start over.

That's the Raider way of doing business. It's not how you build a successful team.

[carolina-chuck]

There's a lot of talk that Ron Rivera has shown enough in the past few games to warrant keeping his job one more year. Granted, the team is playing well right now. A three game winning streak is nothing to sneeze at. But why should we think 2013 is going to go any different than 2012 or 2011?

The 2011 and 2012 seasons are mirror images of each other in terms of team performance. In 2011 the team lost a lot of close games early in the season (many due to defensive meltdowns) but finished strong by feasting on a weak schedule late in the year. 2012 is shaping up to finish the same way. The 2012 team lost a lot of close games, and several due to defensive meltdowns. Both teams beat a playoff contender late in the year (Houston in 2011, Atlanta in 2012). Only way it could change is if the Panthers manage to scrape together a win against the Saints in the Superdome.

Why, after two seasons of the exact same trends, should we as fans think that the team will perform any different next year? Because Cam will be a year older/more mature and have another year in the system? Because a new GM is going to bring in better talent than Hurney did? Because Ron Rivera took a long time to figure out how to win as an NFL head coach and the third years the charm? I'd love to be wrong but I just see 2013 being the same as 2012 and 2011 if Ron Rivera stays...why should we think anything will change?

tl;dr - If Ron Rivera remains HC of the Panthers in 2013, why should we as fans expect the results to be any different than the previous two seasons. What would change?

Agree with everything you said. I think most fans feel the same. Its really hard to think that anything would change. Its been the same thing the last two season; same ole crap.

"Why should we as fans expect the results to be any different than the previous two seasons. What would change?" If we use to Free Agency and Draft wisely to fill our needs a DT, FS, CB, WR, and RG.

[grateflday]

if the choice is a cooridinator or college coach then I will stick with Rivera for another year....... if its a former winning NFL HC, I will go with that.

[Bj-Monster23]

I don't trust a Ron Rivera team. If the Raiders had a real QB we probably would have got blown out. That's a scary though if you ask me.

[Actionman0z]

I think people believe we can just stick our existing players in a completely new system and they'll absorb and adapt to it immediately.

It's generally not that easy.

This is the reason why I think another year with Rivera given the players on the team would be a better move than not. But if we start dumping players for other players I think a new coach is needed. I think its easier to keep him, but better to let him go (in the long run).

Players sure like playing for him, but that did not save Fox.

[CardiacCats]

We'll go 8-8 at best

[rodeo]

I haven't seen anything thus far that makes me think Rivera can coach anything but a mediocre team.

[Ivan The Awesome]

Pending on this next game, if he wins. For me personally, I'd say give him one more year. See if he's learned anything from this past season. See if he actually gets people ready for the SEASON'S start! Instead of getting it during the middle of the season.

Getting a new coach will bring in new schemes, new systems. That's what I'd hate to do, hitting the reset button and having Cam start from scratch all over again. I'm not doubting Cam's abilities to learn a new system. I'd just like to see if Cam can do much much more now with basically 2 1/2 years in the same system. First year doesn't count, no offseason at all. No mini Camp, etc. That's another thing people forget about and don't want to cut Rivera some slack for that. Most will be quick to point out that Harbaugh had the same adversities as Rivera and got their team ready. Honestly the 49ers had a very talented team to begin with and their Defense carried them to the playoffs. Ours not so much, too many injuries and new scheme and all that.

I'm willing to give Rivera one more year, it's playoffs or bust though.

[Cape Fear Cat]

To me, I lean toward giving him a chance because

a) Last season was the first for everybody, plus I don't thin our personnel was as good last year.

B) 2011: 18 players on IR

c) 2012: see (B) above

d) Team seems to be gelling well now

e) Coaches have a learning curve too

f) JR has always given his HCs three seasons to get it right. I don't see him doing differently now

g) New GM should be able to help with talent and keeping organization (coaches, players, etc.) on point

[Cape Fear Cat]

What's up witht eh smilies when I type a "b"?

[toldozer]

PEOPLE LEARN!!!! Players can improve, but coaches cant? Beat the saints and stay, lose and go. Simple as that Ron.