We should at least take a hard look at Chip Kelly

[Doc Holiday]

Come on, rayzor. I would think you'd be more optimistic. Getting "stuck with the status quo"? Have more faith, bro. If Rivera is here, I guarantee we'll be in the postseason.

By our record and all appearances, we seemed so far away this past season, but we were surprisingly close to not only the playoffs, but greatness. The experience for Ron and Cam were invaluable, and sets us up for a good luck at playing in January, 2014.

I think Cam grew up a lot this season, and became a much better QB then last year to finish out the season.

that by itself made this season worth watching, my biggest question about Cam going into the season would be to see if he could adjust to the defenses after they have adjusted to him and stated as much before this past season ever began, it was the $100m question.

Cam has answered it with a resounding yes, basically playing like the best QB in the NFL over his final 6 games of the season and getting over his sophomore slump, from here on out Cam is only going to get better and the sky is the limit, and that's what panthers fans should be taking away from this season but many are not.

This season in a way was a huge success just many don't know it.

[Doc Holiday]

Well, it's definitely not going to be "status quo" next year, if for no other reason than we'll have a new GM.

Yeah I think it's pretty much playoffs or bust for Rivera, Honestly if everything works out, like improving the oline and DB's I would say it should be Playoff win or bust.

but half of me is wondering if Ken or Lovie wouldn't be outright upgrades over River, I'm just so so on Kelly.

Kelly is either going to be great in the NFL or fall flat on his Face, and honestly I would rather have Lovie or Ken over him and let someone else see how the Kelly experience goes.

[ElkinPanthersFan]

This is who I want, but it is just a dream for me. Our cozy comfy blanket of mediocrity and along with people thinking it takes 3-5 years for teams to change will be enough noise to keep Rivera around for another wasted year. I didn't want Rivera to begin with and am still not happy with where we are going. Winning meaningless games when we are out of playoff contention shouldn't mean Rivera keeps his job, but sadly it is what we have witnessed for 10+ years in this organization.

Cam has improved greatly, but how far can a defensive coach and an offensive coordinator with mush for brains take Cam's talents?

[beastson]

Im saying what's happening in Washington won't work forever. I can almost guarantee it won't be as successful next year

I don't want our offense to be like that

[Bj-Monster23]

Come on, rayzor. I would think you'd be more optimistic. Getting "stuck with the status quo"? Have more faith, bro. If Rivera is here, I guarantee we'll be in the postseason.

By our record and all appearances, we seemed so far away this past season, but we were surprisingly close to not only the playoffs, but greatness. The experience for Ron and Cam were invaluable, and sets us up for a good luck at playing in January, 2014.

I like the fact that you are being so call optimistic, but guarantee the postseason is crazy.

[Doc Holiday]

This is who I want, but it is just a dream for me. Our cozy comfy blanket of mediocrity and along with people thinking it takes 3-5 years for teams to change will be enough noise to keep Rivera around for another wasted year. I didn't want Rivera to begin with and am still not happy with where we are going. Winning meaningless games when we are out of playoff contention shouldn't mean Rivera keeps his job, but sadly it is what we have witnessed for 10+ years in this organization.

Cam has improved greatly, but how far can a defensive coach and an offensive coordinator with mush for brains take Cam's talents?

Dream person for the Panthers? I'd say hardly

No matter what you think of what he did at Oregon that offense will not fully translate to the NFL, it's not opinion it's just fact, there are many reason why it won't work much of it has to deal with the differences in clock management between the College and Pro game.

So basically you are wanting a guy that's biggest claim to fame is a offense that wont work in the pro's?

now could he run a modified version of it for the pro's and still be a success, yeah but he's going to have to go through a trail and error process before he perfects his offense for the NFL and right now I don't know if that's something we want to be dealing with.

[ElkinPanthersFan]

He coaches at Oregon but I figured you'd know that since you don't prefer his offense. His offense is so terrible that Bill Belichick went to see it and how he runs his practices. It just so happens that NE had more explosive plays in the past few years. http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/10/08/patriots-huddle-relies-power-one/nHTapuVnBOwfFlffwTrN6J/story.html

"A misperception about Kelly, he said, is that he's scheme-specific, with a system that might not translate to the NFL. Kelly's attractiveness to NFL teams is based more on a philosophy of speedy play than his scheme, and he said Wednesday that he adapts to his personnel."

http://articles.philly.com/2013-01-03/sports/36132799_1_nfl-teams-marcus-mariota-kenjon-barner

We have such good clock management already though don't we?

[top dawg]

I think Cam grew up a lot this season, and became a much better QB then last year to finish out the season.

that by itself made this season worth watching, my biggest question about Cam going into the season would be to see if he could adjust to the defenses after they have adjusted to him and stated as much before this past season ever began, it was the $100m question.

Cam has answered it with a resounding yes, basically playing like the best QB in the NFL over his final 6 games of the season and getting over his sophomore slump, from here on out Cam is only going to get better and the sky is the limit, and that's what panthers fans should be taking away from this season but many are not.

This season in a way was a huge success just many don't know it.

I think that it was successful in a way. A "huge success" may be a stretch.

Yes, I do have lingering questions about Cam and Rivera, but I believe that Cam has the tools necessary to be a successful franchise-level QB, and I also believe that Rivera has what it takes to be a successful HC. My main question about Cam is whether he will commit to honing mechanics, and putting in the work in the film room watching opposing defenses, and watching himself to see how he can rise above whatever they throw at him with consistency. My main question about Rivera is, obviously, whether this season has taught him to consistently lead as if the buck stops with him on every play and down. My biggest question is Chud, actually. Does he really know what he is doing? As such, will Ron reel his ass in when he gets too cute for his own good (which speaks to my main question about Ron)?

[rayzor]

I will say it is rather frustrating that JR fired Hurney months ago and wasn't ready to start interviewing GM candidates in Monday. Makes me think he never planned on firing RR but wanted the new GM to "think" they had a say so in keeping RR, but they really didn't.

A lot of times the first team to interview gets the guy...ask Arizona about this.

I don't understand this take your time approach. JR has had months to vet the candidates and I just don't understand the logic.

he couldn't start interviewing or even talking to teams about potential GMs until after the season was over...at least no one that actually had a job with a team anyway.

[AceBoogie]

He coaches at Oregon but I figured you'd know that since you don't prefer his offense. His offense is so terrible that Bill Belichick went to see it and how he runs his practices. It just so happens that NE had more explosive plays in the past few years. http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/10/08/patriots-huddle-relies-power-one/nHTapuVnBOwfFlffwTrN6J/story.html

"A misperception about Kelly, he said, is that he's scheme-specific, with a system that might not translate to the NFL. Kelly's attractiveness to NFL teams is based more on a philosophy of speedy play than his scheme, and he said Wednesday that he adapts to his personnel."

http://articles.philly.com/2013-01-03/sports/36132799_1_nfl-teams-marcus-mariota-kenjon-barner

We have such good clock management already though don't we?

God bless you sir and your intelligence. You can't tell these people nothing. They've gotten used to losing.

[top dawg]

I like the fact that you are being so call optimistic, but guarantee the postseason is crazy.

Well, I wouldn't normally do it, but I liked the growth I saw in Rivera toward the latter half of the season, and, of course, I just can't see myself betting against Cam going "ham" his third year in the league.

I know I may be in the minority, but I do not want Chip Kelly. I've seen "college acts" fail too many times in the NFL, and fail miserably, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

[AceBoogie]

Well, I wouldn't normally do it, but I liked the growth I saw in Rivera toward the latter half of the season, and, of course, I just can't see myself betting against Cam going "ham" his third year in the league.

I know I may be in the minority, but I do not want Chip Kelly. I've seen "college acts" fail too many times in the NFL, and fail miserably, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

That's just it tho we thought we saw that same growth in Ron last season when we finished strong.

The only difference between last season and this one is Sean Peyton. Think about it...

[rayzor]

Come on, rayzor. I would think you'd be more optimistic. Getting "stuck with the status quo"? Have more faith, bro. If Rivera is here, I guarantee we'll be in the postseason.

By our record and all appearances, we seemed so far away this past season, but we were surprisingly close to not only the playoffs, but greatness. The experience for Ron and Cam were invaluable, and sets us up for a good luck at playing in January, 2014.

it's the stautus quo. it's a regime that after two seasons has failed to prove it can even reach .500. it's the status quo.

why be excited about a guy that hasn't gotten us wins yet after two years of trying?

i'm not impressed with his whole body of work as a game and team manager. i'm not impressed with the overall results. i saw a coaching staff that was reluctant to change what it was trying to do until too late and that was making bad decisions at the end of games.

the experience is invaluable only if it produces desired effects, which it hasn't. until rivera actually produces a winning season...not just a winning month...i can't see how anyone can guarantee that he can. the only guarantee i want to see is that if he's here and he can't produce back to back winning seasons starting next year and can't get us into the playoffs that he'll be gone. no excuses. either win or we try to find someone that can.

i'm just tired of losing seasons being so accepted and rationalized.

[Davidson Deac II]

Is Chip Kelly the next Jimmy Johnson, or is he the next Steve Spurrier? It will be interesting to see how it all plays out eventually, but my guess is that Chip will be back in the college ranks in 3-4 years. I doubt we will be in the hunt regardless, unless we hire a GM soon, and Chip Kelly really likes the guy who beat him in the National Championship game.