Coaching is the Key to Success in 2013

[iamhubby1]

I respect what you're saying and all. But you really wanna stand by what you're saying. The list is too endless (not that we all remember everything anyway) of Rivera mistakes continuing into 2012. 

 

Where do you want us to start?

 

1) Both Chud and Rivera, admitted that they cooked up more read option during the summer of 2012, before the season even started. And it took the threat of Rivera losing his job, before any changes were made? Where was the adaptation and progress there?

 

2) Where was Rivera's second half adjustments in the Chicago, the first Atlanta, Dallas, 2nd Tampa Bay game, etc..? This was all during his second season, and we're not even warmed up yet?

 

3) What about Rivera's half time blunders against Chicago, and some other games, with the clock, timeouts or his FG decisions?

 

4) Even during the second half of the season, when the Panthers were 'playing well', Rivera still showed passiveness, by always slowing down the offense anytime the Panthers had a 14 pt lead, even during the second Qtr's of games. This is one of the reasons, why the Panthers were always in close games, combined with the fact the defense couldn't hold any leads. 

 

5) Where were the Panthers half time adjustments on both offense and defense, when both units seemingly were stifled for large swathes, and couldn't stop the other team. 

 

I think the jury is still out on Rivera. And at best, maybe he's learned a little??

 

Beating scrubs at the end of last season, when the season was already decided is not a proper barometer.  The real question will be: What decisions will Rivera make when they're pressure and expectations during the portion of the season that counts??

 

Ask yourself this question. Do you honestly believe, the Panthers would have the horrendous record they do in close games--the past two years with a legitimate (I'm not even saying good or great, just competent) head coach???????

 

My hope, is that the presence of Gettleman, and a non stop offense, will solve that question and dilemma. 

 

We'll see?

Suffice it to say. I see an extremely bright future ahead for this team. That includes Rivera.

I will say NO COACH can plan for all the weird poo that went down last year. It is mind boggling that we had the ability to come up with new ways to lose. How do you gameplan against karma, fate, or just plain ol' bad luck?

Pre Luke. Rivera was off his game. Playing to protect his Defense took away from his aggressiveness.

Post Luke. Rivera can now be who he wants to be. He can trust his team. He can make decisions with his brain and his guts. Free from the shackles that bound him.

He looked like a head coach down the stretch. The team played like a well coached team. What happened? They started winning. Coinky dinky. Me thinks not!

To me, the future is too bright to worry over the past.

[SCP]

This Kugbilla injury pisses me off. A 4th rounder from DII should not be missing time in OTAs. It's a sign of softness a la Otah.

[philp]

I cannot disagree with this at all. I've been saying it the last two seasons.

Rivera is our make or break factor for this team in 2013. No more pansy ass football!!!!

Jumping to premature conclusions already are we?

 

Possibly.  But what do I know?  

[Tarheels23]

The decision not to kick a FG before the half in the Chicago game was just plain crazy. 

 

Also him being too much of a pussy to get Chud in line and take back his team really bothered the poo out of me.

[ladypanther]

This is another one of those areas where perception means a lot.

If you are in the camp that believes Rivera will never get it. Then no one, or nothing said, will change that opinion.

If you feel coaches, like players, can grow. Then you are probably hopeful that improvement is going to continue.

I am of the mind that Rivera has improved each year. He doesn't make the same mistake twice. Third years the charm. The players love him, and we looked like a pretty good team down the stretch. I am all in on Rivera.

This is the best Panther team we have had in quite a while. If Rivera can stay out of his own way. We should have a really good year.

 

 

 

Gettleman said (in his opening press conf I think) that his job was to make everyone better.  There was something about the way he emphasized everyone it made me think he meant Rivera.  Bet they have watched tons of film together.

 

Wouldn't it be great if Gettleman was just what Rivera needed?  I am sure Hurney had nothing to offer.

 

I respect what you're saying and all. But you really wanna stand by this?

 

The list is too endless (not that we all remember everything anyway) of Rivera mistakes continuing into 2012. 

 

Where do you want us to start?

 

1) Both Chud and Rivera, admitted that they cooked up more read option during the summer of 2012, before the season even started. And it took the threat of Rivera losing his job, before any changes were made? Why would any coach try to extend the read option, when/where Cam, and the rest of the team had so much success out of pro-sets?? Where was the adaptation and progress there? Remember, Rivera signed off on this. 

 

2) Where was Rivera's second half adjustments in the Chicago, the first Atlanta, Dallas, 2nd Tampa Bay game, etc..? This was all during his second season, and we're not even warmed up yet?

 

3) What about Rivera's half time blunders against Chicago, and some other games, regarding the clock, timeouts or his FG decisions? I'm sure others here can elaborate, if they wanted. 

 

4) Even during the second half of the season, when the Panthers were 'playing well', Rivera still showed passiveness, by always slowing down the offense anytime the Panthers had a 14 pt lead, even during the second Qtr's of games. This is one of the reasons, why the Panthers were always in close games, combined with the fact the defense couldn't hold any leads (remember, the 'Prevent', 'Bend but Always Broken' Defense? 

 

5) Where were the Panthers half time adjustments on both offense and defense, when both units seemingly were stifled for large swathes, and couldn't stop the other team. The list is truly endless. And I think most honest, close Panther observers noticed these things as well.

 

6) Special teams continued to be atrocious 2 years running. Where was the improvement? Unless you have proven Special Teams Coaches--like Chicago and the Jets had. Historically, I find Special Teams is usually a reflection of the Head Coach, and/or his managerial skills. 

 

 

I think the jury is still out on Rivera. And at best, maybe he's learned a little?? We hope so. 

 

Beating scrubs at the end of last season, when the season was already decided is not a proper barometer.  The real question will be: What decisions will Rivera make when they're pressure and expectations during the portion of the season that counts??

 

Ask yourself this question. Do you honestly believe, the Panthers would have the horrendous record they do in close games--the past two years with a legitimate (I'm not even saying good or great, just competent) head coach???????.....I don't think so. And this is with the Panther players (as you pointed out), 'Playing Hard For Him'. Can you imagine how bad the overall Panther and close game record would be if they didn't??? Of course, the flip side is; you could always say, how much better their record would be, if Rivera actually knew what he was doing. Lol

 

My hope, is that the presence of Gettleman, and a constantly aggressive offense, will solve that question and dilemma. 

 

We'll see?

 

 

Beats Foxy going passive with  3 point lead.

 

 

[iamhubby1]

Gettleman said (in his opening press conf I think) that his job was to make everyone better.  There was something about the way he emphasized everyone it made me think he meant Rivera.  Bet they have watched tons of film together.

Oh yeah, the relationship between Rivera and Gettlemen is largely unknown outside the inner circle. I just have to believe that both these guys are Football guys. I am sure they chat it up big time. Picking each others brains can only make us better. I can live with that.

Thank you for giving me another reason to be excited over the coming season. I didn't really given this much thought until now. But it can go a long way in either building us up. Or tearing us apart. Seems to be on good footing at the moment.

[FootballMaestro]

Gettleman said (in his opening press conf I think) that his job was to make everyone better.  There was something about the way he emphasized everyone it made me think he meant Rivera.  Bet they have watched tons of film together.

 

Wouldn't it be great if Gettleman was just what Rivera needed?  I am sure Hurney had nothing to offer.

 

 

 

Beats Foxy going passive with  3 point lead.

 

Agreed. 

 

I been saying for a while, that I think Gettlemen can/will make Rivera better. 

 

There's no way Gettlemen looks at that film, and doesn't see Rivera as a glaring weakness/project on the team, even more so than the players. And I really think Gettlemen can help Rivera as well, if Chico's willing to listen.

 

G-Man knows what it takes to win in 2013. And as an observer, he can see what Rivera doesn't see, and what his assistants are afraid to tell him. So this can work out well (we hope) for both. 

 

And the simplest thing Gettleman could teach/reinforce to Rivera for starters, is to not slow down the offense with a lead, especially early in a game. Hopefully, Gettlemen won't stand for this. All the other stuff, and nuances can/will come with time. 

 

Of course, if this does happen, many of Rivera's biggest supporters here, will think he had an epiphany, when the reality is Gettlemen helped give Ronnie that push he needed!

 

We'll see?

[frash.exe]

This Kugbilla injury pisses me off. A 4th rounder from DII should not be missing time in OTAs. It's a sign of softness a la Otah.

Even if it ends up being true, at least this time it will be a forgettable 4th round pick and not some lard ass we traded a poo ton to get back into the first round to pick who gets a charley horse and sits out the rest of december

[CRA]

This Kugbilla injury pisses me off. A 4th rounder from DII should not be missing time in OTAs. It's a sign of softness a la Otah.

The downside of Hogmolies...

Otah may of realistically just been smart. Yeah, he could of been "tough" for us....and he also could of been out of football and a physical trainwreck by the age of 30. Human body isn't suppose to carry all that weight and go through what these guys do....

[TheRumGone]

The downside of Hogmolies...

Otah may of realistically just been smart. Yeah, he could of been "tough" for us....and he also could of been out of football and a physical trainwreck by the age of 30. Human body isn't suppose to carry all that weight and go through what these guys do....

 

The downside of any player playing in the NFL. He just tweaked something, he's gonna be fine.

 

And i really can't believe we have Otah comparisons popping up right now. Jesus Christ.

[MHS831]

 

 

PS: Not sure if JJ appreciated you publicizing this e-mail, or the extent of you're relationship with him? However, you may want to re-consider things like this in the future, unless he or you really don't care, about any potential fall out. 

Yeah, I considered that, and he does not know me at all.  I even told him that we on the Huddlle were wondering why Kugbila,...., so he was aware.

 

I remember that Richardson seemed a bit rude toward Darrin Gantt at the famous "pie chart" presser, and how he was reassigned to cover industrial league softball in SC shortly afterwards.  They replaced him with Person....Fear of truthfully answering a question about the Panthers may be justified, but I do not think there are many out there who would not support JJ on this one.

[MHS831]

 

 

Also him being too much of a pussy to get Chud in line and take back his team really bothered the poo out of me.

This comment was very interesting.  I had the same thought.  However, let me throw another perspective at you that does not contradict this as much as it probably explains it-tell me what you think:

 

Rivera was focused on defense (McDermott) and has limited knowledge of the offense.  Chud and Cam had a good 2011, and Chud did not get the head coaching job he wanted, so Rivera spent the 2012 preseason focused on the bottom-dwelling Defense. 

 

However, there is an underlying issue that I wondered about.  Why, as a rookie head coach, would you surround yourself with young and somewhat inexperienced assistant coaches?  My theory:  He did not want people under him who were threatening to his authority.   However Chud developed an offense Rivera did not understand enough to regulate.  Just a theory, but I have seen this dynamic on a much lesser degree (high school), where the OC is the only one who knows the system as a whole.

 

That is where Rivera lost it. I have never heard a head coach say, "I am going to work with the defense...." etc.  To me, not only does that skew your focus, it allows the OC to go rogue.  In addition, you diminish the credibilty of the DC.  Why hire McDermott if you are going to have to oversee his defense?

 

Rivera should have taken the reins and did not.  He lost the team by turning his back on the offense,

[panthers55]

I  agree with those saying RIvera needs to get better.  Everyone on the team needs to get better.  Anyone who has watched football for any amount of time also knows that great coaching can make players and teams better. On the other hand players can make a coach look better than he is or worse. It is really a synergy between everyone that makes things succeed or fail.

 

It takes a whole team to be successful which includes the coaches, support personnel, GM, owner, etc.  Most of these discussions blaming one side of the ball or one person are shortsighted at best. 

[panthers55]

This comment was very interesting.  I had the same thought.  However, let me throw another perspective at you that does not contradict this as much as it probably explains it-tell me what you think:

 

Rivera was focused on defense (McDermott) and has limited knowledge of the offense.  Chud and Cam had a good 2011, and Chud did not get the head coaching job he wanted, so Rivera spent the 2012 preseason focused on the bottom-dwelling Defense. 

 

However, there is an underlying issue that I wondered about.  Why, as a rookie head coach, would you surround yourself with young and somewhat inexperienced assistant coaches?  My theory:  He did not want people under him who were threatening to his authority.   However Chud developed an offense Rivera did not understand enough to regulate.  Just a theory, but I have seen this dynamic on a much lesser degree (high school), where the OC is the only one who knows the system as a whole.

 

That is where Rivera lost it. I have never heard a head coach say, "I am going to work with the defense...." etc.  To me, not only does that skew your focus, it allows the OC to go rogue.  In addition, you diminish the credibilty of the DC.  Why hire McDermott if you are going to have to oversee his defense?

 

Rivera should have taken the reins and did not.  He lost the team by turning his back on the offense,

By all accounts Chud did a great job his first year and until at least the bye it was unclear what was wrong the second year.  Chud was universally hailed as a great coordinator so who would he throw that out in year 2 right away. 

I agree Rivera is a defensive coach but the idea that he doesn't know offense is pretty naive. What do you think defensive coordinators do all day preparing their defense for the next game.  Yeah that would be breaking down offenses to find their weaknesses and way to exploit them.  You really think that you can consistently build number 1 defenses without an intricate and detailed knowledge of every offensive system.  Rivera knows a lot about offenses.  You whole idea that Rivera had no clue is ridiculous. He knew what Chud was doing and approved it, I am sure. He was obviously wrong but mess happens.  Hopefully he learned from it.