The word in question: "Balance" :sosp:
Regarding the offense, he said that he wants to have "a balanced attack". Now, folks hearing that might automatically assume he means an even run-pass ratio, but that's not really what he's talking about when you listen further.
Explaining the concept of balance, Rivera said that by balance he meant, "when you have to throw it, you will throw it; when you have to run it, you have to run it, but you choose to."
So what does that mean?
It means he doesn't like being dictated to :smash:
Rivera spoke at length about wanting to have an attacking, aggressive style on both defense and offense. Thus, what he's looking for on both sides of the ball is for our team to always control the game, set the pace, and force the other team to be the ones that have to react and adapt.
So let's say, for example, that we're facing a team that's strong against the run but vulnerable to the pass. That is one of those situations where you "have to pass". On the flipside, say you're facing a small, speedy defense that defends well against the pass but is weak against the run. That's when you "have to run". Facing someone that's solid overall? Out-execute them. Hit them with something they don't expect and make them play your game, because that's what you choose.
Ah, but how can you do all those things?
That's where "balance' comes in :thumbsup:
What Rivera wants is a Panthers team that's adaptable and capable of running whatever kind of game plan will work best against their opponent. A team that can power run, air-it-out, razzle-dazzle, whatever's needed.
John Fox wanted balance too, sort of. His primary focus was on the run game, and the passing game was only there to keep defenses honest. It's an approach that can work, but it malso meant that teams preparing to face the Panthers pretty much always knew what to expect. Rivera won't operate that way. He wants teams coming into Charlotte with no idea what we're gonna hit them with (and thus, no set answers).
If that "pick your poison" approach sounds familiar to you, it should. That's how New England likes to operate. Rivera wants the Panthers to work that way too. Make no mistake, that's not an easy thing to put together. You have to have the right players to do it, guys that can learn and execute whatever you tell them to. It'll take some roster tweaking before we're at that level, but that's what Rivera has in mind when he talks about sitting down with Hurney and his people and hashing things out.
Bottom Line: No more sitting back and reacting on either side of the ball.
We're going on the attack :boxing_smiley:
Edited by Mr Scot, 11 January 2011 - 09:52 PM.
