33 replies to this topic

[Rubi]

Whether it was due to the Hurney firing (which it probably was)...or some other factor.....the past couple of weeks there has been a major attitude adjustment with this team. I've stated in some other threads but the emotion and intensity has been taken to another level. Its being reported guys are staying late to get more work in...showing up on off days to work...I mean this is what it takes in order to change the culture....

The DLine has been lights out in terms of getting after the QB...what 10+ sacks the past 2 weeks? Thomas Davis continues to lay lumber on opposing players...Kuechly has been the x factor in changing our defensive play...Norman talks the talk and walks the walk up to this point...hell even Rivera is finally not scared to cuss out Captain on the sideline....

Being that we are 2-6...I think the important thing the rest of the way is to build and to continue creating this identity because frankly there has been nothing up to this point but a bunch of soft trickery confusion offense...time to pop some fools in the chin...send some QB's flying into the crowd...Defense lead the way...all the way

[SIGCHI222]

Amen, Rubi.
Norman pointing at the scoreboard to RG3, Keek loosing it at the end of the game, Kraken kicking ass, Big Money coming through, Frank the Tank pushing guys all over the place, my boy Dwan collapsing the middle, TD knocking guys the fu(k out.
I never thought this team would be defined by the D this year, but there you have it. I am hoping the offense has a similar turnaround starting this week.
I'll say it again, I know it takes 53 men, but Luke Kuechly (at least to me) is changing this team into something different than it was before he went into the middle.

[Beast_3000]

I agree and I am so glad the read option isn't the basis of our run offense anymore. If they can work in some more pro offense style run plays and play action pass plays along with bootleg pass plays we should really see our offense start to hold their own too.

[carolina-chuck]

Good to know what our identity is. It's finally showing. Should've played with this identity in the beginning of the season. It's too late to try making a run at anything this time.

I can finally see the identity now. Love the hard nosed Defense.

[rayzor]

finally making he change from "bend, don't break" to "smash, kill, destroy"

i hate "i told you so's"m even from myself, but i told people i felt like rivera would turn the defense around the way that the offense turned around last year and early on people tried to rub it in my face. that kind of thing doesn't bother me at all because 1) i'm used to being wrong so it's not that big of a deal and 2) it's just a message board. anyway......i feel like that's happening. they are becoming the defense i thought they could.

i just wasn't counting on the offense regressing the way it has, but i think it's just a matter of playcalling and confidence, both of which i see turning around. i think that they will be closer to what they were last year personality-wise.

having both offense and defense clicking at the same time and a weak schedule could result in a winning record this year o at the very least improved over last year, which is really all i want....just being better than last year.

[Mr. Scot]

I've started to wonder whether Rivera didn't have the ability to truly motivate guys while Hurney was here.

Perhaps guys knew they could run crying to Hurney and/or Richardson, but Hurney's firing changed that.

It's all theory, of course, but it kind of makes sense.

[beach]

Great post

We are starting to gain the tenacious edge on defense with an offense hopefully learning to be smarter.

[Dxterity]

Dynamic offense with a scrappy defense that gets in your face and can get to the QB.

[megadeth078]

Anybody starting to think it was Hurney that had too much control of the team and not Jerry?

Why else would a GM be fired during the season?

[iamhubby1]

IMO, it all started during the Seabird game. And has been getting better by the week. Hellz, even Nakamura was at the LOS a bunch last week. That is aggressive in my book.

That is what has changed. Rivera has finally pulled the brake pedal out. It is full bore all the way baby. Now get the O to improve by the week and we are back to being scary. Very scary.

Winning on the road was big. Even if it was the skins. Beating Denver this week will put the league back on notice. We may not make the playoffs. But no one will underestimate us.

And GOOOO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[il Malocchio]

Isnt this why Rivera was brought in? The man got Chicago to a top defensive unit, and turned SDs D from worst to first in 2 years....

Love havin a scary defense, I know its still early but dammit, Im assumin a little consistency, buildin each week on the last. Let our defense get better, let Cam & Co enjoy their time on the side, might give them a boost knowin the other side of the ball got their backs....

Not even thinkin playoffs, but in the words of the late, great... "Just win, baby..."

[Sword]

Perhaps players just thought they had to do just enough and they could get a big paycheck from Hurney..Now that is thrown for a loop they actually have to live up to some sort of expectations.

[Cline]

Perhaps players just thought they had to do just enough and they could get a big paycheck from Hurney..Now that is thrown for a loop they actually have to live up to some sort of expectations.

I'm going with this one.

[GRWatcher]

Rivera finally is getting this team to what he wanted from the first time he stepped off the plane in Charlotte. Smash mouth, lunch pail carrying, don't stop until the scoreboard shows 0:00 time left. Darn, even the O-line is smashing.

I love it, my kind of football. Keep it going!

[csx]

It's interesting how one win can completely change peoples attitudes toward the team. The days leading up to the Redsins game the attitude was as negative as towards every aspect of this team as I have ever seen. Now people aren't calling for every coaches head in every thread and instead of discussing the top draft pick are referring to playoff runs.

I think that is the definition of manic.