Per ESPN: Rivera says Cam and Luke "have to be perfect"

[Mr. Scot]

Well now we know why this team plays the way they do.  If those who coach this team, only want to put endless pressure on Cam and Luke to "be perfect" and not demand more from the team, guess what you will get? 

 

If you haven't played, I doubt you can really understand.

 

Win or lose, it's the feeling of the game that defines these guys.  Listen to the Hall of Famers when they tell their stories in Canton.  Their favorite stories quite often tend to be about their toughest competition.

 

For a competitor, facing a worthy opponent is the biggest adrenaline rush you can experience.

 

Heck, I'm ready to go hit a blocking sled just talking about it.

 

(I'd regret it later)

[FootballMaestro]

I think Rivera was referencing that Cam use his legs and whatever mean possible to move the chain. Brady can only throw the football.

 

If this is true, and I didn't read the article yet, why does it seem Shula and Rivera, and the Panthers on a whole (when you really think about it--judging by recent activities) always appear to let the media dictate to them?

 

 

IF they didn't have Cam running around like a chicken the previous three weeks. Don't have him doing it now.

 

The guy is throwing the ball well. So why don't he, Shula, and McDermott, scheme and coach up the rest of the players and plays to do better?

[KendrickPanther]

U're kidding right? 

 

Wow!!! Working Cam like a horse is the same in your mind, as the situation of those other QBs. Amazing how some of you folks think.

 

I have no idea what you are trying to say and I don't think you have any idea what I am trying to say. I have no idea how you got to the horse analogy. I don't even.

[KendrickPanther]

My problem with the quote has nothing to do with Cam or Luke. It's that it removes responsibility from everyone else.

If everyone else is waiting around for those 2 to save the day, we're in trouble. That's why I think it was an ill-advised thing to say.

 

Well it's a quote. The media only reports juicy quotes. I'm sure all 53 guys are held accountable. The only reason this is news is because Cam and Luke are high profile.

[Mr. Scot]

Well it's a quote. The media only reports juicy quotes. I'm sure all 53 guys are held accountable. The only reason this is news is because Cam and Luke are high profile.

 

Pertinent excerpts from the linked article...

 

 

“And I wouldn’t say called out is the right word," Rivera said on Wednesday. “I put their numbers up and explained who they are to us; these are the guys we need to play well, to do the things we need to give us an opportunity to win.

“We know who our guys are, and these guys have to know we’re counting on them. It’s important. It’s about being held accountable."

Rivera said he also took responsibility for Carolina (2-2) losing its last two games to Pittsburgh and Baltimore by a combined 75-29 after beginning the season with victories over Tampa Bay and Detroit.

But Rivera, a former Chicago Bears linebacker, understands winning begins with players. And he wanted his best to know they have to raise their performance, beginning with Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against the Bears.

 

Not that either Newton nor Kuechly has played poorly. Newton is ahead of his career completion percentage at 63.8 and hasn’t thrown an interception despite being limited as a runner while recovering from offseason ankle surgery and fractured ribs suffered in August.

Kuechly, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, leads the team with 43 tackles.

But Rivera wants more.

 

“When we’re in certain situations, circumstances, make a play, come through, do something extraordinary," Rivera said. “And they’re capable of that. We know that. We can’t make mistakes. They’re the guys that have to be perfect. I did that to let them know I believe in them."

As an example, Rivera cited the interception Kuechly didn’t make late in the first half with the Panthers trailing 21-7. Had Kuechly come down with the ball, he could have scored and given Carolina momentum going into halftime.

“It’s an opportunity that he had," Rivera said. “He could have made the play."

Rivera didn’t say so, but he likely pointed to the sack Newton took on the game’s first series that took Carolina out of field goal position. Or the snap Newton missed with the Panthers in scoring position early in the third quarter.

“We have to be ready at the right time to make those plays," Rivera said.

 

This is what a coach does.  It's the same kind of thing I heard out of every coach I had from peewee on up. 

 

And these guys are professionals, not kids, not high schoolers, not even college students.  Professional football players.

 

If what he's saying here is too much for them, they're probably in the wrong business.

[teeray]

Spoken like a true taskmaster. Only seeing strapping and talented young men like Cam as workhorses for your weak ass team.

I sometime feels like I am transported back into history when I read some of the postings on this site. some folks will never chance.

I am sure the concern about what Rivera said is more to Luke than Cam. I am sure if Rivera had said that only Cam need to be perfect, no one would have a problem with that.

I don't think that is what Rivera is saying.

I think he is just challengig them to be even better. Pushing them to new heights.

[PhillyB]

pretty sure rivera wasn't releasing 51 other players to bump dicks instead of playing well

[teeray]

My problem with the quote has nothing to do with Cam or Luke. It's that it removes responsibility from everyone else.

If everyone else is waiting around for those 2 to save the day, we're in trouble. That's why I think it was an ill-advised thing to say.

Not necessarily.

When I was in high school my basketball coach once while watching tape with the team started getting on me over and over again.

I had scored 20+ points that game. Eventually I got a little pissy about it and he threw me out.

After that film session he was actually driving me to an university for a recruiting trip.

I brought it up in the car and he said to me, "Look, you are the best player on the team. When I yell at you everyone listens. If I am asking you to do more than everyone on the team knows they need to do more too."

Then he added "Plus I know you can take it"

He may have been blowing smoke up my ass, but I always trusted him and so I never really questioned him or his methods again

[Marguide]

Well it's a quote. The media only reports juicy quotes. I'm sure all 53 guys are held accountable. The only reason this is news is because Cam and Luke are high profile.

I read the whole article before commenting.

Cam and Luke are extremely motivated individuals. They can handle whatever the coaches throw at them. But I don't want everyone else waiting for them to make a play.

As important as those two are, this isn't the NBA. We need all 53 playing ad well as their talents allow.

[Guild]

pretty sure rivera wasn't releasing 51 other players to bump dicks instead of playing well

 

This is the 21st century.  What they do on their own time is their business.

[Mr. Scot]

I read the whole article before commenting.

Cam and Luke are extremely motivated individuals. They can handle whatever the coaches throw at them. But I don't want everyone else waiting for them to make a play.

As important as those two are, this isn't the NBA. We need all 53 playing ad well as their talents allow.

 

They're also leaders.

 

Neither of them is gonna accept someone else half-assing it while they're busting their butts.

 

[KendrickPanther]

I still don't think most of you get it. Everyone is held accountable, the only reason this is a story is because the media wanted it to be. There has been tons of analysis of a few words Ron spit out in a Wednesday press conference. Everyone is accountable, not just Cam and Luke.

[Mr. Scot]

I still don't think most of you get it. Everyone is held accountable, the only reason this is a story is because the media wanted it to be. There has been tons of analysis of a few words Ron spit out in a Wednesday press conference. Everyone is accountable, not just Cam and Luke.

 

It's fairly common to see a leader single out some of the best people on his team and say "I'm looking to you".

 

The rest of the team knows if those guys are getting a hard look, then they're under scrutiny too.

[Ruff]

pretty sure rivera wasn't releasing 51 other players to bump dicks instead of playing well

 

don't ask don't tell?