Jo-Juh-Jo-Juh-Jo-Juh-Josh Norman

[frash.exe]

Out of treeface Ron's doghouse

Coach Ron Rivera praised CB Josh Norman, saying "He's come a long way from Day 1."

Norman (6-foot, 195) has been a training camp superstar since being drafted in 2012, but he'd never been able to translate it to games. It's coming together in 2014, as Norman is a top-27 corner at Pro Football Focus since taking over as a full-time player in Week 8. Quarterbacks have a 49.6 passer rating throwing at Norman the past four games. He's a building block in Carolina's secondary. Nov 26 - 9:58 AM

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/7593/josh-norman

[Cary Kollins]

I guess he stopped shulping Ron's daughters.

[DatsMyQuarterback]

Dat new haircut doe...?

I think he has 1 of those speed strips from Mario Kart on top of his head

[bigdog10]

One can only think what type of player Norman would be by now if Rivera was a competent head coach.

 

Norman is going to make mistakes.  He is aggressive and that will lead to mistakes and big plays.

 

Had he been given the chance a year or two, he likely would have really been able to refine his game and be a much more developed pro.

[Mother Grabber]

RR is a very competent defensive coach.

[csx]

One can only think what type of player Norman would be by now if Rivera was a competent head coach.

 

Norman is going to make mistakes.  He is aggressive and that will lead to mistakes and big plays.

 

Had he been given the chance a year or two, he likely would have really been able to refine his game and be a much more developed pro.

 

Or just maybe Rivera has helped him develop from a small school prospect in to a quality young player. I realize it is fashionable to put down Rivera at every given opportunity but that doesn't allow for any realistic and likely middle ground.

[Mr. Scot]

RR is a very competent defensive coach.

When it comes to Xs and Os, yes.

When it comes to setting a depth chart and deciding who's the best player...well

[Udogg]

One can only think what type of player Norman would be by now if Rivera was a competent head coach.

 

Norman is going to make mistakes.  He is aggressive and that will lead to mistakes and big plays.

 

Had he been given the chance a year or two, he likely would have really been able to refine his game and be a much more developed pro.

 

 

CB is a confidence thing.  He lost his confidence after all the bad mistakes and getting burned.   The defense was dominant last year, why put him out there if he wasn't ready? 

 

I think he has progressed fine under RR.  Talent has never been an issue, mentally he just hasn't been ready.  In TC he was a superstar ..in games he looked loss.  This is the first time his TC play has translated to the field on a consistent basis.  You can blame RR for a lot of things,  putting Godfrey at CB,  Nakumura, etc.. but I don't think Josh was Rivera thing, it was a Josh thing.

[csx]

When it comes to Xs and Os, yes.

When it comes to setting a depth chart and deciding who's the best player...well

 

Clearly the online personnel gurus here are more knowledgeable in that regard. 

[PantherBoy95]

RR is a very competent defensive coach.

 

You know it was an obvious statement last year.... but this may be one of the worst defenses I can remember in recent memory.

[Mr. Scot]

Clearly the online personnel gurus here are more knowledgeable in that regard.

It's more a case of just looking at results.

How many guys that Rivera praised (Sione Fua, Legedu Naanee, Charles Godfrey, Byron Bell, Nate Chandler, etc) are either out of a job or playing poorly right now?

On the flip side Josh Norman, who was kept on the bench, suddenly looks pretty good?

[Mother Grabber]

You know it was an obvious statement last year.... but this may be one of the worst defenses I can remember in recent memory.

 

he's proven it throughout his career, for multiple teams.  This year is the anomaly.

[OneBadCat]

How much longer is his contract? I think we need to consider an extension. Would hate to have to pay him big money eventually with Cam and Luke coming up.

[Mother Grabber]

It's more a case of just looking at results.

How many guys that Rivera praised (Sione Fua, Legedu Naanee, Charles Godfrey, Byron Bell, Nate Chandler, etc) are either out of a job or playing poorly right now?

On the flip side Josh Norman, who was kept on the bench, suddenly looks pretty good?

 

coach speak should always be taken with a ton or two of salt, however, so praise for weak players doesn't necessarily mean he really thinks that.

 

we also don't know the reason why Norman was on the bench.  was it disciplinary on the field (being where he's supposed to be), was it disciplinary off the field (banging RR's daughters), we don't know.  What we do know is that despite being in the 'doghouse' RR kept him around.  So he clearly liked him as a player, if he could just get him to perform the role he wanted him to.