How bad is Ron Rivera?

[EightyNine]

What's to say he would have figured it otu withotu the 5 years in between the firing and stepping in as NC's HC?  He did work under Parcells in NY, so it's not like Belichick was out there with no outside influences.

 

We can't say for sure that he would have figured it out, but if you look at how those teams fared after those coaches were let go, giving them a chance to figure it out seems like a much better option.

[Marguide]

We started winning when Ron said "fug it" and started playing the young guys. And in this odd year, injuries have helped as well. Anyone doubt that Amini and Chandler would still be starting if healthy? His management of personnel is at least as great of a flaw as his game management.

I expect him to be back but I still think he is a poor head coach.

[emhoward]

It's still hard to get over the middle of the season. I've never seen so many blowouts in my life. It seemed like their were 3 straight games when the contest was over by halftime. Ugh.

[mav1234]

Tbh I don't even want Rivera fired this offseason. I do want Shula gone, but Rivera has kept this team fighting when I thought all was lost and he deserves credit for that. The offense still stinks though.

[Snake]

I'm not sold on him yet. Let's get to the playoffs and see what he can do. Honestly how I feel we are one great unknown OC away from a great team. On the flip side if he keeps his staff intact and makes no adjustments he will be out the door sooner than later.

[TheRed]

The ultimate problem with Rivera is that one week he will look like he has learned from his mistakes, and he's finally understood what it is that he needs to do from here on out in order to win consistently. Then the next week, or the next season, he reverts back to his old habits.

 

We've seen this over and and over and over again.

 

We do not have several games each season to waste while we watch him stumble around trying to learn everything all over again.

 

I've said repeatedly that I want to see Ron succeed here, but this has to change for good. If he does this again next season, he's gotta go.

[ThPantherFan]

One of the reasons why I'm not set on getting rid of RR but revamping the coaching staff in general.  Especially Shula.  The only coach I would like to see remaining is Prohel.

[frash.exe]

If rivera is as good as some of you say he is we'd have this division wrapped up already. He squandered so many opportunities to run away with the NFC South in his grasp and he can't even do it with an ample margin of error.

[ecu88]

The ultimate problem with Rivera is that one week he will look like he has learned from his mistakes, and he's finally understood what it is that he needs to do from here on out in order to win consistently. Then the next week, or the next season, he reverts back to his old habits.

We've seen this over and and over and over again.

We do not have several games each season to waste while we watch him stumble around trying to learn everything all over again.

I've said repeatedly that I want to see Ron succeed here, but this has to change for good. If he does this again next season, he's gotta go.

Habits are hard to break. You are condition to fall back on these defaults because it is just easier for the person to deal with even if you know it might lead to failure but the level of certainty brings ease or some form of satisfaction. Ron is having a battle of duality and I hope Riverboat succeeds over Floating Turd Ron. His biggest mistake is not living in the moment, embracing success, and ignoring his new philosophy on 'calculated' risk. Playing not to loose will loose you the game from being overtly conservative.

[Mr. Scot]

Neither Belichick nor Carroll achieved lasting success in the situations cited here.

So in practical terms, what the OP has accomplished is the presentation of evidence that Rivera will be a successful coach after the Panthers fire him and he gets a new HC job elsewhere.

[SteveSmithGaveMeAShiner]

I would be fine with keeping RR as long as a new OC is brought in. Honestly, at this point, with the turnaround in play the past few weeks and the way they stayed in contention for the division, there is no chance of JR firing Ron one year into his deal. Adding a more competent OC who could actually do things like start the correct running back and score touchdowns in the red zone would solve most of the problems I had with this year's team. Ron and McDermott are a solid defensive coaching tandem and that showed this year, as the defense has improved from "5 alarm dumpster fire" to "mostly competent and possibly above average" over the past month or so as some key players got healthy and they wised up and started playing some of the young guys over trash heap vets like DeCoud and Cason. If Carolina can hire a creative offensive coordinator and keep Ron out of said OC's way, that would be tee-riffic.

[Dexterity]

The ultimate problem with Rivera is that one week he will look like he has learned from his mistakes, and he's finally understood what it is that he needs to do from here on out in order to win consistently. Then the next week, or the next season, he reverts back to his old habits.

We've seen this over and and over and over again.

We do not have several games each season to waste while we watch him stumble around trying to learn everything all over again.

I've said repeatedly that I want to see Ron succeed here, but this has to change for good. If he does this again next season, he's gotta go.

Firing Shula would help in this area. It's easy for Ron to revert back because Mike is the most conservative OC ever. Bring in a OC who has HC experience & isn't so damn conservative. Rivera can focus on defense & let the OC & Cam worry about the offense.

I doubt Ron will fire Mike, but I also doubt Dave lets Mike call plays next year.

[TheRed]

Firing Shula would help in this area. It's easy for Ron to revert back because Mike is the most conservative OC ever. Bring in a OC who has HC experience & isn't so damn conservative. Rivera can focus on defense & let the OC & Cam worry about the offense.

I doubt Ron will fire Mike, but I also doubt Dave lets Mike call plays next year.

 

It would help, but it wouldn't be enough in the big picture. Ron has to make some serious changes of his own if he is going to succeed in this job. He needs to put his imprint on the offense, stop playing scared to lose, and stop being overly loyal to clearly underperforming players.

 

Shula is the guy Ron wanted, you can claim it was for continuity, but in the end, he was Rivera's choice. As was our special teams coach.

 

I have doubts that Shula will be fired. If anything he would probably just be demoted to quarterbacks coach.

 

As for Shula being "so damn conservative", how do you know that isn't the type of offense Rivera wants? We're talking about a guy here who still plays for field goals more often than he should, and in crucial end of game situations, even though we've repeatedly lost that way.

 

Shula can take a good bit of the blame, but Rivera has to stand up and be the damn head coach. He's in charge of it all.

 

Rivera needs to put his stamp on this team. Like the coaches you referenced in the OP.

[raleigh-panther]

Rivera's teams seem to not quit on him and that is a plus

 

However:

1.  losses to upper tier coaches and teams continue

2.  continues to embarrass in the prime time spotlight...he has his reasons for it but nonetheless it occurs;  he had a big win over the Pats last year

       in the National spotlight that could have very easily have been a loss.

3.  the talent of his assistants are questionable.

4.  his desire to accept #3 will ultimately doom him

5.  his in game decisions hinder his team more than help them.

 

#3/4   are the big ones.  .  Shula in no way should still be in his seat and Rodgers should never have been here.  Some of those ridiculous play calls yesterday should not be forgotten in the afterglow of a victory.  They had no chance, were called at the wrong times, in the wrong part of the field and  ruined the rhythm of the offense.

 

Special teams, awful.  No point in even talking about them.