Is this year Riveras best coaching job?

[goodoleboy]

Its much easier to keep a good team rolling than to turn around one that has faltered. This article sums up the move that made this run to the NFCS title possible.

 

http://www.foxsports.com/carolinas/story/carolina-panthers-season-saved-by-one-move-010115?cmpid=tsmfb%3Afscom%3Anflonfox

 

 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The move Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Ron Rivera made immediately following an embarrassing loss to Minnesota on Nov. 30, seemed irrelevant at the time.

Now, it's one of the main reasons a lost season was saved.

 

In that game against the Vikings -- in which Carolina lost 31-13 -- cornerback Antoine Cason was burned and fooled time and time again by the Minnesota receivers. In reality, that's pretty much how the entire season had gone for Cason, who was a starter after signing as a free agent during the offseason.

 

Analytically speaking, Cason was one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL.

Upon returning to Charlotte, Cason was cut by the Panthers, which meant that rookie Bene' Benwikere was thrust into the starting lineup, opposite of Josh Norman, who also went into training camp as a reserve.

As a result of Benwikere moving into the lineup with four weeks to play, the secondary has been revamped and has new life. It has gone from being one of the worst in the NFL to a faster and more physical secondary.

More importantly, it's a better pass-defending secondary, too.

 

That same week following Minnesota, fellow rookie Tre Boston moved into the starting spot at free safety.

The moves to cut Cason and insert Benwikere and Boston into the starting lineup were the final attempts to try to find a defensive backfield that could actually stop a pass, cover a receiver and tackle. Up until that point, the Panthers had pretty much failed to do any of them.

Now that the defensive backfield has been stabilized with Norman, Benwikere and Boston joining veteran Roman Harper, who has started all season at strong safety, Carolina's defense is looking very similar to the way it did last season, which was good enough to be the second-best in the NFL.

 

With confidence in the secondary comes the ability to blitz more, which in turn creates more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, resulting in more offensive miscues. When teams blitz that have poor secondaries, they become extremely exposed and big plays are usually the result.

 

The improved secondary has also had an effect on the offense, too. Because the secondary has made the defense much better, which has prevented the opposition from scoring tons of points, it means the offense isn't trying to play catch-up. This has allowed offensive coordinator Mike Shula to stick to the game plan that helped the team win 12 games last season -- run, run, run.

The Panthers' offense wants to control the clock, run as much as possible, and commit very few mistakes. It can afford not to gamble with risky plays and passes because the coaching staff knows even if Carolina has to punt, odds are it's going to get the ball back relatively soon.

 

 

 

And maybe even close to scoring range because of a created turnover.

Carolina has forced nine turnovers during its four-game winning streak, while at the same time only committing three.

It's a simple formula: A very safe offense and an aggressive defense.

And a big reason why Carolina's resurgence has transpired when the season was all but over. It can be traced to the simple move of cutting one veteran and inserting two rookies.

 

 

 

 

[CRA]

I think the impact Stewart has is overlooked in the article.....and Ron was forced into it.

 

Our O isn't going 3 and out as often.  Which in itself helps the O and D.  D definitely gets credit but article puts it all on secondary

[nctarheel0619]

I think the impact Stewart has is overlooked in the article.....and Ron was forced into it.

 

Our O isn't going 3 and out as often.  Which in itself helps the O and D.  D definitely gets credit but article puts it all on secondary

 

Yeah, I agree with you on this.  Rivera literally has to put himself in situations to start players that deserve it by injuries or continuous horrible play.  Stew, Norwell, DeCoud, Cason, all for instance.  It's annoying, but maybe hes just a stubborn fug.   

[teeray]

Don't known if it was his best, but it was impressive how he kept this team together during the bad stretch.

[teeray]

I think the impact Stewart has is overlooked in the article.....and Ron was forced into it.

Our O isn't going 3 and out as often. Which in itself helps the O and D. D definitely gets credit but article puts it all on secondary

I think you are overlooking the impact of Norwell and Remmers in making Stewart and the whole run game better.

[goodoleboy]

Don't known if it was his best, but it was impressive how he kept this team together during the bad stretch.

 

Its a pretty small body of work as a head coach. Last year he was coach of the year for basically changing little more than when to go for it on 4th down. This year they had to manage Cams injuries, RB injuries, O Line problems, Hardy and a few other things but still managed to make a move late that changed things and made a difference.

[pantherclaw]

I already felt that Rivera has done a better job this season.

It's easy for fans to blame the staff when the team is losing.

I saw plenty of mistakes being made by players who were failing to execute.

We over came that stretch.

Yes, the NFC South sucks as a whole this season, but that happens in divisions around the NFL every season.

Now don't claim I'm saying Rivera is the best coach in football, I'm not saying that.

I'm just recognizing the fact the the coaching staff has over come some disappointments from FA pickups that the team was relying on.

Give the staff credit for coaching up the young guys, cause they most definitely have made a big impact on how the team has played the last quarter of the season.

[ecu88]

Yeah, I agree with you on this. Rivera literally has to put himself in situations to start players that deserve it by injuries or continuous horrible play. Stew, Norwell, DeCoud, Cason, all for instance. It's annoying, but maybe hes just a stubborn fug.

You are discounting multiple things: Boston hurt for most of the time (rookie, learning the defensive system), Bene hurt (rookie, had to learn the system as well), Norwell had to learn the playbook (also a rookie that probably went through strength training to reach potential), Jstew slowly returned to being healthy but had a brief step back (remember the stretch in the season we had no RB), Star was injured, the list goes on and on.

The point I have criticized as everyone else, Ron and the individual players but this has been a season John Fox would have sucked (to the Fox lovers out there). Luckily for us we have Ron as the coach to hold the team together and plus we are fortunate to have DG as GM. This has been a weird season, I am just enjoying the fact that everything is falling in place for a pleasantly surprising run.

[CRA]

I think you are overlooking the impact of Norwell and Remmers in making Stewart and the whole run game better.

I think they help too.

I think it is a lot of moving parts. DL and CJ getting healthy also is helping a young secondary....it isn't just the new DBs. DL for example is playing its best

I do think people give the OL too much credit for the rush success. They get some....28 was running to hard early for them to get such a huge percentage. He still consistantly finds himself in the scenarios where it really is just him making plays. People aren't crediting 28 for that anymore largely. But the OL sets up some they didn't earlier...

[FootballMaestro]

I think Rivera, did a better job last year.

 

Last year, they started off 1-3 (I think), and ended the season 12-4.

 

Regardless of what you felt about Rivera's job status and motivation then, he made his moves earlier last year, whereas this year he seemingly made most of his moves when most thought the season was over.

 

Thank the sucky NFL south for making Rivera a hero. .

[IceUpSon]

No.

The answer is no. 

[The Huddler]

12-4, 8 game win streak, first roud bye, not many hiccups.

7-8-1, 4 game win streak, div champs in poo, was an absolute turd for 2 whole months..

Ask me in 4 weekz

[*FreeFua*]

I think what helped bring this team together was that brawl in New Orleans.

As for Rivera, he's getting a lot of undeserved credit. If it wasn't for injuries there would be no chance of us sitting here talking about a game tomorrow. I think if one of Rivera's BS stunts cost us the game tomorrow he may still be gone.

[CRA]

I think what helped bring this team together was that brawl in New Orleans.

As for Rivera, he's getting a lot of undeserved credit. If it wasn't for injuries there would be no chance of us sitting here talking about a game tomorrow. I think if one of Rivera's BS stunts cost us the game tomorrow he may still be gone.

If he gives 34 and 28 an even load and punts to the middle of the field for Ginn Jr.....he should be fired before the clock hits 0.