Speculation on Richard Rodgers

[Mr. Scot]

From the article Chknwing mentioned in the Offseason News thread (link)

 

Panthers special teams coordinator Richard Rodgers said Sunday he had no word on his future with the team after the unit finished at or near the bottom of a half-dozen categories in the 2014 regular season.

“That’s up to the powers that be. I just coach football,” Rodgers said.

“We’ll have a meeting and we’ll see whatever they tell us to do, that’s what we’ll do.”

Carolina’s special teams unit finished last in the league in net punting average and punt return yardage allowed. They were next-to-last in kickoff return yardage allowed. In three other categories – kickoff return average, gross punting average and opponent’s gross punting average – Carolina finished in the bottom-quarter of the league.

 

“Always it’s tough when things don’t go right for you,” said Rodgers, who just completed his second season in his post. “I think for the most part we had an OK year. You want to kind of stay out of the way of offense and defense and let them do their thing, and it’s bad when you impact the game negatively. I thought later on as we got past the Minnesota stuff we got better. We were a little more focused and we finished strong.”

In Week 13 against the Vikings, the Panthers allowed two punts to be blocked and returned for touchdowns in their 31-13 loss. It was the first time in a quarter-century that happened in the NFL.

There were other mishaps throughout the year. Kicker Graham Gano missed seven field goal attempts in the regular season and postseason and Brenton Bersin and Philly Brown both muffed punts that led to touchdowns, with Bersin’s muff coming in the playoff win against Arizona.

 

 

The Panthers averaged 8 yards per punt return this season, good for 18th in the league the season after they did not re-sign Ted Ginn Jr. in free agency.

“Certainly they didn’t do anything to hurt us, but it wasn’t as game-changing on the return side of things as it was when we had Ted,” Rodgers said. “That’s no slight on anybody else. Ted does a good job, again a veteran. I think Brenton is a good player and as much as people kind of cringe and say ‘Oh he can’t do it,’ he came back and made five catches in the conditions (vs. Arizona). When you make a mistake and come back and make five catches, that speaks volumes for you as a person.

“I think the outsiders looking in saying, ‘Get him out of there,’ well, he’s got to learn. Just like anybody else. And he’ll be more confident with more opportunities he gets. You want to be a game-changer back there and those guys have that mindset and that’s why they’re back there. He’s no different from them.”

 

Keep in mind this is all purely speculation right now, so I wouldn't get too excited just yet.

[Jeremy Igo]

So now we are just happy with catching punts.

Ugh

[TheSpecial1]

Rodgers is good buddies w/Rivera. I think he stays.

[ZeroZeroSeven]

So now we are just happy with catching punts.

Ugh

 

It is a sad state of affairs.  I can't count the number of times I balled up into the fetal position when our opponent would punt.

[Mr. Scot]

So now we are just happy with catching punts.

Ugh

 

I think that philosophy reflects Rivera's attitude.

 

For all his talk of aggressiveness when he first got here, he really does seem willing to settle for just being competent.

 

[Jase]

our special teams woes are as much caused by our roster churn than anything.  When you have different guys playing every week, it's hard to get continuity.  That said.  Can him.  If Gettleman has to step in, so be it.

[KSpan]

Know when to hold 'em... know when to fold 'em...

[Mr. Scot]

Some of the best special teams coaches in the league (Bobby April, Joe DeCamillis and Brad Seely) may well be looking for jobs this offseason depending on how their head coaching situations shake out.

 

If we bypass a shot at guys like that and hang on to the guy that coached the worst ST unit in the league, I mean...

 

[2jakefansinva]

He's gone..........and he know's it.

[Diehardpanther02]

So now we are just happy with catching punts.

Ugh

At that point in time

I was extremely ecstatic just catching punts. I was to the point id rather roll to the one yard line than bersin get the muffins and turn it over in their redzone. Thats smart in my opinion especially the way he was struggling, if rivera had someone who could move the back there and catching wasnt an issue im sure he would

Of took the chains off and let them

Go but that wasnt the case

[Mr. Scot]

He's gone..........and he know's it.

 

I wish I knew it, cause frankly I'm not so sure

 

I do think he knows he ought to be gone, but honestly who here doesn't know that?

[uncfan888]

deuces, Rodgers... and take Bersin with you

[t96]

Atleast if Rodgers is a possibility to get fired then so is Shula.

[UKPanther94]

Every time Seattle punted the other night I was wincing every time Bersin caught it, it's awful that simply catching the ball is now an achievement