The Career Arc

[Mr. Scot]

One of the more common arguments in favor of sticking with Ron Rivera past this season is that he's the most successful coach the Panthers have ever had.

This is true.

Unfortunately, it's not as meaningful as some might think.

Consistency is a difficult thing to come by in the NFL. Relatively few coaching careers follow a "flatline" trajectory of consistent performance, unless of course it's lousy performance (a la Hue Jackson).

Perennially high success rates like you see in New England are pretty rare. A lot of coaching careers are roller coasters. Still others have one high peak surrounded by a lot of mediocrity.

For some who follow that path, the success comes early, then leaves and never returns. That was the case with Jon Gruden, and when fortune fled and the Bucs started falling apart, many Tampa fans were echoing a similar sentiment to that which you hear from some Panther fans now.

"He's the best coach we ever had. How could we let him go?"

Panther fans used to use that line of thinking with regard to John Fox too (right up to the point he self-destructed). Now we find that same indignantly spoken inquiry being used to defend Ron Rivera.

Most of the fans are repeating this think it's a rhetorical question. It isn't. There is an actual answer.

That answer, metaphorically speaking: Because the magic is gone.

Ron Rivera took his best shot and winning a Super Bowl back in 2015. Unlike Gruden, it wasn't enough. Yet fans still point to this and other successful years (all of which happened under a departed GM, by the way) as if those things meant a lot more than they truly do.

Reality is that Rivera hit his peak three years ago. Like Gruden and numerous other NFL coaches in history, he's levelled off since. Add to this that the NFL has changed significantly in the last few years, and quite frankly has moved well beyond Ron Rivera's level.

People expecting another 2015 or anything even remotely close to that level out of Rivera should probably stop holding their breath. And while I grant that rebuilding with new leaders and new systems can be a tough and scary process, it's better than just beating your head against the wall with a guy who's never going to return to his former glory.

Some of my best Panthers memories came with Ron Rivera as head coach. But while memories are great, you still have to live in the present.

And here in the present, it's time to let go.

[hepcat]

If Ron had won the Super Bowl in 2015, I think many here would be willing to give him 2-3 more seasons to get it together, much like the job security Sean Payton has enjoyed in New Orleans. The only issue is, defense is Rivera’s specialty and the defense is awful. Payton’s specialty is offense, and the Saints always had a badass offense while he’s been there. The fact that Rivera’s side of the ball has failed so miserably this season shows it’s time for him to go.

[Paa Langfart]

Just now, Mr. Scot said:

Some of my best Panthers memories came with Ron Rivera as head coach

And some of my worst Panthers memories came with Rivera as head coach.  Unfortunately it appears this season will be on that list.

[SOJA]

Ron Rivera employs an outdated view of offense and his vaunted defensive mind is hot garbage.

He regularly throws our star QB under the bus.

He plays veterans that are INDISPUTABLY worse than younger guys and only when injury strikes do those players get their chance (see Andrew Norwell in the footnotes amongst many others). 

He never takes blame for his conservative game calling when, even if things worked out perfectly, we would still lose the game. His situational football awareness has been awful since he got here and hasn't improved. 

He literally would have been fired years ago, if not for "riverboat ron", which is the biggest scam in history, because he simply realized we have the peak of humanity playing QB and maybe we should go for it on 4th and inches. 

He's an average coach in the year 2005. He's one of the worst coaches in the league in 2018. 

The longer we keep Rivera the longer we waste Cam's prime.

\We've already wasted Luke's.

[SOJA]

There are no good reasons to keep Rivera. Yet some idiot on twitter keeps spewing "We can't make changes every year!" 

We haven't changed in years. That is the fuging problem. 

[CarolinaNCSU]

I think a lot of people clinging to Rivera are scared our next coach will suck.  Fair, it's a risk...but we have to get an offensive mind in here.  Our young talent is essentially all on the offensive side of the ball...our future success, depends on them. 

Rivera's seat has been hot, what...3 times now?  He has seemingly wasted one of the most talented rosters year after year outside of a couple of years.  He refuses to change. He wants the glory days back.  Even Norv, successful as he is...was a safe hire.  He's a scared coach.  The Riverboat BS is NOTHING without Cam Newton to begin with.  

[ChibCU]

8 minutes ago, Paa Langfart said:

And some of my worst Panthers memories came with Rivera as head coach.  Unfortunately it appears this season will be on that list.

My worst memories:

1) 2015 Super Bowl Loss

2) 2003 Super Bowl Loss

3) Delhomme's six-turnover game in 2009

[panthers55]

Rivera's situation is much different from Gruden. Gruden wasn't well liked by his players, lost the locker room by the end and for example often undermined the confidence of the team and quarterback in particular. His record the last three years he was there was never better than 9-7 and his record at Tampa was 57-55 overall.

Why keep Ron? It is very likely that if Ron goes then Norv will retire again. He came here because of Ron. The defense is struggling but a couple of better secondary options could go a long way toward fixing the problem. Canning Rivera is not a good solution unless we simply self destruct and tank the rest of the way. This is a typical huddle overreaction.

[d-dave]

I do agree about the idea of coaching "magic."  Some coaches can capture it and burn really bright.  But most of them fail due to brain drain.  Look at our defense.  Since McDermot left, our D has gotten worse each year as guys move on.  Unless you are a generational coach, like a Bill Belichek with Tom Brady, everyone levels off towards "average."  Even the mighty Pats have had their down years and challenges.

The icky problem we have is that we are in the prime of our two biggest stars in Cam and Luke.  Who is the coach to take us and them to the next level?  That's what Tepper has to identify.  You can't just hope some 30 something offensive coordinator is going to bring the magic when dealing with two players who could very well end up in Canton once it's all said and done.  You not only have to have the right head coach, but also the best coordinators to work with that coach.

Sure, we could burn the coaching offices down and fire everyone.  But who do we bring in?  How long will it take to turn the team around?  Cam's 30, Luke's 28 when we bring in someone new.  Their time, our two most important player's time, is very valuable.  That's going to be the big challenge for us moving forward.  How do we reinvent our team in time to maximize Luke and Cam's talents for the next five years?

[FugAllY'all]

I just don't get it, but I think something in him snapped after the Pittsburgh game. That decision to go for 2 in that Lions game was about more than just winning that game, I think he momentarily questioned his own coaching philosophy, and did something totally out of character. Fast forward to yesterday, and he's back to old conservative Ron, playing for a 50 yard field goal when your offense was in the middle of quite possibly the hottest stretch of the season. The result is now a three game losing streak and the team spiraling down the drain.

[SOJA]

1 minute ago, FugAllY'all said:

I just don't get it, but I think something in him snapped after the Pittsburgh game. That decision to go for 2 in that Lions game was about more than just winning that game, I think he momentarily questioned his own coaching philosophy, and did something totally out of character. Fast forward to yesterday, and he's back to old conservative Ron, playing for a 50 yard field goal when your offense was in the middle of quite possibly the hottest stretch of the season. The result is now a three game losing streak and the team spiraling down the drain.

It's almost as if.....wait for it......Rivera has zero situational awareness in games and has for YEARS 

[Silent Majority]

36 minutes ago, ChibCU said:

My worst memories:

1) 2015 Super Bowl Loss

2) 2003 Super Bowl Loss

3) Delhomme's six-turnover game in 2009

in that order

[hepcat]

28 minutes ago, d-dave said:

I do agree about the idea of coaching "magic."  Some coaches can capture it and burn really bright.  But most of them fail due to brain drain.  Look at our defense.  Since McDermot left, our D has gotten worse each year as guys move on.  Unless you are a generational coach, like a Bill Belichek with Tom Brady, everyone levels off towards "average."  Even the mighty Pats have had their down years and challenges.

The icky problem we have is that we are in the prime of our two biggest stars in Cam and Luke.  Who is the coach to take us and them to the next level?  That's what Tepper has to identify.  You can't just hope some 30 something offensive coordinator is going to bring the magic when dealing with two players who could very well end up in Canton once it's all said and done.  You not only have to have the right head coach, but also the best coordinators to work with that coach.

Sure, we could burn the coaching offices down and fire everyone.  But who do we bring in?  How long will it take to turn the team around?  Cam's 30, Luke's 28 when we bring in someone new.  Their time, our two most important player's time, is very valuable.  That's going to be the big challenge for us moving forward.  How do we reinvent our team in time to maximize Luke and Cam's talents for the next five years?

List of head coaches that have won a Superbowl in their first 2 seasons. It's rare, but does happen.

https://www.pennlive.com/philadelphiaeagles/index.ssf/2018/02/philadelphia_eagles_doug_peder_31.html

[Darvinsun]

It' time for a change we not getting better, but are at a stand still. The offense is now ahead of the defense which should not be the case. It shows that he isn't aware of what he has in his own specialty, defense. How long do we wait for him to catch on? 5yrs is enough to recognize your problems and improve. Other coaches see this and just outcoach Ron. I'm  just tired of watching the reruns.