Is it playoffs or bust for Ron and co?

[ellis]

The idea is to get into December with legitimate shot at the playoffs, and seeing the team playing good football during that stretch. It wasn’t just Cam’s arm that cost the team all those games down the stretch last year. The third and long defense was atrocious. Clock management. Situational play-calling. 
 

Ron has been historically very good in December. Cam has been a big part of that. But so has the Carolina defense. I want to see the team close out the regular season the right way, and I do want to see a playoff berth. 
 

2017 was a pretty good example. That was a great stretch of football until that crapfest at Atlanta. Wins against Min, GB, and Tampa. Propelled the team to the playoffs. Plus, if you remember, there were a few distractions that month. 
 

2014 is an even better example: wins against NO, TB, CLE and ATL to snag a playoff berth. 

[ellis]

More than anything else, Rivera has to start winning in the damn division. He’s like 5-13 over the last few years vs the South. That more than anything could get him fired.

[BrianS]

So, you've got a coach who has his team at 4-2, who has sustained significant injuries to four starters and some backups.  You've got an NFC that is looking pretty strong.  Historically, Ron's teams finish well.  Yes, last seasons collapse was certainly an anomaly in his history.

If this team has a winning record and continues to play hard, he's getting a nice extension with the caveat that he maintains control of the defense.  Let's face it, the defense has been nothing short of AMAZING since he took over.

[Zeek]

3 hours ago, Khyber53 said:

This same old crap again? Ron is coaching lights out and has the whole team playing together and playing to win. He's strung together four good wins while we have tons of starters (and some backups) going onto the injury report or IR. And, because someone will take a swing at him too, Marty Hurney has got us some great personnel that have brought this together.

Go peddle your tired narrative somewhere else. We're winning.

I agree but not making the playoffs wouldn’t help his seat cool off

[MVPccaffrey]

Some of the posters here are so delusional I can't believe we follow the same team/sport.

Coach Rivera is a top 10 coach who wins games at a ridiculous rate when he's getting merely average play from the QB spot.  He puts out good to great defenses season after season and all the players would run through a wall for him.  That seat is safe, and rationally so.

IMO Cam will be gone from here long before Coach Rivera ever is.

[1of10Charnatives]

2 hours ago, hepcat said:

I mean...Ron only coaches well when it seems like he's close to getting fired. Then the team wins for awhile, Ron gets comfortable, and the team takes a hot wet dump for awhile. Then as soon as he gets close to getting fired again, the team starts winning again. It's the same cycle with him. Maybe the good cycle lasts long enough to win a Superbowl this time. 

I will say with how many piss poorly coached teams I see play every Sunday, Ron does have the team ready to play and disciplined more than most other teams.

I’ll say this, I have my frustrations with Ron, but our team plays disciplined football. We’re typically one of the least penalized teams, and that’s largely a function of coaching. The human brain is bad at perceiving positives that come in the form of things that don’t happen, so ask yourself if you’re actually paying attention to how we usually end the game with fewer penalties than the opponent.

Better coaching means fewer penalties, but we rarely give Ron & co credit because we notice when things do happen, not when they don’t.

[hepcat]

fug are y'all brain damaged morons talking about. Y'alls memories suddenly gone because the Panthers are on the upswing again? Rivera is one of the most hot and cold coaches in the NFL. He has had winning streaks as long as his losing streaks. Take away his best and worst seasons and he's the most average coach ever. 

If he starts winning more without Cam I'll step up and say it was more on Cam being inconsistent than Rivera, but I remember some massive defensive lapses losing the Panthers games in his tenure, in games Cam played out of his mind.

[hepcat]

2 hours ago, ellis said:

More than anything else, Rivera has to start winning in the damn division. He’s like 5-13 over the last few years vs the South. That more than anything could get him fired.

Already lost at home to the Bucs too. Not good.

[bandu]

it's always produce or bust in the NFL that's just the nature of the beast so to speak

[mc52beast]

Doesn’t matter what we think, it’s what Tepper thinks. He kept him after 2018 fell apart, explained to him how he wanted the team built. I don’t see him firing Ron one season into the 3-4 experiment 

[jfra78]

Ron will be the coach next year as it should be.  Hopefully Tepper will put in the contract that he has to call the defense.

[GoPanthers123]

 Ron and Hurney are looking good now.   There is one discussion point whether Ron is more suitable as head coach or as defensive coord but that’s a whole different subject.

[1of10Charnatives]

2 hours ago, GoPanthers123 said:

 Ron and Hurney are looking good now.   There is one discussion point whether Ron is more suitable as head coach or as defensive coord but that’s a whole different subject.

You can’t retain a guy as defensive cordinator after removing him as HC of a team for years. It’s just impractical on a personal level and creates an untenable situation for his successor as HC. 

[Seltzer]

What Ron has done over the last 4 games gets the attention of the league.  Winning with a backup QB isn't easy, and to win 4 games in a row is rare.

Tepper has high expectations- I think the expectation going into the season was a playoff berth, and I don't know that anything has changed. 

However, I do think it would have to give him pause if we were to finish 9-7 and right outside the playoffs in a loaded NFC.

Rivera has rebuilt the defense and has them playing at an elite level.  Hurney has objectively had 2 excellent drafts in a room in addition to making some smart FA moves.  

It would be tough to dismiss these accomplishments outright.

Just as I'm glad I don't have to decide what to do at QB right now, I'm glad this isn't my decision, either.

I do think this year has shown that the players have not tuned Rivera out even in Year 9.  I think that speaks well of him in addition to the defensive performance.

Rivera would be a very coveted coach on the open market.

I think ultimately, Bill Voth's advice is prescient in this situation also.  I'm just going to try to enjoy the ride for now.  Still a lot can happen in this season.