Defending Rivera

[Mr. Scot]

2 minutes ago, CBDellinger said:

I know it was reported and I can see it in Tepper.  But I don’t think it’s productive for an owner to freak out week to week in the nfl.  

the nfl is a business but running an nfl team from a football stand point is not like running a typical business. 

Valid.

I suppose you could ask the question whether you'd rather have an owner who gets too angry or one who doesn't get angry enough.

[Peon Awesome]

I won't say whether or not we should keep or fire Rivera because I honestly think it's too early to say. But as far as defending him, I think that's a worthy exercise. Rivera has shown this year he's willing to adapt. People complain that he ignores his rookies in favor of underperforming vets but this year he chose to stick with a 6th round rookie at LT over Daryl Williams. His decision to go for 2 tonight was a smart decision driven by clear analytics (despite people having trouble getting that) and again demonstrates his willingness to change with the times. He's shown a greater williness to be aggressive in other ways too, like the fake punt in our own territory last week. And if you think only Blackburn deserves credit for that, don't pretend a decision that big doesn't need the blessing of the head coach.

He created a defensive scheme that turned us from one of the worst pass rushing teams in the league to one of the best (while unfortunately sacrificing our ability to stop the run but that's for another thread). He has ultimately led this team to a 5-2 record after losing our starting qb, with the only 2 losses coming on the road to the current top 2 seeds in the NFC who have a combined 16-2 record. He's weathered other important injuries including on the offensive line, both starting corners at one time or another and our former all-pro defensive tackle now on IR. 

If Rivera was a terrible coach, we wouldn't have been playing for anything short of draft position since probably week 4. He has his flaws but you can say that about pretty much any coach short of Belichick. If the team plays hard for Rivera and we finish the season with a winning record despite what is a pretty tough stretch, I'd let him play out another year. If we collapse the rest of the way and have another losing season, the writing is on the wall. I just hope in that case we find someone worth a damn because this year's first year coaches aren't exactly inspiring a ton of confidence. 

[outlaw4]

I can defend Rivera as much as we can defend the run. 

If Tepper is smart, he'll recognize that this franchise has this historical pattern of coming short or flat out being embarrassed in games that matter and we're doing it again this year. Not sure what will be different next year if we don't undergo major changes.

[CBDellinger]

Just now, ARSEN said:

Not for like 2 more years.  He’s in 3rd season so he got 2 more to go.

Cmc isn’t playing a down in 2020 without a new deal.  

CBA, rookie wage scale, 5th year option  blah blah blah... Zeke just did it.  

Not to mention he’s got Chris Johnson’s former agent... it’s happening.  

[SBiii]

37 minutes ago, ASEK RoguePirate said:

I agree with Scot, Rivera is just an average coach. 

I super bowl appearance in his history with SUPERMAN!.

Who has the better overall resume...

...Riverboat or Superman?

[CBDellinger]

11 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Valid.

I suppose you could ask the question whether you'd rather have an owner who gets too angry or one who doesn't get angry enough.

I want the owner who’s the same guy every day, sets clear expectations and judges the cake after it is baked.  

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, SBiii said:

Who has the better overall resume...

...Riverboat or Superman?

Given that they started together, outside of this season they have pretty much the same resume'.

[SBiii]

10 minutes ago, CBDellinger said:

Cmc isn’t playing a down in 2020 without a new deal.

I'll take the other side of that trade.

CMC will play 2020 under the terms of his current contract --- he's an honorable man who lives up to his word.

[Cdw]

I don't want to defend Rivera cause I've wanted him gone for a while, but, he is 5-4 while losing our franchise QB.  Bradbury being out hurt today as well.  There's a valid argument to keep him since the team has still been in it despite the injuries.  Biggest factor will be how we perform vs the Saints and Falcons - he splits it with them or better and he probably stays, we get swept and I'd say he is probably gone.

[Mr. Scot]

3 minutes ago, CBDellinger said:

I want the owner who’s the same guy every day, sets clear expectations and judges the cake after it is baked.  

We've got a billionaire who used to throw fits over the price of coffee filters in his office.

He's definitely a smart man, but past profiles don't necessarily point to him always being the most reasonable when it comes to demands.

[Mr. Scot]

4 minutes ago, SBiii said:

I'll take the other side of that trade.

CMC will play 2020 under the terms of his current contract --- he's an honorable man who lives up to his word.

He's also got this thing called an agent.

Lots of nice honorable men have them, and for a reason.

[SBiii]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

We've got a billionaire who used to throw fits over the price of coffee filters in his office.

He's definitely a smart man, but past profiles don't necessarily point to him always being the most reasonable when it comes to demands.

That's absolutely total bullsh*t.

Funny you should say you only trust "local" press to report accurate info on Panthers but you're gonna cite some complete B.S. coffee filter story by some reporter you couldn't name in a 100 years without the benefit of 15 minutes out on Al Gore's internets....

Terrible take on your part, you're better than that.

[SBiii]

4 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

He's also got this thing called an agent.

Lots of nice honorable men have them, and for a reason.

Yup. 

Some men subjugate their personal ethics to the whim of an agent (see Josh)....

....some don't (see CMC).

[Jus Rob]

I've been one of Rivera's biggest defenders but I'm at a point where it's getting tuff to do that. He's a hell of a Defensive coach. I would love to see our Defense be aggressive like in the Tennessee game blitz to stop the run. I just Don't think a new coach gets us to the playoffs the next 2 or 3 years because of our Qb situation bringing a new offense to either have Cam or Kyle to learn we clearly need more talent on d and o line to compete