Move over Matt Rhule, the Rivera era was the real disaster

[Teddy2SuperBowlHeartBreaks]

It doesn't need to be repeated that the post-Cam Newton years have been the most underwhelming and uninteresting era in the history of the franchise. It was so bad I unsarcastically begin to take an interest in women's college basketball during the fall. And those white jersey, black pants combination had to have been an inside joke between billionaires, one that would only make sense to them.  However, now until the heat death of the Universe, Matt Rhule will stand at a podium of some unsuspecting NCAA University and claim that he didn't have the tools to succeed in Carolina, and he will be correct in that assessment. This iteration of the Panthers sucked head to hoe. Hopefully our fortunes will change later this week, but lets take a look back at an even bigger fraud in one Ronald Eugene Rivera. 

 

Team	Year	Regular season					Postseason
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
CAR	2011	6	10	0	.375	3rd in NFC South	—	—	—	—
CAR	2012	7	9	0	.438	2nd in NFC South	—	—	—	—
CAR	2013	12	4	0	.750	1st in NFC South	0	1	.000	Lost to San Francisco 49ers in NFC Divisional Game
CAR	2014	7	8	1	.469	1st in NFC South	1	1	.500	Lost to Seattle Seahawks in NFC Divisional Game
CAR	2015	15	1	0	.938	1st in NFC South	2	1	.667	Lost to Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50
CAR	2016	6	10	0	.375	4th in NFC South	—	—	—	—
CAR	2017	11	5	0	.688	2nd in NFC South	0	1	.000	Lost to New Orleans Saints in NFC Wild Card Game
CAR	2018	7	9	0	.438	3rd in NFC South	—	—	—	—
CAR	2019	5	7	0	.417	Fired	—	—	—	—

 

Understand that Ron Rivera wasted no less than 6 of Cam Newton's/Luke Kuechly's prime years. Matt Rhule only coached here for 2.2 seasons. His impact, if you can call it that, on the franchise will be minimal in the eyes of history. The Panthers ranked top ten in total offense in 2011 and 2012. Only 6 teams scored more points than the 2011 Panthers. However, they boasted the 28th ranked Defense. Rivera mind you was advertised as a "defensive coach". It is a huge red flag when a new coach fails to improve their side of the ball. There were no less than 4 games in 2011 that the Panthers should have won, but didn't because of awful Ron Rivera decisions. That team should have made the playoffs. Wasted.  

They went on to rank 12th in defense in 2012. That team should have CERTAINLY made the playoffs. Even more egregious Ron Rivera decisions cost the Panthers no less than 3 games in 2012. (Including "that" Falcons game) Wasted. He should have been fired here.

2013 he earns the moniker 'Riverboat Ron' but really all he did was decide it was ok to ram Cam Newton up the middle to pick up first downs in non-critical moments of the game. QB Draw. QB POWER. on 4th and 1 in the 2nd Q. This man Ron Rivera literally cut Cam Newton's career short for no reason, on drives that would end in punts anyway. People blame Mike Shanahan for RG3s career being cut short, Ron Rivera did the same thing to Cam Newton it only took a little longer to unfold. The Offense is inefficient this year but the defense is top 3 and they go on to lose to the 49ers in the Divisional round. Would the team have fared better in that game had they been able to make the playoffs in either of the previous two seasons and gained playoff experience? We'll never know. Rivera's first good year.

2014 the team has a top 10 offense, middle of the round defense. They make the playoffs because the NFC South is terrible (time is a circle) and beat a Cardinals team without their QB in the playoffs. The difference in coaching is clear as day as he gets outcoached by Pat Carrol in Seattle to end the season. This Panthers team should have at least had a winning record. WASTED

 

2015 the Panthers make the Super Bowl. One of the most exciting seasons in NFL history. Historic year for Cam Newton. And then they choke. They choke to a decrypt Peyton Manning in the biggest game of the season. Buttcheeks clinching up and all of that. Who do we blame when a team shows up unprepared to play a game? the Coach. Arguably one of the best seasons in the history of professional sports, WASTED.

If you're keeping count boys and girls thats 4 seasons completely wasted. Thats almost 2 full Rhules.

2016 A team with Superbowl aspirations, yet the Panthers underachieve once more. This team never got over losing in the Super Bowl. Who gets the blame? The coach. WASTED.

2017, also known as "the last gasp". Rivera is once again outcoached by a superior coach , this team Sean Payton in the Wild Card Round. This team could have made a run. This team would have made a run with a better coach, plain and simple. WASTED.

2018 year of our lord. This team may be the most disappointing on the list. We all know the story. It doesn't need to be repeated. Its still Riveras fault. WASTED.

 

7 SEASONS!!! Again Rhule only lasted 2.2 seasons. Rhule was a blimp on a radar. A fart at 38,000ft with the engines rumbling. Rivera had a Warp Drive and only managed to get as far as New Bern. That 2015 year clouds people's judgment, and no doubt the only reason he got a second gig in Washington. Take Cam Newton off of that team and they go 6-10 and Rivera is fired. He added nothing of value to the team, cost us several critical games early in Cam Newton's development and is at least partially responsible for the early end of Cam Newton's career. And also "that" Falcons game. 

 

Speaking of Washington

 

WAS	2020	7	9	0	.438	1st in NFC East	0	1	.000	Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFC Wild Card Game
WAS	2021	7	10	0	.412	3rd in NFC East	—	—	—	—
WAS	2022	8	8	1	.500	4th in NFC East	—	—	—

 

More underachieving. This guy almost has as many playoff appearances due to his division being bad (2) then he does actual winning seasons (3). Speaking of 3, that is his total number of playoff wins. One of which you can hardly count, (Ryan Lindley ) . So he has 2 real playoff victories in 12 years in the NFL. It is a complete joke that he is still a head coach in the NFL. 

[FuFuLamePoo]

You spittin

[Donald LaFell]

I have my complaints about Rivera but this is way too much 

[top dawg]

I mean, I really can't ascribe the wasting of Cam and Luke's best years to Rivera as much as I do Gettleman. If Rivera sucks this year, now that he's the one basically in control, I'll say that you're probably right, but I wouldn't count him out just yet.

[Cary Kollins]

[TheCasillas]

I couldn’t finish the post, but I would probably still feel the same as I do now not reading it…. I disagree. 

[poundaway]

RR wasted a lot of talent, I think he is overrated here as a coach.  He's had 3 winning seasons in 12.

That said, Rhule was the worst Panthers coach ever.

[WOW!!]

Yeah ..

Agree to disagree…

[Cary Kollins]

ngl I only read about the first quarter of the OP but I wholeheartedly agree with everything said. A competent coaching staff and front office would have won at least two super bowls with Cam Newton. A brilliant staff like what KC has now would have been a dynasty. 
 

Rivera came from the 80’s hard nose style defensive football, and that’s all he knew how to bring to the Panthers. We basically had an elderly person with glaucoma driving a Mclaren with the flashers on. SMGDH every time I think about it.

 

Maybe we finally hit the jackpot with Reich and company. 

[axl-69 2.0]

Jesus fuging Christ. 

[PanthersATL]

25 minutes ago, Teddy2SuperBowlHeartBreaks said:

 It was so bad I unsarcastically begin to take an interest in women's college basketball during the fall.

You chose wisely.  This years women's NCAA tournament -especially the later rounds - was fantastic

[Eric4280]

Nothing was worse than that moron. Didn’t have hope or direction or use of talent. Ron had identity , even if he didn’t take advantage of all of that. Rhule was a wasteland.

[Jon Snow]

It was what it was.

Edited April 25, 2023 by Jon Snow

[TheBigKat]

23 minutes ago, poundaway said:

That said, Rhule was the worst Panthers coach ever.

You missed the braided belt curmudgeon era