Rivera Coaching Colleagues

[Dpantherman]

Let the chiefs have him, everyone knows he doesn't even call plays.

[Mr. Scot]

Chris Mortensen said McCoy will be "strongly considered" for the Chiefs OC.

I could imagine a few of the ex-Panther coaches getting consideration, but there's no guarantee.

[catnip]

After getting our new coach and coordinators, lets look at our panther family tree. Moose for WR's, Kevin Green with the Def, Wesley Walls with the TE's,

Steve Beuerline with QB's, Stephen Davis with the RB's. Even Kerry Collins as backup QB and let him retire a panther. All have more to give the game and well respected as former players. I think the fans could get excited about some of these and others. What do you think, wishful or not ?

[Mr. Scot]

After getting our new coach and coordinators, lets look at our panther family tree. Moose for WR's, Kevin Green with the Def, Wesley Walls with the TE's,

Steve Beuerline with QB's, Stephen Davis with the RB's. Even Kerry Collins as backup QB and let him retire a panther. All have more to give the game and well respected as former players. I think the fans could get excited about some of these and others. What do you think, wishful or not ?

Mostly wishful, I'm afraid.

Moose and Beuerlein are in broadcasting. Walls is a businessman. Kevin Greene is coaching, but has only been at it a short time and nearly all his experience is in a 3-4 system.

If I recall correctly, David was a coaching intern this past training camp, so he might get a look as an assistant or something, but not a full time position coach.

[mountainpantherfan]

The names that most interest me from this list are Ramsdell, Babich and Toub. I seriously doubt Toub is attainable, but six years of working together makes me think Rivera would at least make the attempt (never hurts to ask).

Not a big Childress fan, but I could live with him as a QB coach. Likewise, I could see an interest in Ron Turner as QB coach more so than OC.

My first choice for DC would be Rob Ryan, but Babich could be good too. In my dreams, we'd get Ryan as DC and Babich as an LB coach, but that's one of those "if that happens I'll shave my head" type scenarios.

Some of the non-acquainted possibilities that interest me are former Cowboy WR coach Ray Sherman and former Vikings OC Darrell Bevell. The Vikes also let go of offensive line coach Pat Morris and are expected to be parting ways with Special Teams Coach Brian Murphy shortly.

I really like the idea of Rivera with Ramsdell and Ryan as coordinators.

However, if Hurney and the front office are going to have a lot of say in the process I wouldn't be surprised if Keith Butler ends up being one of if not the primary target. Butler has been seen as off limits by most of the league and the heir apparent to Dick LeBeau however, I see the Ronney's letting him leave for Carolina as our DC considering the relationship the owners have and the fact that it would be an upward move to a team the Steelers only play once every 4 years.

As for who Hurney and the front office would want as offensive coordinator, I wouldn't rule out someone like Al Saunders or Brad Childress. However, I do think that Ramsdell fits within what the organization would want, more of an old school teacher who is inovative with playcalling. Really, everything that Dan Henning was (who really was a great play caller and game planner) but a teacher and player developer as well (which Henning was horrible at).

Unlike most, though, I really do see this team switching to a 3-4 base defense moving forward and I would approve the switch.

[davos]

Good job putting this thread together Scot....

Even when looking at this list, Ramsdell remains at the top of my list

I'm feeling confident we can find a good offensive mind out there regardless of what happens

[davos]

I really like the idea of Rivera with Ramsdell and Ryan as coordinators.

However, if Hurney and the front office are going to have a lot of say in the process I wouldn't be surprised if Keith Butler ends up being one of if not the primary target. Butler has been seen as off limits by most of the league and the heir apparent to Dick LeBeau however, I see the Ronney's letting him leave for Carolina as our DC considering the relationship the owners have and the fact that it would be an upward move to a team the Steelers only play once every 4 years.

As for who Hurney and the front office would want as offensive coordinator, I wouldn't rule out someone like Al Saunders or Brad Childress. However, I do think that Ramsdell fits within what the organization would want, more of an old school teacher who is inovative with playcalling. Really, everything that Dan Henning was (who really was a great play caller and game planner) but a teacher and player developer as well (which Henning was horrible at).

Unlike most, though, I really do see this team switching to a 3-4 base defense moving forward and I would approve the switch.

Going to 3-4 could create an opening for Norwood to be a stud imo

[Mr. Scot]

I really like the idea of Rivera with Ramsdell and Ryan as coordinators.

However, if Hurney and the front office are going to have a lot of say in the process I wouldn't be surprised if Keith Butler ends up being one of if not the primary target. Butler has been seen as off limits by most of the league and the heir apparent to Dick LeBeau however, I see the Ronney's letting him leave for Carolina as our DC considering the relationship the owners have and the fact that it would be an upward move to a team the Steelers only play once every 4 years.

As for who Hurney and the front office would want as offensive coordinator, I wouldn't rule out someone like Al Saunders or Brad Childress. However, I do think that Ramsdell fits within what the organization would want, more of an old school teacher who is inovative with playcalling. Really, everything that Dan Henning was (who really was a great play caller and game planner) but a teacher and player developer as well (which Henning was horrible at).

Unlike most, though, I really do see this team switching to a 3-4 base defense moving forward and I would approve the switch.

Disagree on the 3-4 switch. I just don't see it happening.

I got a feeling that if Butler leaves the Steelers (something which is no lock) he could end up in Arizona.

The Steelers let Whisenhunt interview him once before. With their recent DC firing, I expect they may reach in that direction again once he's available to interview.

[panthers55]

Dont see us going to a 3-4 given our personnel but Rivera has worked with the 4-3 quite a bit. I wouldn't be surprised if he created a hybrid look using elements of both similar to Arizona. It would be predicated on getting a few big DTs one of which could play the 0 Technique and at least 1 or 2 who could collapse the pocket from the 3 technique position.

[Mr. Scot]

Another possibility from Rivera's past: DL Coach Bryan Cox.

Cox played for the Bears in 1997. That was the first year Rivera started coaching with the Bears (as a defensive QC guy). He was most recently the DL coach in Cleveland, and the Browns aren't expected to retain any of their assistants.

Speaking of Cleveland, if the Panthers went for Rob Ryan as a DC, it'd double the chances of Cox getting a job here since he most recently worked under Ryan with the Browns.

For those who remember him, Cox was famously known for being kind of a prick as a player.

[Chaos]

After getting our new coach and coordinators, lets look at our panther family tree. Moose for WR's, Kevin Green with the Def, Wesley Walls with the TE's,

Steve Beuerline with QB's, Stephen Davis with the RB's. Even Kerry Collins as backup QB and let him retire a panther. All have more to give the game and well respected as former players. I think the fans could get excited about some of these and others. What do you think, wishful or not ?

Collins retired as a Panther when he walked out on the organization in 98.

As for the other suggestions...I don't think we're ready to annoint all of our former players as coaches.

[PantherFanForLife]

We're kind of getting a bit ahead of ourselves here. Let's sign him first.

[mountainpantherfan]

I really wish the myth that we have the personel for a 4-3 and don't have the personel for a 3-4 would end. It just isn't true. The only starters under contract for 2011 among the front seven are Beason, Conner and Brayton. Now, you can re-sign players who don't have contracts like Charles Johnson, Nick Hayden, Derek Landri, Thomas Davis, and James Anderson and yes that would be a group of players that need to play in a 4-3 defense. However, that is the same starting lineup that went 2-14. The problems on this team aren't just on the offensive side of the ball and a reworking is needed on the defense. That doesn't mean a have to shift to a 3-4 base alignment but that option is just as easily doable as remaining in a 4-3 alignment.

The biggest reason I am supportive of a switch is the fact we have two great ILB in Beason and Conner under contract while our good OLB are not. If you can get Beason and Conner on the field at the same time and are only having to pay them their rookie contracts and you are in a position to revamp the defense, why not?

I also think finding two quality DT for a 4-3 is being downplayed by a lot of fans. It's not as easy as it sounds. Not that it is more difficult that finding 3-4 NT or lineman but fans who say "we're only 2 DT away from having a good front seven" drive me crazy. Like quality DT are out there growing on trees.

Overall, I'm not saying a 3-4 switch needs to or has to happen. But look at the coaches that have been interviewed so far. All are defensive coordinators and 3 of them currently coach a 3-4 defense. I don't think Hurney and the front office are looking for a coach that will go 4-3 or 3-4. They are being open minded about it so I don't think they will insist the team stay 4-3.

[KBRed]

We're kind of getting a bit ahead of ourselves here. Let's sign him first.

Just a little excited about what a great defense we will have, if all this goes down. Nothing else really to get excited about except for maybe a profound tweet here and there from our players.

Getting ahead of yourself, would be your hatewagon for The Salty...who hates this guy? Praise to Allah.