Rivera takes a Gamble and it is paying off

[panthers55]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/12/01/2820238/gamble-a-sure-thing-again-after.html

When Ron Rivera sat down with cornerback Chris Gamble before the season, he didn't want to talk about the past.

He wanted to talk about the future and Gamble's place in it.

This wasn't about what did or didn't happen between him and former coach John Fox at the end of a 2-14 season in which Gamble missed the last five games because of injuries and mutual frustration. It couldn't be about that any more.

"I sat him down and told him, 'You're our No. 1 corner. We want to put you to the challenge and we really believe you can do some things. But I think also we've got to help you with the pass rush.' And I think that's helped him," Rivera said.

"There've been some philosophical changes that have helped him. We've utilized his talents and abilities. But the young man's really worked hard. You watch the way he practices, the way he studies an opponent, he's been revitalized."

Gamble has answered Rivera's call.

[PhillyB]

if there's a bright spot on defense it's that opponents are almost guaranteed to only get one or two catches from their number one wide receivers.

[DickolausJ]

Guy was getting so much trash talked on him before the season started.

[Carolina Fan]

gamble has always been a better then average #1 corner, but last couple of years he hasn't seemed all there, this year however really showed everyone hes still there.

[jtnc]

if there's a bright spot on defense it's that opponents are almost guaranteed to only get one or two catches from their number one wide receivers.

I found it odd, that they had Gamble on Garçon instead of Wayne. Is it because Garçon has more speed?

[CarolinaPanthers2K11]

Guy was getting so much trash talked on him before the season started.

I know... and I don't understand why. Even last season during our garbage run, he was still like the #4 corner in the league in receiving the least targets 'cause opponents didn't want any...

[Zithers]

garcon has been painter's main target this year

wayne got most of his yards because rj stanford was on him for some reason and because sherrod martin cant tackle worth a poo

[CarolinaPanthers2K11]

garcon has been painter's main target this year

wayne got most of his yards because rj stanford was on him for some reason and because sherrod martin cant tackle worth a poo

RJ is terrible. I saw him on the field put on Wayne and was like WTF? I think there's a video of Smitty just absolutely clowning him on youtube somewhere during camp. 89 broke his ankles like 6 times just jogging around and running playfully. It was pretty bad. lol

[Fiz]

lol remember when pat yasinskas said he was washed up after the cincinnati game?

[KSpan]

As usual, the comments below the article are quite funny.

[ed bell]

This is another example of Rivera's ability to communicate with players and get results. It's been a rough year so far, but he's using the players that were already on the roster and slowly building his team moving forward. Aside from the draft, there haven't been many long term roster changes yet. Looking at last year, Gamble could have easily been regarded as a fading presence here, but he's had a great season so far. Good job....glad the "cut Gamble" folks were shown to be dead wrong, it was ridiculous.

[SOJA]

Gamble needs to have his deal restructured after this year......corners can play well into their 30's and for some reason I don't see us drafting one with a high pick next year.

[Clicheking]

Some of those people in the comments section are clueless. Gamble has played as well as any corner in the league, we just need to get more talent around him so I won't be

ashamed of our defense anymore

[rainwater]

I think Gamble deserved all the flak he got last year. But he has come back a new player this year. One of the few bright spots on defense. Ok, maybe the only bright spot on defense.