Rivera Remarks 12-26-11

[ed bell]

http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Ron-Rivera-Presser/2e69f85e-df11-4b73-8484-dee773218f81

A few points covered:

Naanee broke his foot, and will not play Sunday.....all four (Armanti, Tutu, Pilares and Adams) should see the field on Sunday depending on the package. How much is to be determined.

Major props given to Smitty on the LaFell TD for hustling up-field and cutting off three on the defensive pursuit. Said it was as unselfish as it gets and indicates that Smith buys into what the coaches are trying to do. Also said Gamble continues to impress and showed a lot making tackles on RB's inside the box from the corner.

Asked about biggest off-season needs, said he doesn't know yet, but getting guys healthy was the primary concern now. Plans to evaluate and decide on plans about the team's biggest off-season needs in the next few weeks.

Thinks that talk from outside of DT being the biggest need is a stretch in light of how certain players have stepped up to play (mentioned Neblett, Kearse and Shirley) and is expecting Ron Edwards back next year. Said "To me the Tackle position is not really a concern, but we'll see...we'll evaluate..."

Asked about Otah- said "Jeff's here every day working out, doing a heck of a job. Real happy about what he has done........you can't have too many good players."

Looking forward to playing against the best effort the Saints can give....

[chknwing]

sounds like a BPA Draft to me.

[doghead28]

I think DT still big need as well as CB, but we should take whoever is the best player and not reach

[OneBadassCat]

As long as we sign FA's capable of filling needs then I don't care if we go BPA. But no what we have at DT is not good enough for next year. Unless McClain and Fua step it up BIG TIME.

[CarolinaCatBrigade]

I think OLB is our #1 need, Thomas Davis is done. 3 ACL's. It's not the front 4 that's the problem, it's the lack of presence with our LB's. Beason, Anderson, Draft Pick.

CB is a close 2nd. Definitely a need.

If all else fails BPA or trade down. But the draft will be easier to determine after Free Agency.

[grateflday]

http://www.panthers.com/media-vault/videos/Ron-Rivera-Presser/2e69f85e-df11-4b73-8484-dee773218f81

...............

Major props given to Smitty on the LaFell TD for hustling up-field and cutting off three on the defensive pursuit. Said it was as unselfish as it gets and indicates that Smith buys into what the coaches are trying to do. ..........

.

Definately nice to see Smitty do that. He is going to have to be happy not being the "feature" guy sometimes. I say that cause its not like the Panthers to score so many points and then when they do Smitty didnt even have a big receiving day, etc. For a bit I was nervouse he was gonna block one of those guys in the back :-)

Now all Rivera needs to do is keep building this team and get Smitty back to the Superbowl so he can get a ring ;-)

[Jackofalltrades]

CB and OLB are big needs and Senn could have a big influence on that.

[Donald LaFell]

I think OLB is our #1 need, Thomas Davis is done. 3 ACL's. It's not the front 4 that's the problem, it's the lack of presence with our LB's. Beason, Anderson, Draft Pick.

CB is a close 2nd. Definitely a need.

If all else fails BPA or trade down. But the draft will be easier to determine after Free Agency.

Not to mention it's going to take Beason a while to get back to his old self. It would help to have another guy to take the load off.

[CarolinaCatBrigade]

CB and OLB are big needs and Senn could have a big influence on that.

Senn plays hard. But I don't feel comfortable going into next season with him as our starter. Solid against the run, just a liability in pass coverage. I was a stud at WLB.

[Udogg]

I think OLB is our #1 need, Thomas Davis is done. 3 ACL's. It's not the front 4 that's the problem, it's the lack of presence with our LB's. Beason, Anderson, Draft Pick.

CB is a close 2nd. Definitely a need.

If all else fails BPA or trade down. But the draft will be easier to determine after Free Agency.

*Insert my NJP inside info post.

Thomas Davis is doing well. The previous ACL surgeries were performed by Panther Doctors. This current one has been done by Mr. Tommie Jone himself Dr. Andrews. Davis who I would say is an expert on ACL surgeries says that his knee feels completely different than before. Much stronger and much father ahead.

[ed bell]

I'm leaning more towards Defensive BPA all the time.....and wouldn't be disappointed if we all but avoided QB's, RB's, TE's, and DE's in the draft altogether.

[Skew]

Whoever we draft, we need to trade away our next 3 first round picks to move up in the draft to get him.

[PantherBrew]

I'd want to go corner in the first and olb in the second.

I don't want an olb in the first. I think there is more impact to be made at the corner position than olb. Unless, we are able to trade down. Can never have too many good corners.

We also need to draft a couple of offensive lineman, and build depth there. We have actually been very healthy there this season.

[panthers55]

I think corner safety and linebacker are our biggest needs. Like Rivera I am not too concerned about DT after the last few games. Our inside pass rush has been very good and we have been stout against the run. At leas that is the way it appears when watching it.

As for who we pick and when, it depends on who is available when we pick. I have no problem with BPA as long as we direct it to a position of need until the holes are filled or at least addressed in free agency.