Bill Barnwell: Worst Coaching decision of the year goes to.....

[Happy Panther]

IMO, Rivera has done worse than the Naka-fail. The pillowy soft coverage against the Bears in the final minutes annoyed me more. I probably would have lost my mind if I watched the last Tampa Bay game. The game against the Chiefs was inexcusable. And so on...

The Saints game at home too.

When i watched the Falcons game I was elated when we pinned them inside the one yard line. I don't fault him for not going for it honestly. There is a time and place for conservatism.

[raleigh-panther]

...ahhhh memories.

[Frizzy350]

It was a textbook situation that failed because of a safety that forgot all the fundamentals on how to play the position. The actual punt was executed to perfection and with the lackadaisical issues we were having with the OL, there were no guarantees that we would get that 1st down unlike last year which would have been an automatic "duh"...especially with the opposition knowing what we would do. Just because we have a 100+ million dollar backfield doesn't mean jack when we have an OL performing like ass.

The issue is that our defense wasn't firing on all cylinders early in the season. Even though we dropped them near their goal line, I had a sneaking suspicion that they were going to roar right back. If I was coach, I probably would have gone for it because the offense had more going for them than the defense at that point of the season...which shows how much of a crappy team we were early on.

IMO, Rivera has done worse than the Naka-fail. The pillowy soft coverage against the Bears in the final minutes annoyed me more. I probably would have lost my mind if I watched the last Tampa Bay game. The game against the Chiefs was inexcusable. And so on...

I agree with most of what you stated, however I think our losses in the closing minutes to ATL and CHI caused Rivera to sit some of our DBs. I think Nakamura proved his ineptitude vs ATL because everything was done right with that punt. Great kick, great fielding, our defense was playing great that game (7 sacks I think) and Rivera called a good defensive play in that situation (man coverage + 2 deep safeties). I think Rivera wanted our DBs to be playing more physical vs Chicago and that is part of why Norman got benched.

The Chiefs game wasn't rigged, but the refs were definitely instructed to not call any penalties against KC that didn't need to be called. Anyone who watched that game can attest to that, and this happens anytime a player dies (Dallas vs Cincinatti this year as well).

[rayzor]

The Saints game at home too.

When i watched the Falcons game I was elated when we pinned them inside the one yard line. I don't fault him for not going for it honestly. There is a time and place for conservatism.

those moments are coming fewer and further between just because of how the rules make it easy for offenses to charge downfield quickly through the air.

like someone above said, it was a text book situation, but he emphasis is on was. you can't do that confidently anymore. you can't put your defenses in those situations because the cards are stacked against you thanks to rule changes protecting the QB and the WR, esp. after 5 yards. the game is set up now for those situations.

rivera played it by the book, but he was using an old book that is being rewritten. defensive and conservative minded coaches are behind in this and it's costing them games.

[teeray]

This is a perfect example of why stat geeks don't coach in the NFL. Not only was it not the worst decision of the season. I was the absolute right decision.

[rayzor]

This is a perfect example of why stat geeks don't coach in the NFL. Not only was it not the worst decision of the season. I was the absolute right decision.

maybe 5-10 years ago, but the way the game is evolving it puts you in dangerous territory.

you do not give the other team the ball, regardless of how good you think your defense is. period.

you can not trust your defense to stop a team, esp. that good of an offense, when the league is stacked against your defense. it just doesn't make sense to keep doing that kind of thing anymore.

[PhillyB]

I swear this is getting pathetic.

The Huddle has turned into nothing more than a bitch and whine circle jerk with most if you.

No legit discussion.....just one thread after another bitching and moaning.

this is what happens when you follow one disappointing season with yet another. AND it's the offseason... lose/lose.

[KendrickPanther]

Yeah it wasn't a great decision but what the fug qualifies Bill Barnwell to question NFL head coaches?

[Chaos]

Don't forget, ol' Ronnie prefers to get beat systematically, as we learned from the Bears game.

[panfan32]

I'm not even sure that's the worst call of the year. i think the call to punt the ball in the 4QTR against Kansas City was worse.

[Happy Panther]

those moments are coming fewer and further between just because of how the rules make it easy for offenses to charge downfield quickly through the air.

like someone above said, it was a text book situation, but he emphasis is on was. you can't do that confidently anymore. you can't put your defenses in those situations because the cards are stacked against you thanks to rule changes protecting the QB and the WR, esp. after 5 yards. the game is set up now for those situations.

rivera played it by the book, but he was using an old book that is being rewritten. defensive and conservative minded coaches are behind in this and it's costing them games.

I agree. But with 60 seconds to play and no timeouts I think you take the chance of punting there.

[Happy Panther]

Yeah it wasn't a great decision but what the fug qualifies Bill Barnwell to question NFL head coaches?

The fact that he has a blog that people actually read.

[FootballMaestro]

I'm not even sure that's the worst call of the year. i think the call to punt the ball in the 4QTR against Kansas City was worse.

Oh, you mean the day the Panther defense couldn't stop Brady Fuggin Quinn, who was one of the worst QB's all season, both before and after he played the Panthers. Yeah, I remember, Rivera punted on 4th down with only 4 min left, expecting to stop a team he hadn't stopped all game. Yeah, that sounds like a bright idea? :thumbsd:

Mean while the Panthers offense was moving the ball all day. The only problem was: They just didn't have enough touches/possessions to obtain the lead. However, Rivera decided to punt it away late in the 4th, giving up possession. And of course, the Panthers never got the ball back and lost to the worst team/worse rated starting QB in the NFL.

Yeah, we remember that day.

[rayzor]

I agree. But with 60 seconds to play and no timeouts I think you take the chance of punting there.

we;ve seen waaayyyy too many times how very little time it takes for offenses to get the ball down the field and 60 seconds is too much.

teams have done that several times, including in the playoffs, only to lose or go to overtime.

it's just not nearly the safe play it used to be. i don't even like calling it conservative. it's just too risky and too easy to fail. you do whatever it takes to keep the ball in your hand and you do not trust your D to stop the other team from losing the lead.