The Rivera-Cam Regime: 2 years and 32 games in

[panthers55]

I answered as far as I'm concerned. ;)

As to the suggestion perhaps the running backs weren't used correctly the last two seasons.

Not a half, a game or even a 3 or 4 game stretch possibly to Cam and the team's detriment.

I can find nothing more damning to Rivera as a head coach

Just like most of the Rivera haters, you avoid the obvious to dump on Rivera. I am sure Rivera would have preferred Chud to run more but from what I have read or heard, Chud is pretty arrogant and wanted to do things his way. Given everyone knew he was gone sooner rather than later it would be hard to dictate to him and make him run it your way. There is likely a part of Rivera which is okay with him leaving. Shula may be more cooperative and willing to do what it takes to win games instead of try to convince people how smart you are so you can get a head coaching job elsewhere.

[top dawg]

-What's your favorite win 2012, Atlanta

-Describe your mood about the team with keywords Cautiously optimistic, but realistic

-Rate it out of 10 When it comes to the Panthers, I'm most always on 10

-Worst Loss 2012, @ Atlanta

-Favorite draft pick Cam Newton

-Most memorable moment After Cam gave this kid a football

-Will 2013 be Rivera's last season? Unless we totally bomb and/or don't go .500, I kinda doubt it.

Approve or Disapprove of our current direction? In the short-term, yes. In the long-term, we'll see (too early to tell).

[Kevin Greene]

Just like most of the Rivera haters, you avoid the obvious to dump on Rivera. I am sure Rivera would have preferred Chud to run more but from what I have read or heard, Chud is pretty arrogant and wanted to do things his way. Given everyone knew he was gone sooner rather than later it would be hard to dictate to him and make him run it your way. There is likely a part of Rivera which is okay with him leaving. Shula may be more cooperative and willing to do what it takes to win games instead of try to convince people how smart you are so you can get a head coaching job elsewhere.

Hmmm, that sounds suspiciously like a Rivera apologist.

[FootballMaestro]

Just like most of the Rivera haters, you avoid the obvious to dump on Rivera. I am sure Rivera would have preferred Chud to run more but from what I have read or heard, Chud is pretty arrogant and wanted to do things his way. Given everyone knew he was gone sooner rather than later it would be hard to dictate to him and make him run it your way. There is likely a part of Rivera which is okay with him leaving. Shula may be more cooperative and willing to do what it takes to win games instead of try to convince people how smart you are so you can get a head coaching job elsewhere.

This is why, until things change, Rivera has not demonstrated he's NFL Head Coach material during his coaching career. He hasn't done the proper research or homework (before and during his tenure) to learn the overall job, and hasn't demonstrated he knows how to make the tough decisions. He could have fired Chud at the end of the 2011 or 2012 season. And if he didn't, he should have put his foot down, as he learned to do after Hurney got fired and, when he realized his job was on the line.

It's been a two year learning process. Did the Panther hire a ready made NFL head coach, or an apprentice? Up until this point, it's been the latter.

[beastson]

This is why, until things change, Rivera has not demonstrated he's NFL Head Coach material during his coaching career. He hasn't done the proper research or homework (before and during his tenure) to learn the overall job, and hasn't demonstrated he knows how to make the tough decisions. He should have fired Chud at the end of the 2011 or 2012 season. And if he didn't, he should have put his foot down, as he learned to do after Hurney got fired and, when he realized his job was on the line.

It's been a two year learning process. Did the Panther hire a ready made NFL head coach, or an apprentice? Up until this point, it's been the latter.

fixed

[CRA]

This is why, until things change, Rivera has not demonstrated he's NFL Head Coach material during his coaching career. He hasn't done the proper research or homework (before and during his tenure) to learn the overall job, and hasn't demonstrated he knows how to make the tough decisions. He could have fired Chud at the end of the 2011 or 2012 season. And if he didn't, he should have put his foot down, as he learned to do after Hurney got fired and, when he realized his job was on the line.

It's been a two year learning process. Did the Panther hire a ready made NFL head coach, or an apprentice? Up until this point, it's been the latter.

Great NFL coaches aren't great year 1.....it is a process. They do learn just like everyone else.

But I must ask...what research or homework hasn't he done you are referencing?

Rivera is all in on Cam. Why didn't he fire Chud? B/c you put up w/ Chud's BS to let Newton have a stable enviroment even if the OC is flawed. Newton has the "it doesn't matter who the coach is" type potential. Most important thing for Rivera likely is having Cam in a comfortable enviroment to let him develop (and a lot of that is just time and on field learning).

[panthers55]

Hmmm, that sounds suspiciously like a Rivera apologist.

I prefer to think that I am more balanced and able to see both sides. I have criticized Rivera for lots of things. But I know enough to also know that how personnel are used in a particular game is more about the coordinator than head coach. Obviously Rivera had input as he should, but Chud as always struck me as prideful. After getting head coaching interviews last year I bet it didn't get better. If Rivera had been an offensive guy I sure he would have been more in Chud's business and perhaps demanded a change, but as a defensive guy he was more about repairing the terrible defense which was not only badly needed, but squarely in his wheelhouse. I suspect he believed Chud when he said that getting more complicated with the read option was the way to go. Chud is a bright and innovative guy who could draw up terrific plays and design creative concepts. How many times in the past 2 years have we had a receiver wide open versus under Fox where we ran a boring Davidson creation. Smitty is the only guy who can consistently get open on his own. Everyone else needs the scheme to fool the defense or overload a zone in order to get a favorable matchup which isolates them. And Chud could do that with the best of them.

No, Rivera would have had to focus mostly on the break in the dike which was the defense and special teams.. After all, it was the late breakdowns on the defense that caused most of the damage rather than the offense being the problem (Minus the first Tampa game). That side of the ball is where Rivera said he would concentrate. I got the feeling that it was a combination of Marty getting fired, Richardson's talk and the bye week gave them time to evaluate and change things. Apparently Cam couldn't run Chud's offense as it was too complicated and was too heavily built along the read option with too many variations for every play. So during the bye week they likely reviewed and evaluated things. That is when the offense started turning around.

[panthers55]

This is why, until things change, Rivera has not demonstrated he's NFL Head Coach material during his coaching career. He hasn't done the proper research or homework (before and during his tenure) to learn the overall job, and hasn't demonstrated he knows how to make the tough decisions. He could have fired Chud at the end of the 2011 or 2012 season. And if he didn't, he should have put his foot down, as he learned to do after Hurney got fired and, when he realized his job was on the line.

It's been a two year learning process. Did the Panther hire a ready made NFL head coach, or an apprentice? Up until this point, it's been the latter.

The whole issue is really about whether or not Rivera will be head coach material this year not really what happened last year or the year before. There is no question he has made mistakes which have cost us games. He played small and conservative on defense late in games way too often, playing the odds instead of gauging the flow of the game and being bold and aggressive, particularly on the road.

He did put his foot down when Hurney was fired. It was too late for sure and it almost cost him his job. Again the issue isn't whether it was too little too late, because it was, but whether he has learned his lesson and won't repeat the same mistake.

The problem for people on this issue is about letting go of the past to discuss the future. And whether you believe that Rivera will learn from his mistakes or not. Whether you believe that the late season run was about winning meaningless games or was a team playing for their coach, everyone feeling the urgency to win games and prove they were a better team than their record indicated.

I think that Rivera will learn from these mistakes and while he might make news one, he won't keep repeating the same one of the past. I think the talent on the team will be as good or better than it was last year thanks to Gettleman. And I think we will make the 5 or 6 plays we didn't make this year that made the difference between a 7-9 team and a 10-6 team .

But I can understand others being skeptical or saying that history is the best predictor of the future. it is a half empty/half full thing. In the off-season, I prefer to be optimistic unless they do something idiotic. Like cutting Smitty or trading him. But short of that, I am taking a look see attitude but expect things to be good.

[Second_Solution]

What's your favorite win: Falcons 2012, the most complete game we have played.

Describe your mood about the team with keywords: Disappointed

Rate it out of 10: 5

Favorite/Least Favorite acquisition: Favourite: Olsen, least favourite: Naka

Worst Loss: Giants 2012

Favorite draft pick: Cam (Keek has been great, but Cam filled a far more pertinent need)

Most memorable moment: Fumblerooskie against the Texans/ The Kracken telling the Falcons to get the **** of his field.

Will 2013 be Rivera's last season? I think so

Approve or Disapprove of our current direction Too early to say, will have to see how Gettleman handles free agency and the draft.

[Kevin Greene]

I prefer to think that I am more balanced and able to see both sides. I have criticized Rivera for lots of things. ...........

You are one of the sharpest guys on this Forum and I respect your opinion but Rivera is water under the bridge for me.

I expect very little from the Panthers next year even in their ability to compete for the NFC South, not to mention the NFC as a whole.

The recent coaching hires are very underwhelming and at this point it's as much ownership as coaching staff.

My hopes are Gettleman does an excellent job in the draft, makes the tough calls on roster cuts and restructures and gets Carolina to a point where the Cap issues are no longer dictating foolish moves but rather we stay a step ahead.

Ultimately I want this team to be a clean slate free of contract problems and with good young talent and the ability to use Free Agency wisely so whatever Coaching regime is here in 2014 can utilize every tool available to get this Franchise winning again.

We need that Blue Sky for us Panther fans and for our Franchise (Cam) to feel good about staying here in Carolina and bringing us a Lombardi someday soon.

[iamhubby1]

I pretty much agree with everyone else on the who and what. So I am going to skp to the future prognosis.

I think that Rivera will learn from these mistakes and while he might make news one, he won't keep repeating the same one of the past. I think the talent on the team will be as good or better than it was last year thanks to Gettleman. And I think we will make the 5 or 6 plays we didn't make this year that made the difference between a 7-9 team and a 10-6 team .

And You my friend pretty much nailed it. I would like to add on thing if I may.

The only thing I would like to add, is the fact that I belive this team won during the last half of last year not because of the level of competition. But because they were a good team. It played solid with regards to technice and scheme. They were sharper on the field with less penalties and WTF moments. The offense was more balls to the walls and agressive, and the players responded. And the D, was great. Even with unproven DBs.

When Gettlemen adds some talent this year, it should put us right back in the game. I see no reason not to be optimistic. But then again, I have faith in Rivera and Gettlemen. So it is much easier for me.

Just wanted to get that out there. And GOOOOO CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!