Football Outsiders Predicts Great Things for Carolina

[panthers55]

A couple of thoughts.  If we ran the pistol 2 times a game or 32 times all year then a few big plays will significantly skew how great it was.  If we run it more it could also mean it loses its disguise value much like the read option did in year 2.  I personally like the pistol formation but stats like 9 yards a play appears terrific but sometimes stats have to be taken in context.

As for Rivera, this should be the litmus test year.  If we start off slow again we wont have a winning year and he will be gone.  If you look at our schedule at the end of the year we are going to need to win early if we have any chance of the playoffs.  We should be 3-3 at worse after 6 games.  Anything less than that will make it very hard to do much this year.

[Archimedes]

They pretty much nailed it.  We're a top 5 talent, in a brutal NFC.  We have a coach would would struggle to manage a high school football game.  Lets hope the performance can overcome the decision making.

 

On another bright note, they have the Falcons dropping to a sub .500 team this year.

[Growl]

Every time I start getting optimistic about next season, I remember Shula.

 

 

[Creep59]

I think that Rivera is a very good coach, he's just an awful, AWFUL, game manager. 

 

 

Hopefully he has studied film of some of the great coaching game time decisions and will have learned from them.  On the other hand maybe its something inate and cant be learned. 

 

I guess well find out soon enough now.

[Your GFs favorite huddler]

It all comes down to putting our big time players in the best postion to make plays and win games! I feel earlier in the year we lost more games due to Chud's offensive play calling aka beating a dead horse out of the shotgun then anything. Im not completely sold on rivera yet but i do like how the players rallied behind him last year! Im excited to get this season underway let D-Will and Stew do what theyre paid for and chew up yards!!!

[Cyberjag]

Obviously FO doesn't read the Huddle or they would know that Rivera has finally learned from all his mistakes, and is now ready to join the ranks of all-time great coaches.

[Sean Payton's Vicodin]

Every time I start getting optimistic about next season, I remember Shula.

 

Was about to say the same thing.

[ladypanther]

I was among those who did not believe Rivera should be retained after last year.  I hope I am wrong. My guess is that he and Gettleman have watched a lot of film together. Gettleman could prove to be a good mentor. I think RR is teachable.

 

Playoffs....the first goal.

[Jump Zone]

Unless we can say after the season that we have won, Rivera is done. It is time to just win baby...

[pantherclaw]

You're forgetting about a little thing called a contract. Richardson wasn't going to pay 2 years for nothing.

if an owner don't want the coach, they'll move on regardless of the contract. Rivera's contract is small.

[SCP]

On another bright note, they have the Falcons dropping to a sub .500 team this year.

Huh? No way.

[PhillyB]

their offense will be potent enough to win them 8 games just by itself. unless we sweep them i don't see the falcons winning less than 10 games

[j2sgam]

Hopefully we get off to a good start then get better... I think it bodes well for us havin most of the divisional games at the end of the season, where we have been solid under Chico. I smell playoff implications....

This is absolutely Rivera's litmus, 3rd year is time to get it done for him & Cam both. No more lockout/rookie/inexperienced excuses. Make it happen. Ron has traditionally done very well as a DC, HC skills are still undetermined~knock on wood~. Shula is taking a very good playbook and simplifying it, makin it easier on all the O. No reason we aren't playin come January... February would be nothing short of stellar, I'm glad to witness the attempt....