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Sitting at 3-7-1 heading into their bye week, it is safe to raise the question of whether Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is on the hot seat. Before we get into the answer to that question, let’s take a look at Rivera’s coaching career before and during his tenure with Carolina.
Rivera was known as a defensive specialist during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers before taking his first head coaching job with the Panthers in 2011. Over his first three seasons as head coach, Carolina improved their record in each season, going from 6-10 in 2011 to 7-9 in 2012 to 12-4 last season. Everything came full circle for Rivera last season. Along with the savvy drafting of the front office, Rivera put together the No. 2 ranked defense in the NFL, won AP Coach of the Year, earned the best coaching nickname in sports in “Riverboat Ron” and led the Panthers to their first NFC South divisional title since 2008.
Fast forward to this season and everything that could possibly go wrong, has gone wrong for Carolina in 2014. The defense has regressed dramatically from a unit that was so good last season. Quarterback Cam Newton is banged up and having the worst season of his young career. “Riverboat Ron” has flashed his old conservative ways, settling for a tie against Cincinnati and lacking aggressiveness in a heartbreaking loss to Atlanta. With a career record of 28-30-1, it’s necessary to revisit the question: Is Ron Rivera on the hot seat in Carolina? The answer is an emphatic no.
The reality is that up until this season, Rivera had been a revelation for Carolina, building a great defense and gradually improving offensively. One of the difficult things that Rivera faces is the fact that he is tied to quarterback Cam Newton. Newton and Rivera arrived in Carolina together in 2011, and quite frankly, how you feel about Newton as the franchise quarterback for the Panthers is probably the same way you feel about Rivera as the head coach in Carolina. If you still think Newton has a bright future and will eventually become an elite QB in the NFL, then Rivera’s job is safe. If you think Newton’s recent struggles are signs of a downward spiraling career, you are probably calling for Rivera’s job as we speak.
The odds that Carolina actually pulls the trigger and fires Rivera after this season are highly unlikely. After next season, however, it is very possible. 2015 will be a huge year for the Panthers to right the ship and continue on what was an upward trajectory. It will be up to Rivera and the front office to fill needs through the draft and free agency and transform the defense back into the powerhouse that it was in 2013. The formula for Carolina to sustain success is by playing stout defense, running the football effectively and letting Newton’s athleticism evolve him into an elite level quarterback. If those things don’t happen next season, he will likely lose his job, but as of right now Rivera is not on the hot seat in Carolina.
Andrew Skaggs is a Carolina Panthers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RantSkaggs and add him on Google.
