Ron Rivera, the new coach of Charlotte’s Panthers, is confusing to me. I’ve heard that he doesn’t interview well for jobs and that’s why he hasn’t gotten a head coaching job until now. By all accounts, he did well at his press conference and by all accounts, former players like him and see him as a great motivator.
He supposedly didn’t get along with Bears coach Lovie Smith. In fact, there were reports that the two had to be separated from a physical altercation. Rivera, despite many Bears fans preferring him over Smith, got the ax in Chicago a few years ago.
Rivera is certainly a solid defensive coach but, as Redskins fans know, Jim Zorn was a solid offensive coach too. It doesn’t always translate to being a good head coach.
Rivera may turn out to be a solid pick but many Panther fans (after four straight defensive-minded coaches hired as the head man) understandably would have liked a higher-profile, offensive-minded guy like Harbaugh (who wasn’t considered).
Perhaps Rivera can put together a good staff to get the offense moving again. (Names floating around for offensive coordinator are Rob Chudzinski, Marc Trestman and Ron Turner.)
While I would like to see Russ Grimm get a head coaching job somewhere, insiders speak highly of Rivera and he’ll have a young team to mold. It doesn’t take as long to turn NFL teams around anymore so anything is possible. And, remember, the Panthers have the first pick.