With the Panthers third matchup with the New Orleans Saints looming, Ron Rivera spoke with the media after practice about whether the Panthers enjoy being the underdog, why Cam Newton gets so much blame for the team’s performance, and how the Panthers will cope if Trai Turner isn’t able to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol; he also addressed the upcoming sale of the team in addition to a contract extension. A variety of topics were discussed ahead of a Wild Card matchup in New Orleans, check out the full transcript below.
Did Matt [Kalil] get Derek [Anderson] sick?
Either that, or the other way around. But, you know, it’s a little bit of the bug going around. We’ve had a few guys that have had it; having Matt back out there today [at practice], it was good to see, but we sent DA home. Don’t want to spread it to anybody else.
Devin mentioned this week that his shoulder, being held out for two practices, was a little bit more on the precautionary side…
Yes, he’s healing up nicely. He moved around well today, so we just wanted to be smart.
You feel pretty good about all those guys, though?
Yeah, we’ll see. We’ll see how everyone is come tomorrow morning.
You mentioned the last time you went up against the Saints how much you like going up against Sean Payton, how much more intriguing does that make this game?
I don’t think it makes it any more different than when you play them any other time; I think the only difference is that this is the playoffs now. Everybody understands what’s at stake, everybody knows that it’s turned up a little bit more, so that’s probably the biggest thing.
I’m trying to ask this question without the answer being, “That’s OK.” A lot of people outside the building aren’t giving you a chance this week…
That’s OK.
We’ll show up. It is what people want to make of it; it’s a game that they beat us twice this year. OK. We didn’t play well the last game we played; neither did they, but we’ll see. That’s why you show up and play on Sundays and I really mean that. It’s crazy how people sit there and don’t want to give people chances, that’s OK. It’s how you look at it and how you go out there and you play. A lot of people didn’t have us picked here anyway. We were picked 6-10, 7-9, 8-8, last in the NFC South; you could have given that everything you do from here on out is gravy, then. It just depends on the approach you want to take, so, quite honestly, I really am not concerned with it, I don’t think it has anything to do with how we play, what people say. If we had believed that, in 2015, we’d have never gotten anywhere, so we’ll just go out and we’ll take this game for what it is. It’s a playoff game and we’re going to give everything we’ve got. Like I said, we’ll show up.
But you like being in this position, right?
I love being in this position. I really do. People discount you, that’s fine. Hopefully, we all understand that as a team, as an organization, as a city. It’s funny because I was in Philadelphia, we always had to deal with that being the second city. It was kind of an unfair moniker, because nobody knows what’s going to happen. That’s why you play.
Is this an uncertain time for the organization, with what is going to happen after the season is over?
Yeah, I mean, the circumstances are what they are; the only thing that we can control is what happens on the football field, so I think it’s the big reason why we never really got into it. Because, I think, we as a team understand, so we just focus in on the game we’re about to play. I don’t think it plays into how we feel or how we’re going to play. I really don’t. I don’t think that has anything to do with it; quite honestly, the only time it’s ever really thought about is when it’s brought up. I really do mean that.
There was a report a few weeks ago on the organization wanting to get you locked up, has there been any movement on that?
I think the biggest thing with that is that everything that needs to happen or is going to happen with that is going to happen in time. Whatever is decided, we’ll see.
With Andrew Norwell being named to the All-Pro team today….
Him and Luke! I think both those young men deserve it. I think we have a couple of other guys that people should take notice of, you know, we only have one Pro Bowl player. It’s good to see that Andrew got some recognition; I thought Daryl Williams had a tremendous year and deserves the recognition, as did Pep and as did Mario. I think both of those guys- Thomas Davis is another guy, I think that should most certainly get some consideration. It’s unfortunate that Greg got hurt this year. Based on the way he’s played in some of the games this year we’ve had, particularly the Green Bay game, he could have had another big year. So that’s unfortunate, but I think that both our punter and kicker are both guys that deserve consideration as well.
How did Norwell make himself from an undrafted guy, a guy that you weren’t sure about at first, into an All-Pro?
It’s like I first told you guys, when we first got him, there were things that he didn’t do well individually, but collectively, when he was in the unit, when he worked with a group of guys, you could see his abilities. He’s such a great team player, I think a big part of it is who he is as a young man, how hard he works, his dedication. I think he takes coaching very, very well. He takes it as criticism very well, he takes it as constructive criticism and he applies and improves himself. Deservedly so, he’s a heck of a football player.
You mentioned the one Pro Bowler, the Saints got six. Is that more of what you were talking about earlier?
Pretty much. Again, it’s funny how things work out. At the end of the day, like I said, we have a number of guys that deserve it. I mean, you’ve got two guys that have double-digit sacks and you have a right tackle who’s rated by PFF as one of the top two or three at his position. Those guys get recognition, you’ve got Thomas Davis, who’s played as well as any linebacker in the league; his is a little bit different because the outside linebacker, the tendency is to go with the guys that have the sack numbers as opposed to the outside position, the true position of the outside linebacker.
With the Kalil brothers playing together, do you have any good stories about them being on the same team?
I think the most interesting thing is how much Matt listens to Ryan, I mean it really is the older brother and the younger brother. You do see him follow Ryan’s lead a lot; I have a younger brother and we’re pretty much the same way. He follows my lead and you see the same thing. You see the pride each one takes when each one talks about the other’s play; “oh that was a great block” You can see Ryan really light up when he gets to talk about it, so it’s really cool.
Matt seemed to hit his momentum late in the season, now that he’s recovered from the injury, he seems like he is starting to catch his stride a little bit.
He is, and I think a lot of that has to do with learning the way that we do things, learning the techniques that are being taught, learning to trust the guys next to you, learning to understand the feel of the quarterback back there. Cam’s different. He’s not your typical 3-5-7 step, hitch, and throw. It puts a lot of pressure on our offensive linemen to do a really good job. I really do think that he has hit a nice little stride. I just think he’s going to get better and better and stronger and stronger for us. I look forward to him having the offseason where all he has to worry about is not rehabbing, but preparing his body and getting bigger and stronger to go into next year.
Are you able to say what your plan would be if Matt can’t go?
Not necessarily. We’ve got some options; we’ll see how he is, but he looked really good today, so we won’t venture there.
If Trai can’t go, would it be Amini again?
Yes. Yes, there’s a good chance it’ll be Amini, although Tyler Larsen took some snaps there at both guard and center as well.
We all do it, we all say that it comes down to Cam in this game. Is that unfair?
Yeah, I think it is. Again, it’s funny how a lot of people look at things and they want to say, “well, he didn’t do this and he didn’t do that,” there’s also other guys on the field. There’s ten other guys; this is the ultimate team game. You rely on guys doing things to help you as well, so I think a big part of it is him playing well, but also the other guys stepping up and doing things
How does he handle that type of pressure?
I don’t think he worries too much about what other people think or say, I really don’t. I think he focuses more on what he thinks. A lot of times, when he thinks there’s something wrong, he’ll work on that particular thing and really emphasize really getting it correct. I think he’s done a terrific job this year; I think he’s had to deal with a lot in terms of his rehab and trying to keep that shoulder loose and warm and ready to go. I think that’s been one of the more difficult things that he’s had to work with this year.
Is that more or less than other quarterbacks you’ve coached previously, the amount of pressure.
Absolutely, the one that I saw that reminds me an awful lot of Cam is when I was in Philadelphia; McNabb in his first five years. How much pressure was put on him, what was expected of him. Watching Philip Rivers in San Diego, he was terrific for them, he was a lot of fun, and you saw the things that he did and how he does it, I see a lot of that with Cam. The extra time Philip put in; if he didn’t get it right, he’d want to come back and do it again and get it corrected. These are all things that you guys don’t get to see because we kick you out after visual-
Twenty minutes
**grinning** Yeah, probably twenty more than we need to.
Why do you think there’s more pressure put on him? People tend to think there’s more on him than on other quarterbacks.
I don’t know, I’m not sure if that’s fair to put that much on one guy as opposed to what you would on another quarterback. I do think that he is our driving force, so yeah, he does have to play well, but at the same time other guys can pick it up if he struggles a little bit.
Your thoughts on Gruden going to the Raiders?
Did he? I think it’s cool, I really do. Traditionally, he was the perfect Raider coach, he left at an interesting time, and left them in good shape, so my understanding was that he and Mark Davis always had a good relationship, so that’ll be interesting to see how that unfolds. I feel bad for Jack [Del Rio], I thought Jack was perfect for them.
You won’t consider changing your coin toss strategy Sunday, will you?
Nope. Consistent. Be who you are.
