Sounds strange, but should I be against Rivera?

[Chocolate Lab]

As a DC, that is.

Just guessing along here, of course, but it's an educated guess (I hope). Let's say that some of the things we've heard are true and Jerry always favored Norv but wanted to make sure Norv had a plan for the defense before he hired him. And Norv's plan was to get Rivera.

Well, what if Rivera for some reason says no? What if, for instance, the Bears have told Rivera that they'll take care of him after the season? Or, what if Rivera says he wants to open the bidding to other teams, like the Vikes?

Maybe then Jerry would say that Norv wouldn't work because the defense has to be fixed, and a holdover from the previous staff can't be trusted to get it done. And then he'd go back to a Phillips, or even a Singletary -- someone defensive-minded.

And IMO, Phillips + Garrett/Sparano + Bowles would be better than Norv + Garrett + Rivera.

So although everyone seems to be on the Rivera bandwagon, it might be best if Rivera somehow doesn't work out here. I still think the head coach is the leader of the team, and Norv is a very ill fit in that role.

 

[Aikbach]

I think Bowles deserves a shot as DC, I can't imagine Rivera bothering to leave a Super Bowl unit without a promotion.

 

[DipChit]

As a DC, that is.

Just guessing along here, of course, but it's an educated guess (I hope). Let's say that some of the things we've heard are true and Jerry always favored Norv but wanted to make sure Norv had a plan for the defense before he hired him. And Norv's plan was to get Rivera.

Well, what if Rivera for some reason says no? What if, for instance, the Bears have told Rivera that they'll take care of him after the season? Or, what if Rivera says he wants to open the bidding to other teams, like the Vikes?

Maybe then Jerry would say that Norv wouldn't work because the defense has to be fixed, and a holdover from the previous staff can't be trusted to get it done. And then he'd go back to a Phillips, or even a Singletary -- someone defensive-minded.

And IMO, Phillips + Garrett/Sparano + Bowles would be better than Norv + Garrett + Rivera.

So although everyone seems to be on the Rivera bandwagon, it might be best if Rivera somehow doesn't work out here. I still think the head coach is the leader of the team, and Norv is a very ill fit in that role.

I just posed basically the same thing in a different thread.

I think Jerrys A plan is actually Norv HC Rivera DC in the first place.. he wants the familiarity of Norv and his mentoring ability for JG and Romo. Then he wants Rivera to totally fix the huge investment on D. Plus we know thats how Norv laid it out too.

If Rivera says HC or nothing.. not sure whats gonna happen.

Personally of the 2 scenarios you lay out I'd rather have Norv/Garrett/Rivera than Wade/Garrett/Bowles.

But if Rivera says HC or nothing you might just as well give him the job cause he could fit the bill as well as Wade as a defensive minded HC goes and might just have that leadership ability that Wade/Norv lack in the first place.

 

[AbeBeta]

As a DC, that is.

Just guessing along here, of course, but it's an educated guess (I hope). Let's say that some of the things we've heard are true and Jerry always favored Norv but wanted to make sure Norv had a plan for the defense before he hired him. And Norv's plan was to get Rivera.

Well, what if Rivera for some reason says no? What if, for instance, the Bears have told Rivera that they'll take care of him after the season? Or, what if Rivera says he wants to open the bidding to other teams, like the Vikes?

Maybe then Jerry would say that Norv wouldn't work because the defense has to be fixed, and a holdover from the previous staff can't be trusted to get it done. And then he'd go back to a Phillips, or even a Singletary -- someone defensive-minded.

And IMO, Phillips + Garrett/Sparano + Bowles would be better than Norv + Garrett + Rivera.

So although everyone seems to be on the Rivera bandwagon, it might be best if Rivera somehow doesn't work out here. I still think the head coach is the leader of the team, and Norv is a very ill fit in that role.

Well, as someone used to say "there's a lot of moving parts here"

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Personally of the 2 scenarios you lay out I'd rather have Norv/Garrett/Rivera than Wade/Garrett/Bowles.

But if Rivera says HC or nothing you might just as well give him the job cause he could fit the bill as well as Wade as a defensive minded HC goes and might just have that leadership ability that Wade/Norv lack in the first place.

Yeah, I would definitely rather just hire Rivera as HC than get Norv. I'm just going off all the stories that Norv was the one pushing Rivera in the first place.

Not to derail the thread into a generic coach argument, but if you accept that this team does have pretty good talent -- maybe not great, but well above average -- I think Phillips + Sparano would let us win with a minimum of disruption. I'd take Rivera as HC for sure, but with him at DC and Norv as de facto OC, there are some changes on both sides of the ball that will have to be made, and I don't think they will be seamless, either. Meanwhile, the talent we already have will just get another year or two older.

 

[aikemirv]

I definitely think Wade is the least risky move of any of the coaching hires for sure.

But,

Usually the greater the risk the greater reward, not always the case but possibly.

I will be happy with either Wade - HC or Rivera- HC or a combo of Singletary - HC Rivera-DC.

 

[DipChit]

Not to derail the thread into a generic coach argument, but if you accept that this team does have pretty good talent -- maybe not great, but well above average -- I think Phillips + Sparano would let us win with a minimum of disruption. I'd take Rivera as HC for sure, but with him at DC and Norv as de facto OC, there are some changes on both sides of the ball that will have to be made, and I don't think they will be seamless, either. Meanwhile, the talent we already have will just get another year or two older.

Definitely a tough call. For myself I'd have some pretty grave concerns with a guy like Wade at the top if both the coordinators below him werent proven.. with all due respect to Sparano being in the mix.

I just think especially with defensive minded HC's you need 2 good coordinators.. even on defense. On offense not so much when it comes to OC.

Now if were already a well oiled machine just trying to plug holes in coaching due to defections it might not matter as much. See all the turnover around '93.. yet we still stayed competitive for a couple years at least just by being on cruise control.

We're far from being on cruise control yet.. we're still tryin to merge in from the on ramp.