Nugget on Ron Rivera/Bills from The Athletic

[JGMcD2]

I know Ron Rivera is being discussed in a few different places but I came across this and found it interesting. Some will probably say “yeah, we know they’re close. ‘The Carolina Connection’ DUH!” but I wanted to share. 
 

Jourdan Rodrigue wrote an article on The Athletic about the firing of Ron Rivera. She talks a lot about how he values people and cultivating relationships... so much so that he decided to move his office from upstairs to a much less impressive space down near the locker room shortly after he became the head coach in Carolina. 
 

She then touches on WHAT he keeps in his office and the fact that he’s a “collector of objects” but solely because of the people they were attached to. The first item she mentions is “ former intern Brandon Beane’s building access card pinned to the large bulletin board over his desk.“

 

I thought this was cool. There’s obviously so much respect between the parties. It is too hard to speculate and I think Ron Rivera would be a solid HC choice for many teams but this little nugget tells me he would actually be an option here on McDermott’s staff. It seems that everyone Beane and McDermott work with have a high level of appreciation for them. Small things like these continue to solidify in my mind that we have the right staff.
 

This respect across the league gives me the feeling that we will continue to be able to recruit rising stars on the coaching and administrative side for as long as Beane and McDermott are here (Gil Brandt tweeted on Thanksgiving about how we have some of the best front office and coaching personnel in the league - specifically highlighting Dan Morgan, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll). 

 

I’m going to shut up now... but didn’t know how many people would’ve come across that article and figured it would be an interesting point of discussion. 

[CLTbills]

That's pretty cool. Thanks for sharing, as I don't subscribe to the athletic, so I definitely wouldn't have come across it

 

[T master]

I just hope that because the Bills are doing well this year & the fact that there will be what looks like a bunch of open HC ing jobs that the Bills staff doesn't get gutted this off season !!

 

Stability within the coaching ranks is huge to keeping a team on the path to being a contender yr after yr & i hope the Bills can keep the majority of the coaches they have on staff because D coach Frazier has had HC ing experience & has done well here & then the bit of talk that Dabol could be a consideration for a HC position could gain ground if the Bills continue to do well .

 

Not to mention if the Jags change their front office personnel there could be more loses with in the Bills building lets hope they look elsewhere ! 

[RoyBatty is alive]

Good observation.

 

What we are experiencing now we haven't had possibly since the Levy-Polian era, a stable HC and GM that are functional and work together hopefully building into long germ stability..  Equally important we have committed owners not afraid to spend and invest.

 

The Bills just didnt suck for  two decades  because of bad luck.

 

And overall Ron Rivera did a pretty good job in his tenure.  

Edited December 4, 2019 by RoyBatty is alive

[eball]

Rivera stated unequivocally during his PC today that he wants and expects to coach again.  My interpretation is that he means as a HEAD coach.

[aristocrat]

bring in rivera as a consultant for the playoff push.  

[Hapless Bills Fan]

19 minutes ago, JGMcD2 said:

I know Ron Rivera is being discussed in a few different places but I came across this and found it interesting. Some will probably say “yeah, we know they’re close. ‘The Carolina Connection’ DUH!” but I wanted to share. 
 

Jourdan Rodrigue wrote an article on The Athletic about the firing of Ron Rivera. She talks a lot about how he values people and cultivating relationships... so much so that he decided to move his office from upstairs to a much less impressive space down near the locker room shortly after he became the head coach in Carolina. 
 

She then touches on WHAT he keeps in his office and the fact that he’s a “collector of objects” but solely because of the people they were attached to. The first item she mentions is “ former intern Brandon Beane’s building access card pinned to the large bulletin board over his desk.“

 

I thought this was cool. There’s obviously so much respect between the parties. It is too hard to speculate and I think Ron Rivera would be a solid HC choice for many teams but this little nugget tells me he would actually be an option here on McDermott’s staff. It seems that everyone Beane and McDermott work with have a high level of appreciation for them. Small things like these continue to solidify in my mind that we have the right staff.
 

This respect across the league gives me the feeling that we will continue to be able to recruit rising stars on the coaching and administrative side for as long as Beane and McDermott are here (Gil Brandt tweeted on Thanksgiving about how we have some of the best front office and coaching personnel in the league - specifically highlighting Dan Morgan, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll). 

 

I’m going to shut up now... but didn’t know how many people would’ve come across that article and figured it would be an interesting point of discussion. 

 

Respect is one thing, but if Rivera would be an option on McDermott's staff, what would be his role?

 

McDermott seems to have a staff that is working very well together right now on both sides of the ball.

 

A coach can be very talented and in theory have all the tools to really contribute, but the truth is, it's a very difficult adjustment to go from leading an organization or having a strong leadership role, to taking a lower position.  Terry Robeskie I'm sure is a fine coach and had all the knowledge to be a good WR coach for the Bills after being let go as the Titans OC, but last year our WR were NOT very good and while talent can be questioned, I have to say that part of that was coaching.  I did not see good fundamental technique.

 

Every coach likes to hire his friends, but McDermott should think very carefully about roles and responsibilities and how Rivera would actually contribute before bringing him in. 

 

Unless of course, he thinks Ron Rivera would make a top Special Teams coach ?

[Coach Tuesday]

Wonder if Dan Morgan would be a candidate there for GM or head of football ops or something that would be a promotion.

[njodogg]

I'd bring him on as an adviser the rest of the season. If Frazier is a HC candidate this off season, he could slide into a DC role if Frazier left.. 

[Seasons1992]

2 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Wonder if Dan Morgan would be a candidate there for GM or head of football ops or something that would be a promotion.

 

ONLY if the owners hears about it from within the franchise......he sounds like he wants to start over completely. But it's a good choice and thought.

[Lagoon Blues]

I'd bring him in as well if interested but I would imagine that this close to Christmas he will just relax and spend time w/ his family for the holidays.  Probably hasn't been able to spend a lot over the years.

[Reed83HOF]

7 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Wonder if Dan Morgan would be a candidate there for GM or head of football ops or something that would be a promotion.

Tepper was part of the Steelers and he wants to start fresh and move away from Jerry Richardson people in Carolina. 

 

Kevin Colbert's contract is expiring this year and they have not offered him an extension. 

Edited December 4, 2019 by Reed83HOF

[GunnerBill]

11 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Wonder if Dan Morgan would be a candidate there for GM or head of football ops or something that would be a promotion.

 

He allegedly is on the shortlist.

[JGMcD2]

13 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Wonder if Dan Morgan would be a candidate there for GM or head of football ops or something that would be a promotion.

I would be upset to see this happen as I think Dan Morgan does a fantastic job. 
 

To my point above on us being able to procure high end administrative talent... Dan was hired to replace Brian Gaine after he left to become the GM of the Texans two years ago. 
 

Due to Bill O’Brien getting his desired control, Gaine was let go, and we scooped him back up. If Dan were to leave... we have his replacement in-house. Not only does he have experience in the role but he ran the show himself now too in Houston. 

[Solomon Grundy]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Respect is one thing, but if Rivera would be an option on McDermott's staff, what would be his role?

 

McDermott seems to have a staff that is working very well together right now on both sides of the ball.

 

A coach can be very talented and in theory have all the tools to really contribute, but the truth is, it's a very difficult adjustment to go from leading an organization or having a strong leadership role, to taking a lower position.  Terry Robeskie I'm sure is a fine coach and had all the knowledge to be a good WR coach for the Bills after being let go as the Titans OC, but last year our WR were NOT very good and while talent can be questioned, I have to say that part of that was coaching.  I did not see good fundamental technique.

 

Every coach likes to hire his friends, but McDermott should think very carefully about roles and responsibilities and how Rivera would actually contribute before bringing him in. 

 

Unless of course, he thinks Ron Rivera would make a top Special Teams coach ?

Linebackers coach, naturally

[Rochesterfan]

I said this in a different thread, but I could see him coming  in for the rest of this season as a front office assistant doing self scouting.

I don’t think McDermott wants to change the dynamic of his staff, but I could see them asking Rivera to use his coaching eye to help out with self scouting from an outsider perspective.  He wouldn’t have to move local and can look for trends that a coach might see and how to use those trends to show one thing and spring another.

 

I know that Rivera would rather be a HC, but a chance to step back and rebuild and regenerate would be a huge help long term.

[Nelius]

2 hours ago, eball said:

Rivera stated unequivocally during his PC today that he wants and expects to coach again.  My interpretation is that he means as a HEAD coach.

 

And he will probably be one again, likely next season. I have no idea if it's the same article unfortunately but I just read some chatter yesterday about him joining us a possible consultant now. I imagine it would be short-term and through the playoffs only.

Edited December 4, 2019 by Nelius

[billsfan89]

2 hours ago, eball said:

Rivera stated unequivocally during his PC today that he wants and expects to coach again.  My interpretation is that he means as a HEAD coach.

 

I don't think Rivera will have a HC opportunity in 2020. His run with the Panthers while not bad only totaled 4 playoff births in 9 seasons (with one of those playoff births coming in a 7-8-1 season) so only 3 winning seasons total. His playoff record was 3-4 which while not tragic was not very good either. 

 

I think it is possible some team retreads him but I would put that possibility at less than 50% significantly. I think if he wants to get back to a head coaching opportunity I think he would be best off taking on a DC opportunity with a good defense and reestablish some success in that realm and then have his pick of the opportunities in terms of coaching (right now even if he got an opportunity it wouldn't be a great chance.) 

[ProcessAccepted]

2 hours ago, aristocrat said:

bring in rivera as a consultant for the playoff push.  

I don't think that we need him. Our guys are doing fine without him. Rivera is a good guy and will possibly do well in Jacksonville.

[JM57]

29 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

I said this in a different thread, but I could see him coming  in for the rest of this season as a front office assistant doing self scouting.

I don’t think McDermott wants to change the dynamic of his staff, but I could see them asking Rivera to use his coaching eye to help out with self scouting from an outsider perspective.  He wouldn’t have to move local and can look for trends that a coach might see and how to use those trends to show one thing and spring another.

 

I know that Rivera would rather be a HC, but a chance to step back and rebuild and regenerate would be a huge help long term.

This is exactly what I was thinking. He could basically use his experience on he defensive side of the ball and be able to say "Okay so if I were trying to stop your offense, I would do X Y and Z" and as an outsider, maybe Z was a thing the coaching staff might not have considered. 

[VW82]

Love to have Rivera on our coaching staff. That man would bring a lifetime's worth of knowledge and relationships for us to leverage. I wouldn't be surprised if McD has already called him to let him know there'd be a place for him next year if he wanted it. 

Edited December 4, 2019 by VW82

[Dablitzkrieg]

He is part of the reason McDermott is here.  The Pegula's flew him to Buffalo to Vet him.  

[Tenhigh]

4 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Respect is one thing, but if Rivera would be an option on McDermott's staff, what would be his role?

 

McDermott seems to have a staff that is working very well together right now on both sides of the ball.

 

A coach can be very talented and in theory have all the tools to really contribute, but the truth is, it's a very difficult adjustment to go from leading an organization or having a strong leadership role, to taking a lower position.  Terry Robeskie I'm sure is a fine coach and had all the knowledge to be a good WR coach for the Bills after being let go as the Titans OC, but last year our WR were NOT very good and while talent can be questioned, I have to say that part of that was coaching.  I did not see good fundamental technique.

 

Every coach likes to hire his friends, but McDermott should think very carefully about roles and responsibilities and how Rivera would actually contribute before bringing him in. 

 

Unless of course, he thinks Ron Rivera would make a top Special Teams coach ?

How was Rivera's clock/replay management?  McD could use a few pointers there.

[Doc Brown]

4 hours ago, eball said:

Rivera stated unequivocally during his PC today that he wants and expects to coach again.  My interpretation is that he means as a HEAD coach.

His resume warrants it.  Giants, Jaguars, or Browns would be my best guess.

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, billsfan89 said:

 

I don't think Rivera will have a HC opportunity in 2020. His run with the Panthers while not bad only totaled 4 playoff births in 9 seasons (with one of those playoff births coming in a 7-8-1 season) so only 3 winning seasons total. His playoff record was 3-4 which while not tragic was not very good either. 

 

I think it is possible some team retreads him but I would put that possibility at less than 50% significantly. I think if he wants to get back to a head coaching opportunity I think he would be best off taking on a DC opportunity with a good defense and reestablish some success in that realm and then have his pick of the opportunities in terms of coaching (right now even if he got an opportunity it wouldn't be a great chance.) 

 

Everyone presumed Mike McCarthy would talk into a job last hiring season. He didn't. I think Rivera will be a Head Coach again in the NFL. I am 50/50 on whether that is next season.... unless and it is a big unless.... he is willing to take the Redskins job. Because I believe they would hire him tomorrow. 

[Rochesterfan]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Everyone presumed Mike McCarthy would talk into a job last hiring season. He didn't. I think Rivera will be a Head Coach again in the NFL. I am 50/50 on whether that is next season.... unless and it is a big unless.... he is willing to take the Redskins job. Because I believe they would hire him tomorrow. 

 

Do you think Rivera could bring Norv Turner and family back to Washington - LOL ? 

 

That would be fun time.

[Augie]

He’s no Rob Ryan! 

 

Seriously, I don’t want to mess with the mix we have right now. It seems to be working just fine. We don’t need too many cooks in the kitchen this year. Let the offseason arrive, and things will sort out. 

[billsfan89]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Everyone presumed Mike McCarthy would talk into a job last hiring season. He didn't. I think Rivera will be a Head Coach again in the NFL. I am 50/50 on whether that is next season.... unless and it is a big unless.... he is willing to take the Redskins job. Because I believe they would hire him tomorrow. 

 

I think McCarthy's resume is significantly better than Rivera's (Although Rodgers is the better QB than Cam, Cam is pretty dam good) so I think he can have the confidence that he would have a job within a year or two. I think Rivera will get offers but they will be for less than ideal franchises/situations. IF Rivera wants to improve his chances at getting the right job he would better be served to go back to being a DC for a really good defense for a couple of years. Whereas McCarthy I think will get a lot of solid offers without having to take another job. 

[4BillsintheBurgh]

7 hours ago, Reed83HOF said:

Tepper was part of the Steelers and he wants to start fresh and move away from Jerry Richardson people in Carolina. 

 

Kevin Colbert's contract is expiring this year and they have not offered him an extension. 

Interesting, I forgot he was part of the Steelers.

I have thought for a little while now that if Colbert went somewhere else he might be able to get Cowher out of retirement. Those two together could pick some players.

[Codyny13]

I don’t see what role Rivera would fit here, not to say he wouldn’t be welcome. I’m assuming he’d get the assistant head coach label/special advisor or something along those lines. This being McD’s 3rd year as head coach, building a successful program, I’m not sure I want another voice in his head, he seems to be doing a good job and coming into his own. 

[TigerJ]

5 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Respect is one thing, but if Rivera would be an option on McDermott's staff, what would be his role?

 

McDermott seems to have a staff that is working very well together right now on both sides of the ball.

 

A coach can be very talented and in theory have all the tools to really contribute, but the truth is, it's a very difficult adjustment to go from leading an organization or having a strong leadership role, to taking a lower position.  Terry Robeskie I'm sure is a fine coach and had all the knowledge to be a good WR coach for the Bills after being let go as the Titans OC, but last year our WR were NOT very good and while talent can be questioned, I have to say that part of that was coaching.  I did not see good fundamental technique.

 

Every coach likes to hire his friends, but McDermott should think very carefully about roles and responsibilities and how Rivera would actually contribute before bringing him in. 

 

Unless of course, he thinks Ron Rivera would make a top Special Teams coach ?

That's what I wonder.  Rivera began his NFL career as a linebacker, In Buddy Ryan's defense back when Ryan was the DC for Iron Mike Ditka.  I'm not sure what kind of defensive scheme he is most comfortable coaching.  Ryan's defense was a lot different from the one Sean  McDermott has developed from his tutelage under Jim Johnson.  However Les Frazier was also on that Chicago team from the mid-80s and he certainly doesn't seem to prefer the Buddy Ryan 46 defense.  

[Hapless Bills Fan]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Everyone presumed Mike McCarthy would talk into a job last hiring season. He didn't. I think Rivera will be a Head Coach again in the NFL. I am 50/50 on whether that is next season.... unless and it is a big unless.... he is willing to take the Redskins job. Because I believe they would hire him tomorrow. 

 

It’s been said before that sometimes the best thing for a coach leaving one position is a year off to decompress and reflect, good and bad, on what happened

[LSHMEAB]

9 hours ago, T master said:

I just hope that because the Bills are doing well this year & the fact that there will be what looks like a bunch of open HC ing jobs that the Bills staff doesn't get gutted this off season !!

Daboll? Frazier? I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

 

Excellent piece and I'm not sure Rivera would accept a DC role, but I'd take him in a heartbeat over Frazier.

[wppete]

9 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Wonder if Dan Morgan would be a candidate there for GM or head of football ops or something that would be a promotion.

Yeah this scares me. Rivera will come after a few guys off of the Bills personnel. 

[Happy]

10 hours ago, njodogg said:

I'd bring him on as an adviser the rest of the season. If Frazier is a HC candidate this off season, he could slide into a DC role if Frazier left.. 

 

I don't think you'll have to worry about Frazier being a HC candidate this offseason.  I'm sure enough owners and GMs around the NFL remember his tenure in Minnesota, which wasn't that great.  I also have to believe that the defense's success is more a result of McD (who built it) than Frazier (who calls the plays.)

[stuvian]

if we get to the AFC title game there will be a raid on Clappy's staff

[whatdrought]

23 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

I know Ron Rivera is being discussed in a few different places but I came across this and found it interesting. Some will probably say “yeah, we know they’re close. ‘The Carolina Connection’ DUH!” but I wanted to share. 
 

Jourdan Rodrigue wrote an article on The Athletic about the firing of Ron Rivera. She talks a lot about how he values people and cultivating relationships... so much so that he decided to move his office from upstairs to a much less impressive space down near the locker room shortly after he became the head coach in Carolina. 
 

She then touches on WHAT he keeps in his office and the fact that he’s a “collector of objects” but solely because of the people they were attached to. The first item she mentions is “ former intern Brandon Beane’s building access card pinned to the large bulletin board over his desk.“

 

I thought this was cool. There’s obviously so much respect between the parties. It is too hard to speculate and I think Ron Rivera would be a solid HC choice for many teams but this little nugget tells me he would actually be an option here on McDermott’s staff. It seems that everyone Beane and McDermott work with have a high level of appreciation for them. Small things like these continue to solidify in my mind that we have the right staff.
 

This respect across the league gives me the feeling that we will continue to be able to recruit rising stars on the coaching and administrative side for as long as Beane and McDermott are here (Gil Brandt tweeted on Thanksgiving about how we have some of the best front office and coaching personnel in the league - specifically highlighting Dan Morgan, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll). 

 

I’m going to shut up now... but didn’t know how many people would’ve come across that article and figured it would be an interesting point of discussion. 

 

He actually keeps that as a trophy of that time he got a 3rd round pick from Beane for an overweight McDonalds employee.