Ron Rivera: NFC South Is Best QB Division Ever
February 26th, 2016
Ron Rivera puts Jameis in elite company
The coach of the NFC champs offered quite a response to Joe’s question yesterday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
The answer even came with a backhanded slap at Lovie Smith.
It’s pretty cool that former linebacker, defensive coordinator and current Panthers head coach Ron Rivera thinks the NFC South is filled with historic quarterback depth.
JoeBucsFan.com: With the on-field growth of Cam Newton and the emergence of Jameis Winston, have you ever seen a division like this before, as far as depth at quarterback?
Ron Rivera: No. I tell you, it’s going to be exciting going into next season. When you throw Drew [Brees] into the mix and Matt [Ryan] into the mix, there’s four quality quarterbacks in our division. It’s going to be very competitive. I expect it to be very competitive because of also who the head coaches are. I think those guys all want to compete and they all want to win and I know we’re right in the middle of the crosshairs. And we’re going to have to be better, because if not, we’ll get overtaken. So that’s what’s make the division so exciting.
Rivera’s right. It is a damn exciting division and presents a huge challenge. For the Bucs to thrive, Jameis must find a way to be the second best QB in the division — at least.
It’s also interesting that Rivera expects a wildly competitive division because of its coaches. Hmmm, the only big coaching change was the ousting of Lovie Smith, the guy who fired Rivera after they coached the Bears in the Super Bowl after the 2006 season.
February 26th, 2016 at 6:18 am
Licht said we might be traded to the NFC West.
February 26th, 2016 at 6:49 am
Traded to the NFC west huh? What the hell does that mean? Say all you want about Shiano but he got more out of freetard than love dove ever got out of superior talent.
February 26th, 2016 at 7:15 am
Bonsai,
Jason Licht is a great GM. We are quite fortunate to have him. Jason has had great drafts and Lovie was holding this team back with his loser mentality coupled with his inability to adjust.
Lovie hired friends and family, whereas Licht surrounds himself with the best possible talent.
February 26th, 2016 at 7:40 am
Rivera and his d were the reason Loser Lovie ever went to a super bowl as a HC
February 26th, 2016 at 8:19 am
I miss Lovie Smith.
February 26th, 2016 at 8:33 am
Anybody else think Ron Rivera is Art LaFleur’s doppelganger?
February 26th, 2016 at 8:42 am
Second best in the division please. Everyone in the division will be bowing in two to three seasons. Listen man clark kent was very average as a QB prior to this season the numbers don’t lie go look’em up. Lets see him atleast duplicate this past season before we crown him king of the division. Second to that guy C’mon man.
February 26th, 2016 at 9:51 am
Overtaken, the Stinking Panthers epitaph.
February 26th, 2016 at 10:22 am
Cam had pedestrian numbers the first nine games of the year. He poured it on it the second half, buoyed by a weak schedule vs. pass defenses and short fields caused by his defense. You get pressure on Cam as the Broncos did he’s below avg. He led the league in overthrows the year before…and has had trouble leading his team to comeback wins in the fourth when his defense has failed him.
Brees is getting up there in age….and not the qb he once was, obviously. Ryan had a down year, has never been consistent (especially in the post-season). The Falcons offense is regressing. Jameis still has a couple years of growth. .We have good QB’s still, but “best” is debatable.
February 26th, 2016 at 10:50 am
4th best QB as of now, until this team is a winner
February 26th, 2016 at 11:10 am
All this “surprise” by all the national race baiting talking heads over Lovie not being employed…Ever wondered who coached Lovie’s D the year he went to the SB? Ever wonder who stood up to Lovie about fixing the safety problems his defense had on the backend, same problems that followed him down to Tampa, because someoen had actually played in one of THE BEST Defenses of all time and knew what he was talking about, but was fired? Good Riddance to Lovie “Stubborn Ass” Smith
February 26th, 2016 at 11:21 am
Great insight 79.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:23 am
And trust me when I tell you Tony its just a matter time. “Just wait on it”.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:42 am
87… you miss Snuffy.. er.. Lovie Smith. You can always turn your Bucs man cave into a Lovie version. jk
February 26th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Made up story. There is no backhand, forehand, or any other kind of swipe at Lovie in there.
February 26th, 2016 at 2:25 pm
“Just wait on it”…..Harold Camping has been saying the same thing. The Mayans used it as their motto too.
February 26th, 2016 at 3:08 pm
we are gographically south as we can be . Carolina and Atlanta make more sense.None of it makes much sense.
February 28th, 2016 at 4:55 am
lol the hate for lovie is suspect I have never seen a fired coach hated so much when he took over a train wreck in the first place. and I have lived in 8 nfl cities. the glazers panicked because they thought dirk was leaving same thing the rams did to vermeil basically they were scared to lose mike martz. history showed us mike martz was made by kurt warner