Ron Rivera: How/Why Rivera Can Take The Carolina Panthers To The 2012 Playoffs

It finally looks like Ron Rivera is going to get his chance as an NFL head coach. He's be very close on multiple jobs and now is reportedly meeting for a second time with the Carolina Panthers.

It's been a season to forget for the Carolina Panthers. Another year removed from its Super Bowl XXXVIII appearance, Carolina decided not to renew John Fox's contract.

After going 2-13, is it possible for Rivera to turn the Panthers from the worst team into a playoff team in 2012?

It's a long shot, but then again, nobody's ever been able to predict the NFL. Rivera brings a lot to the table.

Here are 10 reasons Rivera can take the 2012 Carolina Panthers into the playoffs.

Rivera Provides an Immediate Change in Culture

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 13: (L-R) Inside linebackers coach, Ron Rivera and Stephen Cooper #54 of the San Diego Chargers talk during a stop in play against the Indianapolis Colts during their AFC Divisional Playoff game at the RCA Dome on January 13, 2008

The Panthers clearly played hard for and believed in John Fox. Even for next season, Fox will at least have his name mentioned a finalist for several head coaching jobs in the NFL. Owner Jerry Richardson simply decided it was time for a change.

Don't underestimate what change can provide.

When the core of a team is used to doing things one way for several seasons and the result is losing, simply changing up the mode of operation can energize a franchise. Rivera will be excited to get his hands on a team and can provide a sense of renewal.

Rivera Is One of The Best Defensive Minds in Football

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 04: Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera of the Chicago Bears smiles on the field prior to the start of Super Bowl XLI against the Indianapolis Colts on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jo

Rivera has pedigree, if nothing else.

He's been one for the top defensive coaches in the NFL for several years, highlighted by coaching the league's second best statistical defense with the Chicago Bears in 2005 and then the top defense in the league at San Diego in 2010.

He had success coaching a 4-3 scheme in Chicago and a 3-4 scheme in San Diego. He provides instant credibility to a defense whether he acts as coordinator, calls plays or just provides guidance.

The Panthers Will Have a Full Depth of Running Backs

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NEW ORLEANS - OCTOBER 03: DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Carolina Panthers in action during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on October 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Best-case scenario for Carolina is that it resigns DeAngelo Williams and Williams pairs with Jonathan Stewart for the dynamic "Smash and Dash" days of 2008-09.

Worst case is they don't retain Williams' services and look for a replacement.

Either way, it's better than what happened this season, in which the Panthers entered the year with high hopes for the duo only to see them both suffer with injuries.

Over this season's anemic effort, Rivera will likely have an improved running game as Carolina's coach.

The NFC South Could Shake Up This Season

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints walks off the field after the Saints were defeated 41-36 by the Seattle Seahawks during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washin

The NFC South was possibly the best division in football this season with Atlanta tying for the league's best record, the Saints looking just a couple of steps behind their Super Bowl-winning form and Tampa Bay playing as well as any team left out of the playoffs.

But that doesn't mean things don't change.

As good as New Orleans can look, it has issues. It turns the ball over too much and has significant questions at running back and defense. It wouldn't be a huge surprise to see the Saints take a step back.

Atlanta looks solidified for at least the next couple of seasons, but whether Tampa Bay has what it takes to compete again next season is up in the air.

A wild-card berth isn't out of the question for Carolina in the topsy-turvy NFL.

There Are Plenty Of Options in The NFL Draft

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers nearly intercepts a pass in the final seconds against Markeith Summers #16 and Korvic Neat #28 of the Ole Miss Rebels as time expired at Tiger Stadium on November

Carolina has the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Now that Stanford's Andrew Luck has returned to college, it might be best for the Panthers to trade down and try to get multiple picks. Maybe they can trade the pick for an established veteran. Rivera could use the pick to get a defensive player ready to plug into his specific scheme right away.

No matter what Carolina decides to do with its No. 1 pick and all of its successive picks, Rivera would have great options to immediately make whatever changes he finds necessary.

It's scary to think what Rivera could do with a player like Clemson's Da'Quan Bowers or LSU's Patrick Peterson.

Defense Wins Championships

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Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher holds the George Halas trophy after play against the New Orleans Saints at the NFC Championship game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on January 21, 2007. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia went to three NFC championship games while Rivera was linebackers coach.

In 2004, Lovie Smith coached the Chicago Bears to a 5-11 record as the Bears gave up 20 points or more eight times. For the 2005 season, Ron Rivera was hired as the defensive coordinator and the Chicago had 20 points or more scored on it just four times. The Bears went to Super Bowl XLI.

With the San Diego Chargers, Rivera was a part of a team that won two AFC West titles.

Of course this can't all be credited to Rivera. But it can be seen that wherever he is, he wins.

Jimmy Clausen Will Be Another Year Seasoned

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Jimmy Clausen #2 of the Carolina Panthers throws a pass in the second quarter during their game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on January 2, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

It was an awful rookie season for Jimmy Clausen, throwing three touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games. However, the Panthers drafted him in the second round last year hoping he would be their future and they may not abandon that plan just yet.

Clausen will have a year of experience under his belt, he'll have more time to adjust to the speed of the NFL, he'll have more reps, more confidence and he might begin showing the reason why he was considered to have such strong pro potential.

If Rivera doesn't draft a quarterback, he'll have a better Clausen than John Fox worked with this season.

NFL Scheduling Will Help The Panthers

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CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 19: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled by teammates Captain Munnerlyn #41 and Jon Beason #52 of the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Charlotte, North Car

As is the rule in NFL schedule-making, the Panthers will get two intraconference games against other divisional last place teams.

This means they will play two of the other three last place NFC teams, the Minnesota Vikings, the Arizona Cardinals and the Washington Redskins.

The Cardinals and the Redskins are in dysfunction on the same level or worse as the Panthers. And since division record is only a tie-breaker, the Panthers can pounce on what can be expected to be a weaker-than-average out-of-division schedule.

Rivera Overcame Erratic Offenses in Chicago

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CHICAGO - DECEMBER 2: Rex Grossman #8 of the Chicago Bears stretches on the field during the NFL game against the New York Giants at Soldier Field on December 2, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

When Rex Grossman was named the starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins earlier this season, Chicago Bears fans either burst into laughter or fainted out of shock. Grossman started for Chicago from 2004-2006, missing much of 2005 due to injury. Then in 2007, he relieved an injured Kyle Orton for the second half of the season.

Grossman's performance was up and down. Up and way down, really. Throughout the ordeal, head coach Lovie Smith kept the team composed and Rivera's defense kept the team winning.

He's seen rocky quarterbacks and erratic offenses—much like many expect from Jimmy Clausen and the Panthers next year—and still succeeded.

That's Just How The NFL Works

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SAN DIEGO - 2009: Ron Rivera of the San Diego Chargers poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in San Diego, California. (Photo by NFL Photos)

NFL teams go worst-to-first and first-to-worst faster than in any other of the four major American sports leagues.

It's the nature of a league in which injuries are common and often dismantle teams. Players exceed expectations or sometimes completely flame out.

It will take a lot for the Panthers to turn things around so dramatically, but Rivera is the right person for the job. With stability at running back and a reinvigorated defense coached by one of the best minds in football who is also an unshakable figure, the Panthers could ride momentum's wave to the playoffs.