Black and Blue Review
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera wasn’t ready to announce any staff changes at his season-ending press conference last month. After further evaluation, he’s apparently ready to make a switch.
According to a league source, Rivera is expected to reassign special teams coordinator Richard Rodgers while promoting special teams assistant Bruce DeHaven into the coordinator role. The move, which hadn’t been completed as of Tuesday night, was first reported by the Charlotte Observer.
When Rivera hired Rodgers — his teammate at Cal — as a special teams assistant in 2012, it was Rodgers’ first NFL job. He then took over the coordinator role when Rivera fired Brian Murphy nine games into that season.
Under Rodgers, Carolina finished 13th in Football Outsiders’ special team ratings in 2013. But the unit took major steps back this past season. Return specialist Ted Ginn was lost in free agency, and injuries took a toll, but special teams was a liability for nearly all of 2014.
| PANTHERS 2014 SPECIAL TEAMS | NFL RANK |
|---|---|
| Net Yards Per Punt | 32nd |
| Average Yards Allowed Per Punt Return | 32nd |
| Points Allowed | 32nd |
| Average Yards Allowed Per Kickoff Return | 31st |
| Rick Gosselin/Dallas Morning News | 31st |
| Football Outsiders Rating | 30th |
DeHaven, who has 28 years of NFL experience, joined the Panthers in 2013.
BRUCE DEHAVEN FILE
- 2013-14: Carolina Panthers special teams assistant
- 2010-12: Buffalo Bills special teams coach; unit set franchise records in punt return average and kickoff return average in 2012; unit led NFL in kickoff coverage in 2011.
- 2007-09: Seattle Seahawks special teams coach; unit was second in the NFL in kickoff return average in 2008.
- 2003-06: Dallas Cowboys special teams coach; unit led NFL in gross punting average in 2006; unit led NFL in kickoff coverage in 2004.
- 2000-02: San Francisco 49ers special teams coach; unit led NFL in punt return average in 2002.
- 1987-99: Buffalo Bills special teams coach; was considered one of the best special teams coaches in the league until he was fired after the Titans’ “Music City Miracle” in 1999; unit helped Bills make four straight Super Bowls, winning six AFC East titles; unit led NFL in fewest punt return yards allowed in 1991; unit led NFL in kickoff coverage from 1987-90.