Bolts promote Rivera, relieve Cottrell

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Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

When the Chargers return from their bye next week to host the Kansas City Chiefs, they’ll have a new man calling defensive plays.

Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner announced Tuesday that he has relieved defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell of his duties and promoted inside linebackers coach Ron Rivera.

“There are a lot of things that went into the decision,” Turner said. “There are areas that we just have to play better and we have to improve. Over the next 10 days those are the areas that we are going to address. Hopefully we can not only show improvement right away but continue to improve over the next eight games.”

Through eight games this season, the Chargers rank 28^th in the NFL in total defense and last against the pass. At this point last season, the Bolts had forced 21 turnovers but have only 10 takeaways this season. The Chargers have also gone the last nine quarters without recording a sack.

“It’s probably the things that we have needed to improve at are the same things that effected us in Week 2 and so on,” Turner said. “The same things have been an issue throughout the first eight games at different times.”

Rivera has enjoyed 21 seasons in the NFL as a player and a coach. He joined the Bolts in February of 2008 after spending three seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears, the team he also played nine seasons with.

In 2006, his last season in Chicago, Rivera’s defense led the NFL with 44 takeaways en route to an appearance in Super Bowl XLI.

“I think that he interacts well with players, I think that he communicates extremely well,” Turner said. “I believe that he is experienced. I think that his expectation level is very, very high. I believe that there’s something to having done it and then having a feel for who you are playing and to give your guys the best chance to be successful.”

Rivera has had a host of influences throughout his career. He played for the highly-aggressive Buddy Ryan as well as Vince Tobin, who Rivera described as more passive. He’s also coached under Lovie Smith, Bob Slowik and Jim Johnson. Rivera believes he has a balanced philosophy based on playing situational football.

“You just don’t blitz to blitz,” Rivera said. “There’s a reason why. You don’t play a certain coverage to play a certain coverage; you have to have a reason why. I really do believe that. I believe you try to put your players in the best position based on the information you have on your opponent through the (scouting reports) that you get that are produced during that week.”

Rivera worked in Ryan’s “46,” Smith’s “Tampa 2,” and Johnson’s blitz-heavy 4-3 before working in San Diego’s 3-4. Rivera likes the Chargers’ current scheme, is comfortable in it and doesn’t see many significant changes in the Bolts’ base defense.

“Our base is we’re a 3-4 defense,” Rivera said. “We’ve got to put (the players) in the best position to make plays, and that’s kind of how we look at it.”

For the time being, outside linebackers coach John Pagano will add the inside ‘backers to his responsibility as Rivera moves to his position overseeing the entire defense.

“There will be some things that I will help in terms of the linebackers as I will the other positions,” Rivera said. “Coach (Turner) would like to have me move around from one spot to the other and just kind of see how things are being done.”

Both Rivera and Cottrell were informed of the change during separate meetings with Turner Tuesday morning. After spending the last year and a half as a position coach, Rivera is excited to once again call defensive plays and coordinate the defense.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me personally and it’s also a great opportunity for us as a team to do some things differently,” Rivera said. “I think it’s a good challenge.”

Mike Nowak, Chargers.com

Ron Rivera was named defensive coordinator Tuesday.

	Tuesday: Norv Turner Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner talks with the media about termination Ted Cottrell and why he named Ron Rivera to Defensive Coordinator. Play
	Tuesday: Ron Rivera Ron Rivera talks with the media after being named new defensive coordinator following the termination of Defensive Coordinator Ted Cottrell. Play
	Wednesday: Philip Rivers QB Philip Rivers talks to the media Wednesday. This week the Chargers have a bye in their schedule. Play
	Wednesday: Luis Castillo DE Luis Castillo mentions to the media Wednesday that "we need to step up as players." Play
	Wednesday: Shaun Phillips LB Shaun Phillips on Wednesday tells the media that "we as players need to hold ourselves accountable first." Play