New coach, new coordinator, new players?

[Sultan33g]

At this point, I'm not confident he'll fire him at all

you cant fire someone when you are already fired...

[Mr. Scot]

Really hoping for Mike Zimmer at this point.

(that tells you where I am in the discussion, at least at the moment)

I could favor keeping Fox if Charlie Weis were to come aboard, but it's no lock he'll even be available.

[guyinchesapeake]

I think we have a great corps of players to build around, but we need help at some positions, no doubt. I still think Gamble is more of a handicap than help, whenever the other team needs a completion, they always seem to successfully target him. I do not understand the contract extension he was given! We have a good LB group, but that is diminished with Davis being gone, and I don't think it's a coincidence that our run defense has been bad the last 2 weeks since he was hurt. We need to look at some WR help, and O-line depth. Of course, the QB position will be of the greatest interest this off season. Do we draft? Look for a FA? See if any of our present backups pan out?

But before any of that is done, I believe a coaching change is warranted. I just don't think the team believes in Fox or his approach any more. I personally like him, and he definitely turned this team around when he arrived, but that fire is lacking nowdays. I say get a new HC in here while we have enough of a team to build around. Our running attack alone should be a good 'recruitment' tool for that! We still have a good deal of talent on this team.

[jaPAN fan]

I don't understand how some people can rave about the talent we have on this team and in the same breath talk about how they want Hurney canned. We have one of the more talented teams in the league and Hurney is the reason for that.

With an above average QB this is a different team. Keeping with OP's original intent of this thread that is the one thing I would change if I could only choose one. I do believe a more short term solution that would give us moderately more success would be to change the play caller, be that Fox or Davidson whoever is calling the plays, but with the same plays and coaches a more talented QB would change the identity of this team and and push us over the hump of mediocrity to make us consistent winners. We don't need a Payton Manning or Tom Brady but a good QB like a Matt Schaub or an Aaron Rodgers and this team would excel. I'm not a Jake hater and I am far from believing he is the only problem on this team but if Jake were to be replaced with a better QB I believe it would be enough to overcome the other issues we have.

[DaveThePanther2008]

NEW COACH I like Fox and Foxball and have no qualms about keeping him BUT I think he needs to allow the OC and DC do their jobs.

If we make a change then the front office would really have to line up a proven winner. Whether a retread like Cowher or a OC/DC that has proven to be the top of the league in what he does.

Staff. I do think Fox either needs to let Davidson call his plays or if Davidson is calling his plays then we need some with a little imagination. D'Will/Smitty are too valuable a weapons to be getting limited touches. A new Special Team guy is definitely needed.

Players.

I go through the roster and I can only see a few players that need to put up or get out. I don't think we have drafted poorly though we have had our busts, we have also had a few gems.

Go Panthers

[Snake]

You had to be patient with those players.

Fox has some say in drafting, but Hurney makes the final choices. Our drafting is suspect, without a doubt, but our spending on contracts is what really gets me with Hurney.

Renegotiation of contracts in particular has been horrible. Lucas, Delhomme, Peppers, Gross, etc....these and others have handcuffed us.

All of our Draft picks have been on time except for two. Beason and Peters. Thats a plus and How do you know Hurney gets the last say or even what is said. We drafted Brown this year because Fox and Meeks liked him and that was quoted. I mean BPA may very well be Hurney or Fox but we dont know.

Also the only thing that has handcuffed us is Peppers. Lucas was a Very good CB when he got a contract with us and Gross is worth every cent. Delhomme may have been a mistake but No one expected him to fall off like he did.

See the thing is no one give him cred for finding players like Thomas to fill the DT role this year when our star NT was out. No one gives him Cred for picking up Moore from Dallas a few years back even though Fox will not start him. Even Brayton has been a good pick up. Also most contracts with players go flawless with Hurney and we do get good value most of the time.

The fact is you just dont get good GMs every day and Hurney is one of them.

[Snake]

I don't understand how some people can rave about the talent we have on this team and in the same breath talk about how they want Hurney canned. We have one of the more talented teams in the league and Hurney is the reason for that.

With an above average QB this is a different team. Keeping with OP's original intent of this thread that is the one thing I would change if I could only choose one. I do believe a more short term solution that would give us moderately more success would be to change the play caller, be that Fox or Davidson whoever is calling the plays, but with the same plays and coaches a more talented QB would change the identity of this team and and push us over the hump of mediocrity to make us consistent winners. We don't need a Payton Manning or Tom Brady but a good QB like a Matt Schaub or an Aaron Rodgers and this team would excel. I'm not a Jake hater and I am far from believing he is the only problem on this team but if Jake were to be replaced with a better QB I believe it would be enough to overcome the other issues we have.

See you miss most peoples mind sets.

Fox is a crappy coach that loves total control over everything except Drafting.

Hurney is a crappy GM cause he cant Draft a Pro Bowler every round and give way to big contracts to players. IE Gross and Delhomme. I mean it would not have been Fox that wanted Peppers back and Delhomme a fat new contract to help his confidants right....... Just like Foster a few years back....

[Jaxel]

Really hoping for Mike Zimmer at this point.

(that tells you where I am in the discussion, at least at the moment)

I could favor keeping Fox if Charlie Weis were to come aboard, but it's no lock he'll even be available.

I think this is the best scenerio. Plus with Weis maybe it would bring in Clausen, even if it costs us some picks next year.

[Wither]

New OC to improve slightly. New QB to improve moderately. A few new players in a FEW spots to improve slightly.

I say try Matt Moore some more (yeah, really - like the rest of the season), get a new OC and let Hurney try to pick up some good players to fill spots and try to prepare for the aging players on the team.

But, just to entertain the idea of coaching chagnes...

A new GM only wouldn't accomplish anything. A new HC might help. Cleaning all of the coaches and the GM would do one of three things:

1) The team sucks for a year or two, then is decent (like now).

2) The team sucks for a year, is moderate the second year and does very well afterwards.

3) The team rebounds in it's first year, does well, but then drops off for years afterwards.

[weyco2000]

Weis cant beat Navy for Christ sakes and too much ego. Please dont hire any has beens, we have one at QB now. This team has good leadership, they just need a freakin' decent gameplan. I say clean house from top to bottom and please no clappers!

[top dawg]

This team, as a whole, does not need to be rebuilt. It just doesn't. Talent abounds on this team, so I guess that you really can credit Marty Hurney and John Fox for making some good decisions. Where I fault either one, or both, is their apparent reticence to pull the trigger when it's warranted.

Being that I don't know whether Hurney or Fox is the one who is virtually making the personnel/contractual decisions, I would say that both may need to go. I realize that Hurney is theoretically higher on the totem pole , but in reality he may truly be giving Fox the reins which Fox may be using to hang himself with. Like I allueded to, as a fan who is not privy to the inner workings of the FO, I don't know who is more to blame. By the way, I believe that the same dynamic about responsibility and authority (and my lack of true clarity as a fan) exists between Fox and Jeff Davidson as well.

Now, in regards to the reticence to pulling the trigger, refers to the FOs virtual refusal to deal with problems in a timely/effective manner, either out of loyalty, stubbornness, and/or the inability to adapt quickly to the situation at hand. The epitome of this problem is the way that Jake Delhomme has been handled. Depending on your perspective, Delhomme should have been let go years ago, or---at the very least---sat down in favor of Moore (or Feeley) when he began turning the ball over more than Sam Mills has been turning over in his grave due to the Panthers lost opportunities as of late. In my opinion, we have needed a franchise QB for at least three years because this game-manager-only philosophy is not what it's cooked up to be. Save a fabulously outstanding Ravens defense, the last decade should teach us that franchise-QB-material is a necessary ingredient to become a champion. The FO has also failed to properly deal with the problem of getting a fairly young and skilled receiver to demand the attention that is detrimental to the efficient operation of our offense. Whether you guys like it or not, Muhsin Muhammad and Keyshawn Johnson have been the most efficient true WRs that we have had since Moose left for Chicago (and subsequently returned), but they were realistically nothing than WR3s whose primes had passed them by when they were signed. They were (are, in the case of Moose) old, dependable retreads probably should have been put in the slot as a third option, and certainly not the viable every down threat that we have needed opposite Smith for years. Yeah, they Finally got rid of the under achieving Keary Colbert and Drew Carter after three years, but that was at least a year too long. Look how/what they are doing with Dwayne Jarrett. It's ironic, but the FO has done a wonderful job with drafting three receiving threats at TE (who Fox/Davidson have correctly begun to attempt to use in the flow of the game this season[now that Delhomme "sucks"]), but just refuse to pull the trigger on an unquestionable, no-holds-barred quality WR.

The FO did a great job in picking up Deangelo Williams (and Jonothan Stewart BTW), but why was he riding the pine most of the time while Deshaun Foster was here one or two too many years? Yeah, hindsight may be 20/20, but the problem is many were saying that we should play Williams from the beginning.

The inability to pull the trigger is a watermark of John Fox's coaching style also, but I'm not going to get into specifics for lack of time/space, but suffice it to say that it's a symptom of (what I'll call) his "ultraconservatitis". Fox may or may not be hiding behind Hurney on the business side, but for several seasons his play calling has lacked imagination and adaptation, which quite naturally kills any chance of having a killer instinct. And this sticks out like a sore thumb in the product that has been displayed on the field, and it also leads to yo-yo seasons (and ultimately a yo-yo history).

[Argus Plexus]

How to win the SB in five or less seasons:

Offense

Overview:

This offense needs a new leader, a good second string, and to be more efficient. Not to mention the need for a new leader.

QB:

Draft a QB ASAP and groom him into a good QB. Doesn't have to be the next Drew Brees, but someone who can throw accurately enough for Smitty or Moose (Possibly Kenny Moore in a few seasons?) on short passes. He will also need to bomb it if needed. He needs to know how to fall onto the ball if the O-Line happens to fall apart, or how to run if he's in trouble and he sees a hole.

- Draft a smart, efficient, tough QB

O-Line:

Gross will be back better than ever next season and will be an elite tackle for many seasons to come. Basically, the O-Line's main problem is they have very few good backups. Injuries do happen at these positions, and you HAVE to have someone good who can step in.

- Get a decent second string

RB:

No problems here. Train Goodson's hands.

- Keep things how they are, train Goodson

TE:

No problems here. Train Barnidge.

- Keep things how they are, train Barnidge

WR:

No problems here. Train Kenny Moore.

- Keep things how they are, train Kenny Moore

FB:

No problems here. Train Fiametta.

- Keep things how they are, train Fiametta

Defense

Overview:

The Panthers have one of the most elite pass defenses in the league, but they need to learn how to defend against the run better.

D-Line:

Same as O-Line. I would prefer Julius sign a long term contract. Train Everette Brown, and teach him to speed rush instead of bull rush. DT spot is filled with Tank and Kemo. NEED A RELIABLE SECOND STRING BADLY.

- Get a reliable second string, Sign Julius on a long term contract, train Brown

LB:

Beason and Davis can stay. Naill isn't producing like he used to. Move Connor into Diggs's place. Other than that, no problems at all.

- Give Connor a chance in place of Diggs

CB:

No problems here. Train Captain Money.

- Keep things how they are, train Captain Money

S:

No real problems here. Start Martin instead of Godfrey.

- Start Martin alongside Harris

Special Teams

Overview:

Special Teams have been riddled with problems since day one this season. Whether it's horrible containment in the form of missed tackles, pathetic blocked attempts, or total f**k ups (Dante in the TB game). Minor problems that all add up to make an overall bad Special Teams unit.

Kickers(Punting):

Absolute perfection is needed.

- Hone your skills as far as accuracy

Kickers(FGs):

No problems here at all.

- Keep things the way they are

Defending a Punter/FG:

No more blocked kicks or FGs. Absolute perfection is needed.

- Hone your skills

Defending against Punt Returns:

Keyword is CONTAINMENT. You CANNOT let them run all over you anymore. It's almost sad to watch the other team run all over you like that.

- No more missed tackles

Returning Punts:

Lots of new guys on the Punt Returning Roster. In a season or two, we will have a nasty punt returner in either Kenny Moore, Captain Money, Mike Goodson, or Tyrell Sutton.

- Train the new guys

Coaching

Overview:

Coaching is the single biggest Achilles heel on this team. Any coach that I don't mention is doing just fine.

HC:

Fox has to go. He overlooks too much, and it has gone too far.

OC:

Who passes when you have the best run-duo in the league? Davidson has to go.

DC:

I have to mention him. Meeks is doing a damn fine job. I hope he sticks around for years to come.

QB Coach:

When he stopped coaching Delhomme, he stopped throwing INTs. Connection? A coach who can groom a new QB.

Special Teams Coach:

Obviously, he is not doing his job. I have lost faith in him.

Administration

Overview:

I have no problems with the Administration except for one guy...

GM:

Marty Hurney has made one bad decision after another, and has done nothing but put this team on hold. He needs to go. You NEVER sell a 1st round draft pick, cause you never know when you might need it.

[Guild]

If I can only pick one then I will have to pick the obvious choice:

Players

Specifically the QB.

[Snake]

New OC to improve slightly. New QB to improve moderately. A few new players in a FEW spots to improve slightly.

I say try Matt Moore some more (yeah, really - like the rest of the season), get a new OC and let Hurney try to pick up some good players to fill spots and try to prepare for the aging players on the team.

But, just to entertain the idea of coaching chagnes...

A new GM only wouldn't accomplish anything. A new HC might help. Cleaning all of the coaches and the GM would do one of three things:

1) The team sucks for a year or two, then is decent (like now).

2) The team sucks for a year, is moderate the second year and does very well afterwards.

3) The team rebounds in it's first year, does well, but then drops off for years afterwards.

A new ST coach would help also. Teams do better with better field position.