Last year at this time

[Cyberjag]

Last year at this time we had holes all across the offensive line, no secondary wide receiver, a lack of depth at running back, no free safety, question marks at defensive end, no depth at defensive tackle, and embarrassing special teams. We were also coming off a disappointing 7-9 season.

This year we have no big concerns on offense, although depth along the line may be a concern if Hangartner moves on in free agency. On defense we have a lack of depth at defensive tackle and a hole at defensive end. We probably have one at cornerback too, but that will be a salary cap choice. For some reason, no one has been concerned about special teams this year. We're coming off a disappointing playoff loss, but we got there with a pretty good 12-4 season.

Seems to me that Fox & Co. have brought us a long way in a short time.

[Vertical Asymtope]

Great post. I am tired of hearing all the bad about John Fox. Last year at this time everyone was complaining how we are a run first team with an ineffective run offense and we were not that physical. Well Fox spent the whole offseason trying to work on our run offense and we finished 3rd in the league. Now this offseason he will focus on becoming a dominant D again. People say that it is Fox and not Trgovac, but you need to remember at one point in his tenure our D was ranked second in the league. I love Fox as a coach and think he is top 7 in the league, and thankfuly is going no where. He really has turned this franchise around.

[Kevin Greene]

And we could have fired TRGO as well.

[Cyberjag]

And we could have fired TRGO as well.

Well hell, it wouldn't BE an offseason on the huddle if there weren't calls for his dismissal.

[matrix]

Last year at this time we had holes all across the offensive line, no secondary wide receiver, a lack of depth at running back, no free safety, question marks at defensive end, no depth at defensive tackle, and embarrassing special teams. We were also coming off a disappointing 7-9 season.

Good point, why did not John Magic Fox foresee this and prevent this from ever happening at the very first place? Because he sucks!!!!

[Seamonk]

Good point, why did not John Magic Fox foresee this and prevent this from ever happening at the very first place? Because he sucks!!!!

Same reason you couldn't foresee your typo: You're thinking out of your ass.

[TheJza]

Last year at this time we had holes all across the offensive line, no secondary wide receiver, a lack of depth at running back, no free safety, question marks at defensive end, no depth at defensive tackle, and embarrassing special teams. We were also coming off a disappointing 7-9 season.

This year we have no big concerns on offense, although depth along the line may be a concern if Hangartner moves on in free agency. On defense we have a lack of depth at defensive tackle and a hole at defensive end. We probably have one at cornerback too, but that will be a salary cap choice. For some reason, no one has been concerned about special teams this year. We're coming off a disappointing playoff loss, but we got there with a pretty good 12-4 season.

Seems to me that Fox & Co. have brought us a long way in a short time.

And this year, we got our starting quarterback back. So while everything you say is true, we win 3 or 4 more games last year if Jake was healthy all year. And while he stunk up the joint a week ago, we would not have made the playoffs if he were not our quarterback this year.

I think we do have some concerns longer term. We need another receiver. Moose is 97 and Smitty is in his peak years right now. O-line depth is a wait and see. We need a young quarterback to groom as a replacement to Jake. Moore may or may not be it.

On defense, our entire defensive line is a question mark in my mind. Minus Charles Johnson, who I think is a star in hiding. We also need a shut down corner to replace Lucas, who should be gone.

I think the organization has gone in two distincly different directions at the same time. On one hand, they have been very good in the draft the last few years. On the other, I still struggle with how they develop the talent, and choose to utilize certain players. I guess that is why I tend to understand Peppers' point, while others may not. How it took the staff over 2 years to figure out that DeAngelo was special...got me. Johnson had 6 sacks and 7 passes defensed in limited action. Press corners off the line...blah, blah, blah.

They seem to be much better at locating talent, than coaching it up, per se.

[AKPantherFan]

Same reason you couldn't foresee your typo: You're thinking out of your ass.

He has a point.

Fox has always been a "re-active" coach, not a "pro-active" one.

Its always after the fact with him...

[Kevin Greene]

He has a point.

Fox has always been a "re-active" coach, not a "pro-active" one.

Its always after the fact with him...

Counter punch.

[Cyberjag]

Well, I think Jarrett is going to be very good, you have to take into account just how young he is. He'll replace Moose when the time comes, I'm not even worried about that. Robinson has also showed promise.

The QB need is dead-on. Zod thinks it's Moore, I'm not so sure. We don't need a star there though, we need consistency and leadership. That's a longer term need though, I don't worry about QB in 2009 much.

On defense, Kemo is a stud for how we use him. Brayton played well enough, his numbers were comparable to Ruckers during his last few years. Lewis is a liability against the run, but wasn't terrible. Peppers is leaving a hole that I don't know Johnson can fill. So to me, while there ARE questions, the entire line isn't a question mark.

[SorthNarolina]

Last year at this time we had holes all across the offensive line, no secondary wide receiver, a lack of depth at running back, no free safety, question marks at defensive end, no depth at defensive tackle, and embarrassing special teams. We were also coming off a disappointing 7-9 season.

This year we have no big concerns on offense, although depth along the line may be a concern if Hangartner moves on in free agency. On defense we have a lack of depth at defensive tackle and a hole at defensive end. We probably have one at cornerback too, but that will be a salary cap choice. For some reason, no one has been concerned about special teams this year. We're coming off a disappointing playoff loss, but we got there with a pretty good 12-4 season.

Seems to me that Fox & Co. have brought us a long way in a short time.

I made a simmilar topic about how the panthers found their offensive "identity" last season, and if they can do that, then we can get back to our defensive "identity" as well

it's good to see somebody else shares my opinion

[CharlotteBeer.com]

He has a point.

Fox has always been a "re-active" coach, not a "pro-active" one.

Its always after the fact with him...

I don't often defend Fox, but I don't see how you can't label his offseason moves this past season as anything other than proactive. He directly addressed many of the team's offensive woes.

This year it's time to shore up the defense.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I made a simmilar topic about how the panthers found their offensive "identity" last season, and if they can do that, then we can get back to our defensive "identity" as well

it's good to see somebody else shares my opinion

Same here. I wrote a long thread comparing last year's team with that of the 2002 season, where Fox undertook many efforts to build a great defense. He did that in 2002, and then in the season following he addressed our offensive needs by drafting Gross, signing Stephen Davis and starting Jake Delhomme.

But that thread was too long for most here to read and got lost in the "Fire Trgovac" posts that dominate this board.

[Snake]

We need some good moves this off season to have a good De fence. It can happen though and Fox has a knack for making bad players play good. We have a 30 point offense we dont have to be lights out next year on defense. Just avg.