Truly speaking - how much of last year's inept play was due to John Fox?

[Tiger n Miami AU83]

Interesting thread. Feel like I learned a few things from it being a new Panthers fan and all. I'm learning fast though from threads like this and spending a few hours everyday reading the huddle and every single article anyone writes about the Panthers right now.

[KintnerBoy]

Injuries and QB play counted for 99%. Fox is a professional that knew he was finshed here but he cared about the players and his own future. No way he didn't care but he is still WAY too conservative which was a big part of it. He really needs to get over the "old school" mentality or he will have a hard time in the future.

[CosmoGirl]

I've never thought John Fox was the cause of our problems. Maybe there was a lame duck aspect to it but on any team you have a whole bunch of guys who will do anything to make an impression for the next regime whether it is the same team or different.

An NFL QB's job is to go out and execute the plays whether it is a "good" play or not. While there may have been too many draw plays on 3rd and long, Clausen had plenty of decent opportunities besides those.

Something I heard from a player regarding coaching in reference to Smitty was that once Smitty got hurt on a play going over the middle (I think where he broke his arm), he got a mental block about it and his ability to make a catch there greatly diminished. Coaches knew it, teammates knew it. Yet, the coaching staff continually called those plays resulting in drops and interceptions. The coaches couldn't adapt to make the most of the playmaker.

[Chaos]

Conservative philosophy. Field position and defense - get turnovers, a short field, win games in the 17-10, 14-13, whatever. There has been a shift in the league putting more emphasis on dynamic, high-scoring offenses and the franchise QB to be a passing machine more than a game manager.

When you are relying on your defense to bail out an offense that is mediocre because of your signal caller, not the other skill positions necessarily, and the Brees', Rivers', Rogers', Ryan's, Manning's, Brady's, Roethlisburger's of the NFL are putting up point totals in the upper 20's and 30's every week, it's not going to work. You're going to get outscored and lose, because the other teams' offense will continue to strike at our defense who has been on the field too damn long anyway because our offense can't move the ball (see QB problem).

Outdated philosophy, and as Dpantherman said, not adapting to today's NFL - grooming the right players, preparing with youth and athleticism to compete, went a very long way towards putting this franchise in the hole it's trying to dig out of now.

Thanks for 2003 and 2005 John...and thanks for resting on your laurels with early success.

[jherald]

Most of it.

[Davidson Deac II]

Name ANY team that has ever had the first pick with as much talent as we have!?

I'll wait.....

oh and btw... that rookie QB you referred to in your post is Cam Fuggin Newton!

dont you forget it

The guy hasn't played a down yet. Quit being a fanboy, and show a bit of objectivity. The NFL has a long list of great players, and a few of them were number one picks. I hope he becomes the best ever, but I will be happy if he is a top 10 qb in the league in a couple of years.

[ed bell]

Conservative philosophy. Field position and defense - get turnovers, a short field, win games in the 17-10, 14-13, whatever.

See, this is what Rivera will be asking for from the Defense...that hasn't changed from the Fox era, just changed via the defensive method....bend don't break is a memory....hopefully gone and forgotten instead of pined for.

[Mr. Scot]

Inept play? None of it.

Inept coaching, on the other hand...

(that part you can pretty well lay squarely on Fox's shoulders)

[bleys]

same reason over 1/2 the fans here think we'll be lucky to win over 5 games next year...

They don't know very much about Football...but are EXPERT poo talkers!

that's the greatest quote I've read all year.. :lol:

don't think he knows what you mean though.......

I think we can realistically win at least 10 games...

Why?

also,

Why is it when we have a new coach and new (better) players fans can't get stop blaming Fox?

Seems very insecure.

I'm pretty sure secure individuals have been complaining about Fox for a while now..

(when I say for a while now, I mean years)

[bleys]

Why is it when we have a new coach and new (better) players fans can't get stop blaming Fox?

Seems very insecure.

I'm pretty sure secure individuals have been complaining about Fox for a while now..

(when I say for a while now, I mean years)

[pantherclaw]

I don't think you'll get many unbiased opinions. Majority around here hate fox.

Our offense did start slow again. As it had a habit of doing. Especially the running game.

So rather than moore and the receivers complimenting the running game (see moore when he was successful), he was forced to try to carry the team with two rookie receivers, a slow steve smith, while missing our stud RT.

I wouldn't wish that upon p. Manning, yet so many blame moore.

Then they started playing musical quarterbacks. Don't know if that was a fox decision, or whether it came down from above. Will never know.

I know this, our running game needs to be good out of the gates, or the offense will continue to struggle.

[ed bell]

I thought Matt was injured...transferred to Clausen...he was thrown to the wolves and the team knew it....the Fox "team" died...lame duck at that point..sad to have witnessed it last year.

[GoApps70]

I woke up in the shower this morning and realized that last year didn't happen. The team was obviously replaced by alien robot zombies that just walked through the season saying, "Brains, we want brains." Unfortunately John Fox could not comply.

[Mr ocho nueve]

I don't think you'll get many unbiased opinions. Majority around here hate fox.

Our offense did start slow again. As it had a habit of doing. Especially the running game.

So rather than moore and the receivers complimenting the running game (see moore when he was successful), he was forced to try to carry the team with two rookie receivers, a slow steve smith, while missing our stud RT.

I wouldn't wish that upon p. Manning, yet so many blame moore.

Then they started playing musical quarterbacks. Don't know if that was a fox decision, or whether it came down from above. Will never know.

I know this, our running game needs to be good out of the gates, or the offense will continue to struggle.

So are you with me when I say that the Qb's from last season deserve somewhat of a "pass", since there was little help to let them develop and grow.