Fox Unplugged...

[monstercat]

Here is the full transcript of the Q&A session with coach Fox from that Touchdown Club Luncheon...

http://www.panthers.com/Common/Article.aspx?id=32192

I found this paragraph particularly interesting...

Question:Talk about the changes to the front seven on the defensive line.
Answer: When we drafted Julius (Peppers), he had been a right end in college. We (already) had Mike Rucker, who was a young, aspiring player at that point. After we drafted Julius, we switched him over to the left. With Mike gone now, we'll take a look at Julius on the right and get him acclimated to that. We may even play him at both just to move him around so offenses can't get a beat on him. Then we've got two young players in Stanley McClover and Charles Johnson, who started toward the end of last year that we like. We went out and got a defensive end from Oakland, Tyler Brayton, who we think is going to be a good player and was actually a first-round pick coming out (of college). At the end position, we took Hilee Taylor from North Carolina (in the seventh round). He's a 4.5 guy that's an excellent pass-rush situation guy, and we were pretty deficient on third down (last year). We were in the bottom third of the League in third-down defense last year, which is an area we have to get better at, rushing the passer with a four-man rush, and we think he's going to help address that. Inside, kind of the same thing. We wanted to get a little bit smaller and a little bit more athletic and quick as far as rushing the passer. That's an area we dropped off. We think we're big enough with Maake (Kemoeatu) and we'll compliment him with Damione Lewis and then some younger and quicker guys inside as well.

Hmmm...sounds like Fox has some pretty specific plans for a player that's destined to be cut, don't you think?

[Cyberjag]

Thanks. Now go back and find me any quote anywhere that Fox has ever made in May that is anything but glowing about a player they just drafted.

[monstercat]

Originally Posted by Cyberjag

Thanks. Now go back and find me any quote anywhere that Fox has ever made in May that is anything but glowing about a player they just drafted.

That's not the point. He has always said good things about his draft picks, but how often has he outlined a specific plan for a 7th round pick that nobody thinks will even make the team? Find me one of those quotes.

Anyway, I just hope you guys will own up to being wrong when Taylor is still here on opening day.

[outlaw4]

Originally Posted by John Fox

We were in the bottom third of the League in third-down defense last year, which is an area we have to get better at, rushing the passer with a four-man rush, and we think he's going to help address that.

I'm glad he's acknodledging a point of contention for many of us last season. The times when the opposing QB had a lifetime to throw the ball was absolutely ridiculous.


http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/playby...&override=true

3-8-DAL 23 (13:41) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 84-P.Crayton to DAL 35 for 12 yards (52-J.Beason).

3-10-DAL 30 (6:59) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 82-J.Witten to DAL 42 for 12 yards (31-R.Marshall).

3-9-CAR 32 (2:46) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 84-P.Crayton to CAR 24 for 8 yards (31-R.Marshall) (went for it on 4th and 1 and got it)

3-10-DAL 20 (14:57) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep left to 81-T.Owens ran ob at DAL 36 for 16 yards.

3-3-CAR 9 (7:43) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short middle to 81-T.Owens to CAR 5 for 4 yards (52-J.Beason).

3-4-CAR 37 (3:52) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 84-P.Crayton to CAR 29 for 8 yards (27-C.Wilson).

3-10-CAR 36 (:22) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass deep middle to 17-S.Hurd to CAR 20 for 16 yards (28-Q.Teal). PENALTY on DAL, Illegal Shift, 5 yards, enforced at CAR 36 - No Play. (I know it didn't count but still...)

3-4-DAL 41 (:55) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short right to 24-M.Barber to CAR 47 for 12 yards (36-M.Manuel).

3-9-CAR 46 (14:55) (Shotgun) 9-T.Romo pass short left to 17-S.Hurd to CAR 33 for 13 yards (28-Q.Teal). Penalty on CAR-21-K.Lucas, Defensive Holding, declined.


What was even more ridiculous that we allowed opponents to convert on 3rd and long so many times that I was starting to think that we were better off if it was 3rd and short.


As for Hilee, those kind of endorsements don't mean much to me in May. If it was during TC, they might hold a bit more water.

[Xphobia]

I honestly think Taylor sticks. We drafted him to fill a specific role. Unless he really stinks it up in camp he will be here on opening day.

[monstercat]

Honestly, I think that all 3 of our 7th rounders have a pretty good chance.

Taylor should stick because he brings something that no other DE on the team can, including Peppers...pure speed off the edge. That size advantage the OT's will have over him won't matter much if they can't get their hands on him.

Bernadau(sp?) could stick if he can master the center position, because he will be a cheaper option than Hangartner, who is really no longer a factor at guard anymore.

Schwartz could possibly replace one of the back up O-linemen because he has the size they're looking for and he's younger and cheaper.

[Cyberjag]

Originally Posted by monstercat

That's not the point. He has always said good things about his draft picks, but how often has he outlined a specific plan for a 7th round pick that nobody thinks will even make the team? Find me one of those quotes.

Anyway, I just hope you guys will own up to being wrong when Taylor is still here on opening day.

I think you're really reaching here, but go ahead and read up on what he said about McClover when they drafted him in the 7th a couple years ago.

I hope Taylor sticks and becomes the savior of our defense. I don't think he will, but it sure would be nice to be wrong.

[monstercat]

Originally Posted by Cyberjag

I think you're really reaching here, but go ahead and read up on what he said about McClover when they drafted him in the 7th a couple years ago.

I hope Taylor sticks and becomes the savior of our defense. I don't think he will, but it sure would be nice to be wrong.

How am I reaching? He's clearly saying that he wants Taylor to be a situational/speed pass rusher. So my question to you is...who will be Taylor's competition for that role?

[Cyberjag]

You win, I look forward to seeing him out there creating havoc in the backfield.

[monstercat]

Damn Cyber, you're not supposed to give up that easily. I was expecting to kill the boredom with a spirited debate.

[AKPantherFan]

Originally Posted by monstercat

Here is the full transcript of the Q&A session with coach Fox from that Touchdown Club Luncheon...

http://www.panthers.com/Common/Article.aspx?id=32192

I found this paragraph particularly interesting...



Hmmm...sounds like Fox has some pretty specific plans for a player that's destined to be cut, don't you think?

I like hearing fox talk like this. Sounds like he has a plan!

[outlaw4]

Originally Posted by monstercat

Damn Cyber, you're not supposed to give up that easily. I was expecting to kill the boredom with a spirited debate.

I'll kill the boredom for you.

Originally Posted by monstercat

How am I reaching? He's clearly saying that he wants Taylor to be a situational/speed pass rusher. So my question to you is...who will be Taylor's competition for that role?

Just because Fox says he wants Taylor to be a situational/speed pass rusher doesn't mean it's going to happen. It's a different story if he was a veteran player brought in who has proven that he can play in this league but this is a player that most scouts felt he was not worth wasting a high draft pick for and at this point, hasn't proven anything yet. If Taylor can fill the role that Fox wants him to fill, then that's great. If not, then that simply means we're in trouble and we're going to need to bring in either a vet or an undrafted player.

[monstercat]

True, nothing is set in stone, but I just don't see anybody on the roster who brings the unique skill set that Taylor does. Quite frankly, I don't think there is even a LBer on this team that has the speed off the edge that Taylor does, much less a DE. So to me, this is a lot like Ryne Robinson last year, where he was pretty much guaranteed to make the team because there was simply no other return man on the roster for him to compete with, since Steve Smith was out of the running.

[Cyberjag]

Originally Posted by monstercat

Damn Cyber, you're not supposed to give up that easily. I was expecting to kill the boredom with a spirited debate.

I learned a long time ago that arguing with UNC fans is futile. Best to just nod and go on your way, and let them make their own transitions from telling you why someone will be great to putting a positive spin on why stuff just didn't work out.

[Show_dog_NC]

Originally Posted by Cyberjag

I learned a long time ago that arguing with UNC fans is futile. Best to just nod and go on your way, and let them make their own transitions from telling you why someone will be great to putting a positive spin on why stuff just didn't work out.

Sounds like something a MooU/Deacon hybid would say