Panthers’ collapse leads to more questions about Fox

[cgarsmoker]

From Profootball Weekly

'Fox has been pretty consistent about his coaching philosophy throughout his almost eight years with the Panthers, but he appeared to be wavering from a conservative decision that actually might have helped the team in his final decision of the game. Players have to be wondering if Fox is putting them in the best position to win games after the latest loss."

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2009/11/09/panthers-collapse-leads-to-more-questions-about-fo

[guyinchesapeake]

'Ultraconservative' goes hand-in-hand with 'ultra-predictable'. We don't surprise teams with anything new. And in the rarest of rare chances where we DO try something new, we won't do it again, regardless of success. All successfull teams know that you have to offer some wrinkles, be they on offense, defense, or special teams, somewhere and at sometime you have to throw something different at the other guys to make a big play, and to give all other opponents something to try to prepare for, which requires time and practice.

[panthers55]

Didn't Miami collapse two weeks ago. I wonder why I didn't read any articles questioning whether Miami players still believe in Sparano.

[top dawg]

"Panthers’ collapse leads to more questions about Fox"

This inconvenient truth makes me frickin' ill.

[Kyle82]

Didn't Miami collapse two weeks ago. I wonder why I didn't read any articles questioning whether Miami players still believe in Sparano.

Yep...the Fish had the Saints down 24-3 at one point....never heard any flak from that.

[JJT]

Fox is not conservative. He's timid.

[Carolinafan320]

foxy has lost his mind

[MurkN]

Foxy isn't conservative. We are very aggressive. Did you not see us throwing the ball on 4th down with the game on the line? Field goal smield goal, we're going to stomp on the opponents throats and gut it out to the finish!

[Brooklyn Bully]

Didn't Miami collapse two weeks ago. I wonder why I didn't read any articles questioning whether Miami players still believe in Sparano.

Because you're not a Dolphins fan and you don't search the net for Dolphins related articles?

[rayzor]

Didn't Miami collapse two weeks ago. I wonder why I didn't read any articles questioning whether Miami players still believe in Sparano.

dolphins are in rebuild mode....panthers are getting ready for it (hopefully).

[Achilles]

Look...there is something to this...Fox is having a bad year from the sidelines. He's made some clock management errors and he can be seen cringing a lot on failed 3rd down conversions. Also, you see him saying, "That's BS!!!" to the refs at least once a game. I think he's lost his edge a little.

And it is absolutely true that Fox has become predictable and that causes the game plan to suck. I at least think I have seen some half-time adjustments, but they have rarely paid off. We have not played well in the second half in nearly every game this season.

We have lead at halftime in several games, the Dallas game comes to mind...7-0 at halftime. Couldn't score a single point in the 2nd half??? 6 against AZ...3 against NO???

That, among other things, is a coaching issue, IMO.

Maybe it has to do with shackling Delhomme. Maybe some uncanny turnovers (Williams fumble on 1 yd line), but we shouldn't have been in that situation in the first place.

We cannot protect a lead.

[ladypanther]

Fox has a long history of poor game management, inability (or unwillingness) to make adjustments, and his playing not to lose philosophy.

Instead of playing 1 game at a time, he divides the season into 4 qtrs and builds a loss into each quarter. It is just a thought....but shouldn't the head coach be more focused on winning rather than planning to lose?

And then of course is the fact that Fox neither understands the role and importance of a QB in the NFL nor does he know how to evaluate QB talent.

None of this is new. Finally, some people are beginning to stop making excuses for the losing years and holding Fox accountable. He has had talent here and has wasted it. Fox has some positives as a coach...but he will never be a great head coach, or even a very good one.

[hepcat]

We have lead at halftime in several games, the Dallas game comes to mind...7-0 at halftime. Couldn't score a single point in the 2nd half??? 6 against AZ...3 against NO???

We cannot protect a lead.

The reason I believe this is happening is because the Panthers gameplan is very predictable, but it is well executed most of the time, which is why the Panthers have won more games under Fox than lost. But he's been around for long enough now where teams know what he's going to do for a certain game and can adjust at halftime. Plus Delhomme sucks.

[raleigh-panther]

IMO, Lady Panther is correct, as are a few others.

None of this is new. We have seen it for 8 years now. Some would say, and have a good argument that it was Fox's poor clock management, not Kasay's out of bounds kick in the SuperBowl that cost the Panthers that game in the final 2 mins. One would have to ask, would a coach call a time out with slightly over a min. left against the Pats; but, I am still bitter and digress.

Its all water over the dam now though.

I do believe teams mirror their coaches, some have swagger (Steelers), some smugness (Pats) some quiet confidence (Colts). What we have is neutral, timid, never finishing, and if we don't finish well, 'its just one game', 'the other team practices too' etc etc.

We are never 'all in' on anything and in the harder season, against tougher competition, against teams that 'go all in', Fox loses, and loses consistently. He has not had the convenient injury excuses either for the current 3-5 situation.

Just look at the offseason philosophy, 'hey, no reason to get better, we were 12-4 last year'. Good teams, always look to get better, they never 'stand pat'...never, as they know the NFL is ever changing and ultra-competitive.

I feel sorry for the players. They know these things too...and they are starting to act out (Jenkins in the past, Peppers) and speak out (Muhammed & Smith). Others will follow.