Fox on not bringing in veteran WRs: Those aren’t my decisions

[CLTPanther]

We all know Fox likes to break down the season into 4 quarters. So by his thinking, we are only 0-1 right now in this quarter, so no need to change.

[AceMan]

So....Fire Hurney?

[PantherFanForLife]

Well if there's one thing I don't blame Fox for is this team not bringing in veterans. That's deffinitley not something Fox would do. He believes in vets and guys with experience.

Honestly I find very little from this year to blame on Fox or the situation for our team. I blame Fox for a lot of poo, but most of that is from previous seasons, like when we had so many great opportunities to win a big game, save a season, or get far into the playoffs. My biggest blame towards him is for not having the balls to go to another QB when Jake was self-imploding during the playoffs and relying on him to win the game with passing when the only reason we got there in the first place was the run.

In fact, balls, in general, is why I don't like Fox. He's a smart coach. He's a good dude. Nothing but respect for him. But I want to see some guts in my coach who is capable of making adjustments, stepping in when the game is on the line and taking over for your OC or your QB when they are making poor decisions and making the right one. I want to see a coach who won't panic in a playoff game and abandon the run when he built a team around the run. Better yet I'd like to see a coach who doesn't depend on the run so much and also realizes passing is just as important. And I do want to see a coach who will actually tell me SOMETHING of substance in a press interview.

But other than that, can't find much to blame him this year. I may have even been harsh in putting the blame on him for the QB decisions. I'm beginning to see now it probably wasn't his. In fact I even CREDIT him along with Ron Meeks in such an amazing job of getting some serious overperformance out of our defense. Too bad you could never find that balance we all wanted to see.

[CRA]

I disagree....

I personally don't think he's a BIG Reason.... I feel if you insert any coach onto our sideline with these offensive weapons we're still the same 0-5 Team. You can stretch the field if you don't have the players to stretch the field.

One thing about Jake and the O-line when they were on is he would make you fear and cover the deep pass. You live Smitty with single coverage deep Jake would believe he could make that throw and would make the defense pay. You had Moose or Key on the other side to keep the DB's honest that's when Jake was at his best... What that does is open up or running game which would then dominate opponents.

Now without a QB-WR that has the timing and ability to go deep, and Wr's who can't get separation our passing game is not respected. Not too much play calling can do to fix that.

1) We open up the passing game and pass like crazy... bunch of Int's- See the earlier game

2) We try to play safe on offense and pound the ball, get a few big plays and rely on the defense, we still lose.

3) Mix it up... we're still not moving the ball and looking at 3rd and long which is BRUTAL for our offense.

This season it is the Talent on the field that is a Problem!!! Not coaching.... Hell we have to go grab everyone's left over WR talent and put them in the lineup.

Everyone has their open to Blame who they want... For me it is the front office #1. I believe if our FO worked like the New York Jets FO for example we would not be 0-5 this season.... But I do believe with their head coach we would be 0-5.

you insert a different coach and he isn't going to be running Fox's same offense. That automatically helps.

When we have gone downfield rarely this year.....plays are there....that is why Gettis and LaFell have been wideopen. QBs just aren't throwing or miss open guys. Stretching the field isn't the issue right now. A QB hitting open WRs downfield is the issue. 2 of our rookies should have 40+ yard TDs by now.

[SOJA]

you insert a different coach and he isn't going to be running Fox's same offense. That automatically helps.

When we have gone downfield rarely this year.....plays are there....that is why Gettis and LaFell have been wideopen. QBs just aren't throwing or miss open guys. Stretching the field isn't the issue right now. A QB hitting open WRs downfield is the issue. 2 of our rookies should have 40+ yard TDs by now.

that's so frustrating

[theyhateme45]

you insert a different coach and he isn't going to be running Fox's same offense. That automatically helps.

When we have gone downfield rarely this year.....plays are there....that is why Gettis and LaFell have been wideopen. QBs just aren't throwing or miss open guys. Stretching the field isn't the issue right now. A QB hitting open WRs downfield is the issue. 2 of our rookies should have 40+ yard TDs by now.

I guess I believe we don't have the personnel to run any type of offense. So changing the offense doesn't do anything when we still have the same young, inexperience, under-performing QB's and WR's (Too no fault of their own). If your QB's have not developed the timing to go deep to the WR's down the field without turning the ball over then that's not the head coach's fault.

And if you say the plays are there to be made... then that means play calling is not the issue if good plays are open. The problem is with the execution of the plays. Which goes back to the talent on the field and not coaching.

[grateflday]

I disagree....

I personally don't think he's a BIG Reason.... I feel if you insert any coach onto our sideline with these offensive weapons we're still the same 0-5 Team. You can stretch the field if you don't have the players to stretch the field.

One thing about Jake and the O-line when they were on is he would make you fear and cover the deep pass. You live Smitty with single coverage deep Jake would believe he could make that throw and would make the defense pay. You had Moose or Key on the other side to keep the DB's honest that's when Jake was at his best... What that does is open up or running game which would then dominate opponents.

Now without a QB-WR that has the timing and ability to go deep, and Wr's who can't get separation our passing game is not respected. Not too much play calling can do to fix that.

1) We open up the passing game and pass like crazy... bunch of Int's- See the earlier game

2) We try to play safe on offense and pound the ball, get a few big plays and rely on the defense, we still lose.

3) Mix it up... we're still not moving the ball and looking at 3rd and long which is BRUTAL for our offense.

This season it is the Talent on the field that is a Problem!!! Not coaching.... Hell we have to go grab everyone's left over WR talent and put them in the lineup.

Everyone has their open to Blame who they want... For me it is the front office #1. I believe if our FO worked like the New York Jets FO for example we would not be 0-5 this season.... But I do believe with their head coach we would be 0-5.

Despite the issues with this current Panther team John Fox IS a big reason for how abysmal it is. He and his staff continue to do the same thing over and over and over again desite it not working. He even stated in an interview that he knows teams are putting 8, 9, even 10 in the box yet they ran the ball on every first down the entire game against the Bears until 1/2 way through the third quarter. Then didnt throw again on first down until the 4th quarter. I am not calling for a down the field pass, but something. lets not forget the three straight run plays on the first drive against the Bears to settle for a FG. I would much rather have a coach who relizes the ineptness of his Offense and when he gets close to the endzone mixes it up and tries to score a TD.

Now against the Saints all we heard was how depleted their secondary was and their top 3 safeties were all out with injuries. I dont care how bad you think your QB or WR's are, they did not take one shot down field the entire game to exploit that weakness.

People need to stop giving Fox excuses. I am not saying this team doesnt have issues, but to say no other coach etc would make a difference is b.s.

Fox is being himself, stubborn and doing what he can to slow the game down, run the clock, prevent a blowout, hope to get lucky in the 4th qtr and pull out a win. Sadly this is how he has been, why the team has not been consistent, and this season because of the youth the problem with his coaching style just stands out even more.

I soooo cant wait for the Fox era to end. I just wish the new coaching regime was already in here working with this team. Sadly that didnt happen because of JR and the CBA issue.

[theyhateme45]

The first games we came out throwing and Turnovers affected us. In that New Orleans game we did not throw interceptions giving the saints points or good field position. We were up in the 2nd half playing the football game that way.

My point is everyone is saying spread it out and throw it downfield.... Well that poo is not working!! We can't give teams easy points and good field position... When we have spread the field out the O-line is not blocking well enough.

People always want there to be an answer for play calling... Sometimes there is no answer! I just don't think people can accept that. Personnel wise on offense we are just a young, inexperienced bad bad team right now.... Now coach or play-calling change is gonna change that.

[lightsout]

We have NEVER had back to back winning seasons.

When something is not working, Fox will do the same thing fro 4 quarters until we lose.

He is either unwilling or incapable of adjusting to game situations.

That is the worst trait for a coach.

While I agree that not having back to back winning seasons, we have never had back to back losing or .500 seasons either. Yeah, 2006 and 2007 can be used as an example, but in 2006 we lost our first 2 games in the absence of Steve Smith, who was coming off a big year. Also, 4 of our losses in 2006 came within a TD (a couple within a field goal...). I mean, yeah, I'm kinda being optimistic/making excuses, but Fox hasn't done terrible. Don't forget, he took a 1-15 team and went 7-9, then 11-5 and a Super Bowl appearance. So don't necessarily say he's done a BAD job.

I will say that he's got away with relying on his athletes in loo of making adjustments. That thought process hurt him once Jake started going downhill.

[Matt Foley]

I was told that Fox was on the verge of spouting off. Guess that time has arrived.

[grateflday]

The first games we came out throwing and Turnovers affected us. In that New Orleans game we did not throw interceptions giving the saints points or good field position. We were up in the 2nd half playing the football game that way.

My point is everyone is saying spread it out and throw it downfield.... Well that poo is not working!! We can't give teams easy points and good field position... When we have spread the field out the O-line is not blocking well enough.

People always want there to be an answer for play calling... Sometimes there is no answer! I just don't think people can accept that. Personnel wise on offense we are just a young, inexperienced bad bad team right now.... Now coach or play-calling change is gonna change that.

We will have to agree to disagree I know this team is young, inexperienced and bad right now BUT coaching and the right play calling can help. I am not just saying it this season either. I have been done with "Fox ball" for three season now. Even the few season they did well it was always by the skin of their teeth, playing it close, wait to the 4th qtr and try to win it then. Because of the issues with the team this year the problems and style of Fox Ball is just making it worse in my opinion.

[rayzor]

I was told that Fox was on the verge of spouting off. Guess that time has arrived.

probably not too long before he gets his butt canned as well.

[mav1234]

Man, I really hope Fox comes clean and goes nuts. I know he won't, but I'd love for him to lay into things this season, though I doubt it'd help the confidence of his young team.

Anyone else half expect him to resign in a couple weeks? heh.

[rayzor]

Man, I really hope Fox comes clean and goes nuts. I know he won't, but I'd love for him to lay into things this season, though I doubt it'd help the confidence of his young team.

Anyone else half expect him to resign in a couple weeks? heh.

that would put him right up there with kerry collins in my book.