Fox Not To Blame?

I love Fox. Always have. But I will admit he has been responsible for and/or tolerated some of the worst offensive football I have ever seen. From Randy Fasani to Rodney Peete to Davidson to Matt Moore. This isnt the first time our offense has been this bad.

 

ha. Let me reiterate that I love him as a coach, nothing more. If i meant it like that, i woulda used the word 'luv'

 

Colin Cowherd makes a great point about elite coaches: They hardly ever lose after a bye week.

Bill Belichick is 7-0 the last seven years.

Andy Reid is 11-0 all-time.

John Fox is 5-3.

Doesn't that sum up Fox: a slightly above average coach? When Fox has the players he wants, we are guaranteed to have 7-9 or 8-8 records mixed in with years of success when facing a weak schedule. If he wants to distance himself from this year’s team, I understand because he wants to be in position to accept another job, but take responsibility for previous years of consistent mediocrity.

 

I prefer to evaluate a coach's performance on a 36-month scale, particularly ones who have been in one spot for the past decade.

2007: 7-9
2008: 12-5
2009: 8-8

For that period, he was 27-22. Factor in 2010, he's now at an even 27-27 since kickoff 2007.

Granted, circumstances were harsh for Fox in 2007 at the QB position. I do recall the entire western world declaring New England "toast" after Week 1, 2008, when Brady went down. Well, they ended up winning 11 games behind a QB who never played a snap in college. System, perhaps? Coaching, perhaps?

I like Fox, and think he's been a great catalyst for our city and this franchise, but if he doesn't want to be here, then it's next man up. We can all agree that we have not been to the playoffs as many times as we probably should have, correct?

 

I'm in the minority here, but Fox has MORE than enough to work with, in terms of personnel and coaching staff, to be 2-3, or 3-2 right now. He also has the ability--as 2004 proved--to rally a damaged team, collect some wins, and raise the level of intensity and execution in a hurry.

You hate to dig a 5 game hole, but I just look at this as the first game of our 11-game season. That hunk of shit we had to sit through the first five weeks is gone. Done.

Fox has no control over anything other than the present moment. If any coach can pull this team, one by one, back to .500, Fox is one of very few that has shown an ability to do it. Getting 89 back together with Moore gives us some hope in the passing game again, and depending on who wants to step up and be the reliable #3 (Thomas, Clowney, LaFell, MountainMan), someone has to do it. My money, this week, is on Clowney working the slot, and with the attention that 89 will receive, Gettis might break out.

Time to roll, baby.

 

yeah, i'll give him a pass until we can see what Moore can do sans concussion issues. If its more of the same over the next 3-4 games, there's not much more that can be debated.

 

Regardless of the level of potency they provide, adding Thomas and Clowney to the mix doesn't hurt this team. It will challenge LaFell to get his hands in order--and perhaps, we end up giving Moore a better chance of success with two "veterans" in the lineup, along with Smith.

With the makeup of our roster, it would be unwise to go less than 4 active WR per game for the rest of the season. Particularly given that Clowney and Thomas both have extensive ST experience. Smith and Gettis just need to keep making plays, and like Moore said this week: time to chill the fuck out, take the small stuff when it's there, and move the chains.

Here's a drive I'll never forget--in a lopsided loss, no less. It was probably Davidson's finest hour (or quarter). Opening drive, 2007 vs. Indy. Anyone 'memba?

We mixed up the playcalling nicely, got the ball to both Smith and Colbert, and even lined 89 up in the backfield and threw and easy swing pass that led to a key 1st down. We ended up losing badly, but that was like a 13 minute drive.

The key? The QB took what was there, was patient, and didn't spaz out.

Moore is capable of standing tall and doing all of this, since he's done it before. So, just fucking do it, you shitdick.

 

Yep...probably the best drive in the history of the team. 18 plays, 80 yards, 11:01 in TOP. Converted six third downs (one by penalty). I remember watching that drive and thinking about how fundamentally sound Vinny was. The guy looked off safeties...used his shoulders to sell the deep ball. Too bad his 80 year old body broke down in the first half and Carr had to play the second. Not that we were going to win that game, but maybe we don't get blown the fuck out.

 

Play by Play of the drive vs Indy in 2007.

1-10-CAR 20 (15:00) 26-D.Foster right tackle to CAR 22 for 2 yards (93-D.Freeney).

2-8-CAR 22 (14:21) 26-D.Foster up the middle to CAR 20 for -2 yards (98-R.Mathis, 50-R.Boiman).

3-10-CAR 20 (13:39) 16-V.Testaverde pass short left to 89-S.Smith to CAR 28 for 8 yards. PENALTY on IND-23-T.Jennings, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at CAR 20 - No Play.

1-10-CAR 25 (13:09) 16-V.Testaverde pass incomplete short left to 89-S.Smith.

2-10-CAR 25 (13:05) 26-D.Foster right tackle to CAR 30 for 5 yards (50-R.Boiman).

3-5-CAR 30 (12:22) 16-V.Testaverde pass short left to 89-S.Smith to CAR 42 for 12 yards (21-B.Sanders).

1-10-CAR 42 (11:39) 16-V.Testaverde pass short left to 87-J.King to CAR 48 for 6 yards (56-T.Hagler).

2-4-CAR 48 (10:54) 26-D.Foster left guard to IND 49 for 3 yards (56-T.Hagler).

3-1-IND 49 (10:10) 26-D.Foster left tackle to IND 44 for 5 yards (91-J.Thomas).

1-10-IND 44 (9:27) 16-V.Testaverde pass incomplete short left to 87-J.King.

2-10-IND 44 (9:23) 16-V.Testaverde up the middle to IND 38 for 6 yards (79-R.Brock).

3-4-IND 38 (8:43) 16-V.Testaverde pass short left to 26-D.Foster pushed ob at IND 33 for 5 yards (58-G.Brackett).

1-10-IND 33 (8:13) 16-V.Testaverde pass short left to 83-K.Colbert pushed ob at IND 18 for 15 yards (21-B.Sanders).

1-10-IND 18 (7:43) 34-D.Williams left guard to IND 14 for 4 yards (98-R.Mathis).

2-6-IND 14 (7:02) 45-B.Hoover left guard to IND 12 for 2 yards (93-D.Freeney).

3-4-IND 12 (6:22) 34-D.Williams right tackle to IND 8 for 4 yards (79-R.Brock).

Timeout #1 by CAR at 05:26.
1-8-IND 8 (5:26) 45-B.Hoover right guard to IND 4 for 4 yards (58-G.Brackett).

2-4-IND 4 (4:45) 26-D.Foster left guard to IND 3 for 1 yard (58-G.Brackett).

3-3-IND 3 (4:03) 26-D.Foster right tackle for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

4-J.Kasay extra point is GOOD, Center-56-J.Kyle, Holder-7-J.Baker.