The Fox era

looking back on the Fox era, started 2003 with a few solid "veteran" free agents signings, followed up with a questionable draft, and an arguable pair of questionable releases, did we ride the back of Jack Del Rio's intensity to the Superbowl?

2004 was lack-luster in free agency, followed up with another average(?) draft, injuries lead to an 8-8 season and a "just missed" in the playoffs when we couldn't beat the Saints at home with the playoff's on he line.

2005, the jury is still out on this draft, followed a key release, free agency was solid, a push on a pair of trades, great start going 7-2 (over mostly weaker teams) 3-3
down the stretch leading us to a must win today in Atlanta with the play-offs on the line.

2005

Drafted
Thomas Davis DB Georgia
Eric Shelton RB Louisville
Evan Mathis G Alabama
Atiyyah Ellison DT Missouri
Stefan Lefors QB Louisville
Adam Seward LB Nevada-Las Vegas
Geoff Hangartner C Texas A&M
Jovan Haye DE Vanderbilt

Muhsin Muhammad (released)

free agents

Mike Wahle
Ken Lucas
Marlon McCree
Chris Draft

Freddie Jones (retired)

Traded for Gardner
Traded for Baker

Smart , Kadela signed extensions

2004

Draft
Chris Gamble DB Ohio State
Keary Colbert WR USC
Travelle Wharton T South Carolina
Drew Carter WR Ohio State
Sean Tufts LB Colorado
Michael Gaines TE Central Florida

Free agents

Adam Meadows (retired)
Brandon Short
Jordan Carstens (UDRFA signing)
Jamal Robertson

Smith, Wallace, Kasay signed extensions
Reyes, Kyle, Mangum re-signed

2003

draft
Jordan Gross T Utah
Bruce Nelson C Iowa
Mike Seidman TE UCLA
Ricky Manning DB UCLA
Colin Branch DB Stanford
Kindal Moorehead DE Alabama


Wesley Walls (released)
Shayne Graham (waived)

Signed

Jake Delhomme
Rodney Peete
Stephen Davis
Ricky Proehl
Vinny Ciurciu (UDRFA signing)

 

...following a 1-15 season, and that other bullshit preceding

I love the Fox era, no matter what the outcome today

 

I am happy with the Fox tenure. If we can find a true feature back that is durable and locked up for a few years then all the inconsistency we have had should go away. Imagine this team with a guy like Tomlinson, Alexander, Dillon, Mcallister, etc.

 

ONly part of fox era that concerns me is the second round.

And that's big, b/c we've tried 2 running backs, a center, and a WR. All offense.

 

I'm not sure if you are omitting a year as non-noteworthy, but the Fox era began in 2002.



Draft
Julius Peppers, DE
DeShaun Foster, RB
Will Witherspoon, LB
Dante Wesley, DB
Randy Fasani, QB
Kyle Johnson, RB
Keith Heinrich , TE
Pete Campion, G
Brad Franklin, DB


FAs
Shane Burton, DT
Terry Cousin, CB
Steve Israel, CB
Brad Jackson, LB
DeRon Jenkins, CB
Rodney Peete, QB
Terrance Simmons, DT
Fernando Smith, DE
Lamar Smith, RB
Fred Vinson, CB

 

uggggggggggh

 

the first part of the tenure was going to be signing guys. He chose who was young and deserved to stay, and rode those guys, but the rest needed some vet ability to get it to championship level. Then it got there.


if it was all Del Rio, we would've folded the way we did in 04 and stayed there. I defy anyone to say the 05 defense was worse given that the offense actually produced and we didn't just sit on the ball.

After that, things got tough. 06 could've been special but we got bland. Then the OC goes, and we get better on those changes. Then Jake's arm goes and the D is young...people can discount those late wins but all we needed in 07-09 was competent QB play to win. Those late wins set the table in 07, and would've in 09 had we not made wholesale change.

 

The Fox era was solid. Sometimes very good. Overall, a successful one, and we've had some good years and respectability.

But we've not had back to back winning seasons, and for the most part, the second half of the era has been marred with mediocrity.

I know you worship Fox, y2b, but it's time to change. He's not above being replaced, and to say he has zero culpability in this whole thing is maybe the silliest thing I've heard in my life.

He's the HEAD COACH. The head coach NEVER has zero culpability during a 1-8 season, just like he had something to do with the Superbowl season. I assume if Fox can't get blamed, then he had nothing to do with the good seasons either?

Why is he here, then? Is he a fucking puppet a goddamn MASCOT? WHo can we thank for our success? Personnel guys?

 

he's done