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November 24, 2007
Where to turn?
Since we won’t know until Sunday morning if Vinny Testaverde will be healthy enough to start at quarterback for the Panthers, let’s get hypothetical. Suppose Testaverde’s out. I can’t see John (“play not to lose’’) Fox starting rookie Matt Moore, who has only taken a handful of snaps. But, how about this scenario? Start David Carr and if he plays well, great. Maybe Carr can redeem himself. But let’s say Carr goes out and struggles like he has just about every time he’s played this season. If that happens, give Carr a half and yank him for Moore. It’s approaching the point where the Panthers don’t have much to lose by playing Moore. Heck, Fox could even help his job security if the rookie shows some progress and wins a game or two down the stretch. That would at least provide some hope for the future and give owner Jerry Richardson something positive to ponder as he evaluates the state of his team. – PAT YASINSKAS
Posted by Observer Sports on November 24, 2007 at 01:21 PM | Permalink
Comments
I agree. Ley Carr play for a half...if he stinks, yank him for Moore. Now people are seeing how valuable Jake Delhomme is to this team.
Posted by: garronbernard | Nov 24, 2007 1:59:12 PM
I agree. Let Carr play for a half...if he stinks, yank him for Moore. Now people are seeing how valuable Jake Delhomme is to this team.
Posted by: garronbernard | Nov 24, 2007 1:59:43 PM
This is sad after strong Panther teams in 2003 & 2005 to see it all crumbling down and realizing the Panthers have to rebuild. Step One: FIRE GM Marty Hurney because last few years the Panthers have had lousy drafts. When you get as many 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th round draft choice busts as the Panthers have had in their last five drafts, you do not remain a competitive team. Step Two: HIRE a GM who is good at drafting like New England's Scott Pioli or Philadelphia's Tom Heckert or former Panthers GM now Colts GM Bill Polian. Step Three: DEMAND John Fox focus only on game day coaching and skill development and let the new GM take care of the draft.
Currently, John Fox is lead in committee style draft strategy. GM Marty Hurney is next to worthless. Have you ever heard this guy say anything poignant or make any brilliant move? Players win games and right now these Panthers are just not a talented team.
Posted by: Matt | Nov 24, 2007 2:01:06 PM
playing moore is just postioning youself for the draft...since we know we can't draft there really is no need to do that...
Posted by: Local | Nov 24, 2007 2:02:51 PM
start ol boy d-will at QB PLAYAS!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: $$ BIG THUG G MONEY $$ | Nov 24, 2007 2:15:56 PM
It's time to start Moore... let the rookie get some games and real time play under his belt. He can not and will not do any worse than Carr so what do we have to lose...nothing. We have a lot to gain by playing Moore and truly evaluating his ability and increasing his experience. Look at Tampa Bay's remaining schedule: WAS, NO, HOU, ATL, SF, and CAR and look at ours: NO, SF, JAX, SEA, DAL, TB. Realisticly we will not recover those 2 games behind TB. Let Moore play!
Posted by: Carolina Wild | Nov 24, 2007 5:58:14 PM
Come on guys, I can do it! I even got these nifty black and blue gloves to wear this week! They are so swell!
Posted by: David Carr | Nov 24, 2007 6:28:04 PM
Let's go get 'em, Panthers! I'll take a week off from TV to come down there and lead you boys to a win over the Saints.
Posted by: Terry Bradshaw | Nov 24, 2007 7:19:48 PM
Losing 1st and 3rd QB's and apaprently making a mistake on Carr, does not make Fox or Hurney losers. Stop readng the Charlotte Destroyers garbage and check out Google on the Panthers. You will get other writers more infomrative opinions. What would records of Indy, NE, Dallas, GB be losing starting QB's? Why did everyone in the world think signing Carr was a great thing and now Fox and Hurney are stupid??
Posted by: TRUE PANTHER FAN | Nov 24, 2007 7:31:13 PM
i dont wanna see david carr anywhere but the sidelines
Posted by: Zacj | Nov 24, 2007 8:02:37 PM
If we fire John Fox it will be a huge mistake. (Not that anyone is insinuating he will be.) That is all.
Posted by: Brinson | Nov 24, 2007 9:53:41 PM
Fox's job security?? Is he in danger of losing his job? Sure all the fans and alot of the media want him gone, but with Jake out no coach would have much success with this team. But some of the blame does fall on Fox for signing Carr. Still, I imagine Jerry will examine Fox's whole body of work as opposed to these last two years.
Posted by: mattdaddy | Nov 24, 2007 9:57:09 PM
rex grossman has nice eyes. he looks so reptilian. mmmmmm hot
Posted by: david carr | Nov 24, 2007 10:29:39 PM
I'll start and I'll kick their stupid cajun tails.
Posted by: big matt moore | Nov 24, 2007 10:33:31 PM
I don't think John Fox is a bad coach, and I don't think Marty Hurney is entirely incompetent. But I do think this team has been snake bit for at least the last two seasons. And it needs fresh blood to help turn the whole organization around, which is certainly not easy to find. Fox is precariously in danger of losing his team. A coach is effective when the leaders on the field buy into the leader on the sideline. But the Panthers don't have them. Delhomme is out and Minter retired, and other than that there is no one. I think Fox is too conservative to make the wholesale changes this team needs. The Richardsons may have to make that call for him.
Posted by: Dave | Nov 24, 2007 11:20:34 PM
I think you're right, Dave--conservative is the key word.
Posted by: hillbilly | Nov 25, 2007 12:12:32 AM
Fox coaches, and most of the team plays like they have nothing to lose. They are probably right.
Posted by: tony | Nov 25, 2007 12:29:34 AM
Play Carr, preferably for the rest of the year. Play him next year too. That way we definitely can go 4-12 this season, probably worse next year, and have the #1 overall pick for the 2009 draft...
...Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
Posted by: kris | Nov 25, 2007 1:11:55 AM
Hey guys, I've tweaked the play book a lot this week! There's now a FULLBACK draw play for those 3rd and longs AND I've added a couple of trick plays to the special teams book. The first involves setting up like a field goal and having the kicker punt the ball instead. It's not a pooch kick, I call it a spooch kick because we make sure all 11 guys are on the field first! The other special teams play is called a "kickoff return", in which a receiving player actually grabs the ball out of the air and runs with it and tries to score! Isn't that wild?
Oh and get this, there this part of the field known as the "flat" and I plan to have a guy keep an eye on it. Also, I'm researching whether to have a defensive guy patrol what's known as "the middle of the field" to prevent consistent TE passing.
You like these ideas?
Posted by: John Fox | Nov 25, 2007 2:23:12 AM
It never ceases to amaze me how many Panther fans still can't recognize that Fox is a very one dimensional HC. He had success because they were lucky to get players that fit the way he coaches, in two seasons, and when they don't, the last two seasons is what you get. It will take an act of God, like both senior QB's dropping dead, before Moore gets a chance to play, that's the John Fox way, gag.
Posted by: Logan | Nov 25, 2007 2:51:51 AM
First off Carr came in relief of Jake and lead the team to a win against the Falcons. Carr admitted stinking it up in Tampa and then leads the Panthers to a win over the Saints with a fractured back. At the Titans he is still hurting from the fracture and then ends up getting a concussion on top of that. Now it seems to me when a player has suffered those kind of injuries shouldn't some of you reserve judgement until he's healthy? Also what about those wins he did lead the Panthers to? I guess they mean nothing.
Posted by: Petedy | Nov 25, 2007 4:05:26 AM
This should not even be a question. Vinny does not give us the best chance to win, but the best chance to keep it close going into the 4th Q. Carr has now proven he is not the future. Moore is the only unknown!! He may be another Tony Romo!! He may be another Jake Delhomme!! He may be an undrafted free-agent that floats a round for a few years and then is out of football. As a season ticket holder I say roll the dice, see what the kid has!! There is nothing more to lose and everything to gain!!
Posted by: WannaBnNC | Nov 25, 2007 9:06:38 AM
jesus christ people. john fox isn't in jeopardy of losing his job. people who actually have a logical, reasonable brain would realize that.
Posted by: G.M. | Nov 25, 2007 9:49:40 AM
I'm tired of hearing how the Panthers can't draft and can't do this or are bad at that. If the Pats or Colts lost Brady or Mannning, how many games would they win. Do any of you actually think Matt Cassell or Jim Sorgi could win in the NFL? As for the drafting, no one hits on all their picks, just sometimes teams get lucky. The average NFL team keeps less than 1/4 of their drafts picks beyond the 3rd years The Pats only have 5 Rookies on the roster compared to 10 Rookies on the Panthers roster. Teams just hope they get lucky when they pick Peyton Manning #1 Overall and don't get Ryan Leaf when they pick #1. And, you hope you get lucky when you draft Steve Smith in the 3rd Round, or Tom Brady in the 5th, or Devin Hester in the 2nd. If the draft took place today, all would be top 5 picks. It's not because NE knew something no one else did when they got Brady...they just got lucky. 99% of the football fans in this city don't understand the dynamics of pro football...and that includes the writers.
Posted by: Reality | Nov 25, 2007 10:46:53 AM
What's the difference who the starting QB is?
This team has no offensive line. They can't open a hole or protect the QB against the pass rush. Running backs and QBs have no where to go and no time to get there.
They also have no defensive line and a pretty poor secondary. With no pass rush, why do they continue to rush only 3 guys?
Usually, the reason defenses give for poor play is that they are on the field too much, and they tire out. Well, that's true for this defense, also. But, in their case it is because they can't stop anyone from getting a first down. No matter what the yardage, short or long, they give it up.
Then, you look at special teams. They are horrible at coverage, and they make big mistakes when fielding the ball.
The coaches have a lot to answer for in this team's attitude. After each embarrassing loss, they seem only to be concerned with moving on to next week, to getting the team ready for the next game. Trouble is, no one is ever held accountable for this week.
The talent level of this team is well below the NFL average, and it is an insult to the fans to even put this team out there.
The only power we have as fans is to express our displeasure and to boo the team loudly at home. And, maybe even better than that is to stop spending money on them and their merchandise.
As a PSL owner, I've had enough. I will not be attending any more games this year. Not another penny this year, Jerry!
Posted by: The Prez | Nov 25, 2007 11:22:03 AM
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