Jul 28 2006
Are the 2006 Texans the 2002 Panthers?
The Texans Chick sure thinks so, and the similarities she highlights are actually pretty spooky…
• Both were (Dom) Capers-run teams at their inception as a franchise.
• In 2000, the Panthers went 7-9, and then the following season went 1-15. In 2004, the Texans went 7-9, and then the following season went 2-14.
• After these dreadful, losing seasons, the Panthers hired John Fox, a promising coach who had been a NFL defensive coordinator since 1994, and the Texans hired Gary Kubiak, a promising coach who had been a NFL offensive coordinator since 1995. Fox was 46 when he was hired, and Kubiak was 44. Both coaches are reputed to have good people skills and a confident presence.
• In 2001, the Panthers picked a freakishly gifted ACC defensive end, Julius Peppers with their first pick, and a 6′1, 231 lb SEC linebacker, Will Witherspoon with the third pick. In 2006, the Texans picked a freakishly gifted ACC defensive end, Mario Williams with their first pick and a 6′1, 236 lb SEC linebacker DeMeco Ryans with their second pick.
It goes on from there, though to be fair, it was George Seifert who was responsible for that 1-15 season, not Capers. (Seifert’s name still induces grimacing and eye-rolling among some NFL fans in this state.) Either way, I think the Texans got the right guy as their head coach, and I suspect Dominick Davis, if he’s recovered from last season’s knee injury, can’t wait for this season to start…
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