Is the Panthers QB situation fragile?

by Jaxon on May 26, 2008 10:32 PM EDT

That’s the premise of John Clayton’s inclusion of the Panthers in the top seven non-moves in the 2008 off-season. Clayton among others thinks the Panthers are placing too much faith in Jake Delhomme’s return. Figure in the failure of the Panther brass to add another veteran back-up to replace David Carr and you get this:

7. Panthers' inability to find another backup QB

The Carolina Panthers tried to upgrade at backup QB last season, but David Carr was a bust. Now, no team has a more fragile QB situation than Carolina. Starter Jake Delhomme is coming back from Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow. A healthy Delhomme could take the Panthers to the playoffs. An unhealthy Delhomme could cost management jobs in Carolina. The backup is Matt Moore, an undrafted player plucked from the Cowboys' roster in September. The Panthers like Moore, but things could get dicey if he must start.

I think Clayton is missing two things. First, he doesn’t realize that Jake’s elbow was already shown signs of wear before the injury. Jake has had to baby that elbow the last two seasons. For the first time in a couple seasons Jake will be playing with a completely healthy elbow that is actually stronger than it has ever been.

The second thing Clayton is missing is how much improvement Matt Moore showed in just three starts. The kid showed a great arm and an ability to make quick reads and throws. If Jake should be unable to go come game one Moore will find he has better receiving targets, a bigger offensive line and a RB that can get those 3^rd and 1’s. When you consider all of these changes its apparent the Panthers failure to get a veteran QB was not that risky.

I realize John Clayton is only pointing out the risk and is not actually predicting Jake to get hurt again. He also thinks if the Panthers have to start Matt Moore it could get ‘dicey’. Those of us who lived and breathed the Panthers last season like our odds.

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More Moore

So what should we have done then… Go sign a big name back up? Did that last year, now the name Carr makes every Carolina fan want to vomit. Maybe, pick up an aged and experienced veteran? Did that… Testaverde couldn’t get it done either. So probably he thinks we should have drafted a QB. But why? Rookies need time to develop, and Carolina needs to win now! Last year Matt Moore won 66% of his starts, and proved he could out perform a previous 1st over all draft pick. So why stick an unproven rookie in front of him? If Jake goes down (heaven forbid) Matt Moore can get the job done.

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by Jaxonweb on May 26, 2008 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

yup

Good points. Drafting a QB wouldn’t have been a good idea. We’ve already got three QBs, what would we do with a fourth? And you can actually say that Matt Moore out-performed two previous 1st overall draft picks (Carr and Testaverde).

by r3 on May 27, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

QB situation

These sports writers have access to people and places that most of us don’t, but that doesn’t mean their analytical skills are any better. Quite often, if they don’t have the time to evaluate something or someone, they’ll get on the internet and research the same way I do. Jake and Matt were a combined 4-2 last season. Matt proved that he could win. I wonder what people said about Tony Romo is his first two seasons in the league as an undrafted QB. The fact is that we have the talent that we could bring in Moore and win with him throwing 20-25 times, or less. We are better already on offense (with the addition of Hackett, Moose, J-Stew, Barnidge and Otah), defense (with the additions of Landon Johnson, Godfrey, Brayton, Conner) and special teams with our kickoff specialist acquisition last season. Moore doesn’t even have to do as much as he did last year to get wins, but he can do more if he’s asked to. However, Jake is back and ready to relive his 3800+ yards, 29 TDs he had in his second season in Carolina.

I bet Clayton also said Favre should retire after the 2006 season.

by usana_gaines on May 27, 2008 8:13 AM EDT reply actions

kinda

Bears QB and Browns CB situations were both higher (appropriately so) – which is what I looked for in the article.

Jaxon is spot on in his evaluation of last year’s disappointments, this year’s crop of FAs was incredibly thin- but I still wish we’d have spent a late draft pick on a QB.

How many seasons removed are we from having this homey as our listed #3?

by the bomb dot com on May 27, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

Jake? 6 seasons I beleive

I was surprised the Panthers didn’t get a vet back-up. Not that I thought we needed one but is Fox’s usual MO. They must think highly of Matt Moore and I think they should. The money that would have been used on a FA QB has been well spent elsewhere.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on May 27, 2008 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Don't forget Brett

All this hand-wringing over our QB situation always fails to mention Brett Basanez. If he hadn’t tried to tear his thumb off in the preseason game, we never would have gotten Matt Moore, and Basanez (not Vinny, not Matt) would have taken over when Carr stalled. And don’t forget, Matt Moore isn’t guaranteed the #2 job. Brett might win that spot.

And like I’ve said before, last year’s QB situation is what you call “the worst case scenario”, and we STILL went 7-9. I’m just not that worried about it this year. All I know for certain is that it CAN NOT be as bad as it was last year.

by r3 on May 27, 2008 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

last year

r3 makes some good points that I want to expand on. Last year’s QB situation was the worst case scenario, but it wasn’t our QBs that gave up 34 pts to Houston, or 344 yds to Joey Harrington. Our defense played better down the stretch and has improved due to FA and the draft. Our leading rusher had more fumbles than TDs, and averaged 3.5 yards a carry. D-Will averaged 5, and our OL is better anyway. So our QB situation was bad last year, but we had a few situations that needed to be fixed. All the issues we faced last year have been addressed, and Jake is feeling better than ever. I think we have the kind of talented team that a 2nd tier QB could lead to the division championship, but we don’t have a 2nd tier QB, Jake will prove this year that he is one of the better QBs in the league.

by usana_gaines on May 27, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions