Panthers OC Davidson Will Test Jake in 2008

by Jaxon on Jun 14, 2008 11:55 PM EDT

For the first time in the last 9 months I’m not talking about Jake Delhomme’s elbow. I’m actually referring to his brain. Jake had this to say about continuing his work with Panthers Offensive Coordinator Jeff Davidson.

"I've only played 2 1/2 games with him, and some in the preseason, but I know what he expects," Delhomme said. "He puts more on the quarterback which I think is great. And we have some pretty sharp guys receiver-wise, tight ends-wise and running back-wise. You look at a team like New England and they have a lot of smart football players. That is the key. You have to have smart guys who love to play and want to compete. And I think we are really getting a lot of those guys."

By saying Davidson ‘puts more on the QB’ I assume that means making more decisions at the line of scrimmage based on what the defense is showing. So that got me to thinking about the 2006 season and the couple games where Jake threw some bad INT’s. The Philly game comes to mind.

So does Jake have the mental capacity to handle more decision-making?

He doesn’t come off as a Rhodes Scholar that’s for sure. I’m not calling him stupid either because I think a person has to be at least semi-intelligent to lead a team to the SB as a QB. I think there is a chance of over-loading Jake and causing him to make bad decisions. He has shown of tendency to do that in the past.

This will be something to watch in the pre-season. Be ready for some obvious confusion by the offense as they learn the system and each other.

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he can do it

I’m not worried about Jake’s mental capacity to do more. I think a lot of what Jake will do differently is having to read defenses and maybe make adjustments at the line of scrimmage. Since he’s been here, he’s been very good in the clutch and even better in the postseason. Since 2003, I can think of two games he blew by throwing bad passes in the end zone – 4th quarter interceptions vs. the Bengals and Eagles in 2006. In four years, two bad throws isn’t much. I think Jake is actually going to have more responsibility, but less pressure overall. We’ll do a lot more running in the second half, we’ll have better field position, and our defense will give up fewer points for Jake to have to overcome. The rest of our roster will make Jake’s job easier. Not only that, but think of these two scenarios. #1 – You drop back to pass and Smitty is double covered with a safety nearby, you can throw to Carter, Colbert or Foster. #2 – Smitty is double covered, you can throw to Moose who has a nickelback and safety on him, Hackett who has a LB on him, or D-Will who has a DE on him in the flat. In scenario 1, we’re losing 27-17. In scenario 2, we’re winning 24-10.

by usana_gaines on Jun 15, 2008 9:48 AM EDT reply actions

No problem for Jake

lately he’s been throwing forcing throws because all he had to throw to was steve smith. in 2003 and later he was still learing the quarterback position. remember he wasn’t drafted so that tells me he had plenty of learning to do about the quarterback position. Now with a lot more experience plenty of wideouts to throw to and a strong running game he can focus more on running the offense and less on how am i going to get the ball to steve smith on the next play and the play after that. He’ll be fine

by JStew28 on Jun 15, 2008 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

not to change the subject

I just read on panthers.com that J Stew will be our returning heading into camp. Im am a little suprised fox has stated this already usually he says its hard to tell who’s going to win it. I new j stew could return and was in the running to return kicks but im suprised Fox came right out and said that he’s the guy who is going to start returning kicks.

by JStew28 on Jun 15, 2008 12:52 PM EDT reply actions

it's only temporary

I’m not surprised. He’s going to return kicks and get 10 carries a game until he can prove he can handle a bigger load running the ball. D-Will has returned some kicks, too, and so has Nick Goings. What bothers me is that he may be our best return man. If Ryne Robinson can’t return kicks, is a worse receiver than the Jason Carter (for the #5 WR spot) and isn’t much better than Colclough returning punts, is he a bust? Can a 4th rounder be a bust?

by usana_gaines on Jun 15, 2008 9:25 PM EDT reply actions

Sure a 4th rounder can be a bust

I think anyone drafted is expected to fill a role. If Ryne can’t fill the returners role he would be a bust as far as what the Panthers were expecting when they drafted him.

I’m not crazy about our 1st round pick returning kicks unless he ends being great at it.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jun 16, 2008 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree

I agree that our 1st rounder shouldn’t return kicks, but that’s what happens when no one on the teamis really good at it. Laurence Maroney, Maurice Jones-Drew, Reggie Bush and DeAngelo Williams have all returned kicks. Laurence Maroney proved in the playoffs he isn’t all that. Bush is the highest paid 3rd down back in history, and Maurice Jones-Drew is just getting it done. D-Will should be done returning kicks, and we know that if J-Stew is a solid RB, we’ll run it 40 times a game. I can’t wait.

by usana_gaines on Jun 16, 2008 9:41 PM EDT reply actions