Who is Panthers back-up QB Matt Moore? What if He Succeeds?

As we know, Jake Delhomme has languished as Carolina Panthers starting quarterback.  Those problems came to a head once again Sunday, when the Jets coaxed the Breaux Bridge native into throwing four interceptions and breaking his finger.  

Enter Matt Moore.  Number 3.  25 years of age from Van Nuys, California.  Who is this guy?  What are his credentials?  Here are some things to consider:

Moore attended William S. Hart High School in Newhall, California.  While there he played quarterback and defensive back and was ranked the number eight signal-caller in America and the Far West Offensive Player of the Year by SuperPrep.  Led Hart to a 13-0 record and a section championship his senior season.  Moore was set to stay close to home, signing with the UCLA Bruins.  There, Moore was supposed to redshirt, but injuries forced him to be the first true freshman Bruin quarterback to start a game since Cade McNown.  In his first collegiate game, he led the Bruins on seven scoring drives as they knocked off the Stanford Cardinal.  

Things weren't endless paradise for Moore in LA, though.  He got hurt his sophomore season, and once he got healthy, he could not regain the starting job from Drew Olson.  Moore felt slighted.  He transferred to the College of the Canyons in Santa Clara and did not play football there.  He had not played any baseball since high school, but the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of Planet Earth drafted him in the 22nd round after seeing him play in a semipro league.  

Moore considered playing baseball, but at the end of the day, elected against it.  Colorado State had Moore's interest, but in the end, Oregon State got Moore's enrollment.  There, he worked hard from the moment he got into training camp and won the starting job in camp.  That year, he racked up 2,711 yards, the ninth-highest total ever in a single season recorded at Oregon State.  Moore had the second-most passing yards in the conference that year, next to USC's Matt Leinart.  

He started all 13 games for the Beavers his senior year.  He was named All-Pac-10 honorable mention and led his team to a bowl victory over Mizzou.  Moore was not drafted into the NFL after that season, but he was signed by the Cowboys for the preseason.  In that preseason, he was dazzling, completing 21 of 29 passes for 182 yards, a touchdown and no picks and generating a 100.1 quarterback rating.  After the preseason, the Cowboys cut Moore, hoping to sign him to the practice squad if he could clear waivers.  But that wouldn't happen.  The Panthers picked Moore up, slating him to be the team's third-string quarterback.

Moore saw his first action in the fifth game of the 2007 campaign, getting some relief work in against the Saints.  Moore's first ever pass was a 43-yard completion to Keary Colbert.  He was still way behind on the depth chart, however.  But injuries to Delhomme and Vinny Testeverde, and awful play by David Carr, led to Moore starting the final three games of the 2007 season.  There, he played great in three games against playoff teams, leading the Panthers to a 2-1 close against the Seahawks, Cowboys, and Bucs.  For that effort, Moore was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.

Since then, Moore has not started.  He has had to rely on occasional relief duty,  looking below average in the process.  Now, with Delhomme struggling and, ALLEGEDLY, hurt, Moore should get his chance.  The married man (I saw his wife shaking the salvation army bell outside the gates before the Falcons game) has a chance to make a great life for himself.  If he plays well, chances are he gets to finish the season as the team's starter.  After that, who knows what his future holds.  But, if he does well, what do the Panthers do?  

My take is Moore playing well would be the ultimate win for the Carolina Panthers.  As you know, they traded their first round pick for Everette Brown.  So, in all likelihood, the likes of Jake Locker, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy, and Sam Bradford will be off the board by the time the Panthers make their first selection.  If Moore can establish himself as a franchise-type quarterback, then whoever the coach is next year, and it won't be Fox, will be able to sit back and smile.  Because he will know that the days of Delhomme are over, and the days of hope are upon us.