Any Doubts at QB Should be Quelled by Panthers’ Strong-Suits
I’ve been reserved with my opinion about Matt Moore. It’s not that I don’t like the guy. He’s got potential to be a very good quarterback — better than Jake Delhomme.
Perhaps my opening sentence seems a bit harsh, but I’ll explain more into it after the jump.
I’ve been talking on a fairly regular basis on my weekly Blog Talk Radio programs about Panthers’ quarterback Matt Moore. Whether it’s been discussing the team’s decision to name him the starter and then draft two potential franchise quarterbacks, to concerning myself with Moore’s “slow progress” during training camps and pre-seasons of past.
As I’ve stated before, I don’t dislike the guy, nor do I doubt his ability to have success at the position for this team. In fact, I believe he will prove to be much better than his mentor. I guess my biggest concern is how will Matt Moore look when training camp commences and preseason begins?
If he looks and plays like he has in years past, which has been less-than-flattering, I wonder if there’s a chance for Jimmy Clausen to sneak in and steal the job away. Or will the coaching staff give Moore the benefit of the doubt and see if he can turn the “sluggishness” off like a switch in Week One of the regular season.
We will see. Time will tell. Again, I have confidence in Moore’s abilities, otherwise.
Onto the other half of the story; whoever is the starting quarterback at the New York Giants, should really have very little trouble whether it’s Moore, Clausen, or Tony Pike.
Carolina has a strong offensive line, which barely allowed Moore to be sacked in the five games he started in 2009.
Behind the quarterback is the best running back tandem in the NFL; DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, two backs who became the first running tandem in NFL history to surpass 1,100 yards rushing apiece in the same season. The question there, is which runner will have more yards and touchdowns?
For the passing game, the Panthers are stocked at wide receiver. Steve Smith will continue to remain a favorite target both for any of the Panthers’ quarterbacks and for opposing teams’ defenses.
Beyond Smith, the rest is something of an unknown. I’m still holding court on Dwayne Jarrett, in the semi-clouded hopes that he breaks out this season. If so, then it would be easy to see the starting receivers as Smith, Jarrett, and Brandon LaFell; mixing in Armanti Edwards, Dexter Jackson, and whomever else the Panthers decide fit into the system.
The Panthers’ tight ends aren’t bad, either. Out of the three veterans, my favorite passing targets are Dante Rosario and Gary Barnidge. Jeff King is good, but his blocking abilities are better than his route-running and pass-catching abilities.
That pretty much wraps it up on the offensive side. The rest will be answered in training camp and preseason. The 2010 NFL season is so close, yet so far away still!
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