As we enter May and June, the black hole in the NFL offseason, I’m going to go though a position-by-position analysis, grading the Panthers on each position. So I’m kicking off the first of my position analysis blog by starting with the most important position of an NFL Team: Quarterback.

Number of Quarterbacks on the roster: 3

Probable Starter: Jake Delhomme

With Jake Delhomme going down in week three last season, and David Carr suddenly thrown into the starting role, there were many people in Carolina that saw this as a good thing. With the Panthers picking up David Carr to help back up Jake Delhomme, Carr was seen as a possible starter if Jake Delhomme struggled like he did in 2006. Well many fans got their wish to see David Carr start in Carolina, and I guarantee you all of them are regretting that. David Carr is horrible. We knew he had some issues in Houston, and after going 1-4 and eventually being benched by 44 year old Vinny Testaverde, we knew he had had too many issues. Now with Jake Delhomme recovering from Tommy John surgery and looking as healthy as ever (some reports even say he is stronger), everyone is jumping back on board the Delhomme bandwagon. All the criticism of Delhomme evaporated after everyone realized how much he means to this team. The bottom line is that with Delhomme starting the Panthers should win at least 10 games next season, yes on that factor alone.

While much of the upcoming season does depend on the health of Delhomme there is a scenario that could turn out to be pretty good as well. If for some reason Delhomme goes down, second year man Matt Moore would be the starter, and while he is not as good as Delhomme right now, he does have the ability to win some games, and the potential I think to win a lot of games. I mentioned a few days ago how well Moore played the last month of the season going 2-1 and becoming the first quarterback to win offensive rookie of the month since Ben Roethlisberger, but there are a few instances that I want to highlight. First I want to look at one play in particular during the third quarter of last season’s game five against the Saints. David Carr injured his back and Matt Moore had to come in for a series. On his first play from scrimmage Matt Moore dropped backed and threw a 48 yard bomb to Drew Carter who caught the ball in double coverage. After seeing this play I immediately jumped out of my seat, ecstatic. Not because Moore threw such a great pass, or made a good decision (really looking back on the pass he probably shouldn’t have made the throw), but because he did something that David Carr had failed to do the previous two games with Carolina, and the previous six seasons with Houston. He made a decision. Maybe not a good decision, he probably didn’t read the coverage as well as he could have, but he at least looked down the field and threw the ball. The Second instance I want to look at a throw he made in the first quarter of the game against Seattle. On a second and seven play Moore dropped back and looked down the field to his first read which was Smitty. But Smitty was covered. Moore not panicking then looked all the way back across the field and hit Dante Rosario for a big 53 yard pickup, again show poise in the pocket and the ability to make a decision, something David Carr just can’t do. Matt Moore being able to do these things as an undrafted rookie says a lot.

I’m not saying that the Panthers will be better off with Moore if Delhomme goes down next season, they won’t, but he has shown the ability to win games and, if put in that situation could be the one to get Carolina back into the playoffs. Head Coach John Fox and General Manager Marty Hurney clearly have confidence in Moore by not signing any veteran QB help and deciding, at this point at least, to go into this years training camp with only three quarterbacks on the roster as opposed to the normal four. Speaking of the other quarterback Carolina does have another good backup in Brett Basanez who missed all of last season with a wrist injury. The Panthers like Basanez a lot and he should do a good job of backing up Moore and Delhomme. If the situation arises were Moore and Dehlomme both go down, Basanez would start, but lets pray that the football injury gods stay away from our quarterbacks this season.

Overall Position Grade:B (All of that hinging upon Delhomme’s health).

Tags: Jake Delhomme, NFL Offseason, Quarterback