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| Zack Levine. 17th September, 2010 - 7:12 pm
 The Carolina Panthers never really had complete faith in Matt Moore to lead them as a franchise quarterback.
They proved that to everyone when they selected Jimmy Clausen, a high profile quarterback out of Notre Dame, in April?s draft. And now, after an offensive implosion by the Panthers at the new Meadowlands Stadium against the Giants on Sunday, we?re starting to see why the front office had doubt.
Moore looked comfortable when he had time to throw. He was accurate during most of the first half and even led the Panthers down the field in the final minute. He punctuated that drive with an excellent 19-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith with just five seconds to spare.
His only real mistake during the first two quarters of play was an interception in the end zone. He targeted tight end Gary Barnidge, who was surrounded by five Giants? defenders. Moore wasn?t being blitzed and had plenty of time to throw the ball, he just looked like a young quarterback trying to make a big play.
His decision-making took a turn for the worse during the second half, killing two more Carolina drives by tossing interceptions in the end zone. It undoubtedly cost the Panthers a chance to win the game.
The blame, however, isn?t completely on Moore?s shoulders. The normally reliable Carolina offensive line looked confused by the Giants? pass rush scheme and allowed them to get to the quarterback on multiple occasions. Moore was sacked four times, knocked down 10, and under pressure many more.
Still, the decision-making he exemplified in those situations is not what any team wants to see from their field general.
In reference to both Moore?s poor play and the concussion he sustained at the end of the Sunday?s game, Coach John Fox publically stated that Moore will remain the starting quarterback, provided he is healthy. The head trauma Moore sustained must not have been serious, because as of Wednesday, he was already back practicing with the team. But there is also the issue of whether he is truly the right fit to lead the Panthers week in and week out.
This is where the debate begins, because Clausen is waiting in the wings.
The rookie played in a pro-style offense under Charlie Weis at Notre Dame, so transitioning to the Panthers? system hasn?t been too difficult. In camp, reports were that Clausen progressed steadily into the back-up position and learned the playbook quickly. He pushed Moore but never actually threatened to take the starting job.
He was highly advertized coming out of college and was rated by many draft forecasters as a top 10 pick prior to the 2010 NFL Draft. Some analysts even suggested selecting him number one overall instead of Rams? quarterback Sam Bradford. But when the selections actually began, Clausen slipped out of the first round, falling all the way to number 48 overall.
And now, many Panthers? fans are calling for him to replace Moore as the starter. Some quarterbacks can be thrown into the fire as a rookie and succeed, but it takes special intangibles. I don?t think he has them. Neither did any of the quarterback-needy teams that decided not to draft Clausen despite his great scouting reports and workouts.
That?s not to say that Jimmy Clausen won?t be a successful quarterback in the NFL, he just needs, and will certainly benefit from, time to develop and mature. It will be the right time for him to play when he can actually take the starting job away from Moore.
As for Sunday?s game against the Buccaneers, he won?t be playing unless Moore?s condition takes a dramatic turn for the worse. Coach Fox made the right call by keeping his starter, barring poor health.
The truth is that Matt Moore may have just had a rough game. Don?t forget that when he took over for Jake Delhomme last season, he only lost once as the starter and had a touchdown to interception ratio of 4-1. Still, with a rookie who?s as highly touted as Clausen on the roster, the odds seem to be stacked against a successful future with the Panthers.
And if Moore continues to perform as he did in the second half against the Giants, Carolina fans will see Coach Fox hand Clausen the keys sooner rather than later.
He?s going to get them eventually or the Panthers would never have drafted him.
Chance Clausen starts Sunday: 2%
Chance Clausen takes over during the season: 70%
Future franchise quarterback: Clausen |
