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May 07, 2008
Moore: If Jake can't go, I'm ready
As it stands right now, if anything happens to Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme this season, or if his comeback from Tommy John elbow surgery hits a snag, the Carolina Panthers plan to turn to Matt Moore.
And now Moore believes he would be ready.
“Absolutely,” he said at Carolina’s minicamp last weekend. And he credits the three starts he made at the end of last season for his readiness.
“I’ve been saying all along that there’s nothing like game experience, and I got a decent amount last year,” Moore said. “So it really helped me out, and kind of prepared me for this year, and I just know the ropes that much better. It’s definitely kind of catapulted me to where I need to be, I think.”
Moore said getting thrown into the public eye as a starter was a dramatic change for him.
“It was kind of weird. But now it’s kind of different going in. People have seen me play. I don’t want to say I’ve proved myself because I haven’t, but there’s no mystery, I guess, anymore, about what I can do.
“I always felt that I was here for a purpose, and if something were ever to happen — hoping that it wouldn’t — that I’d be able to do my job. And last year, I don’t want to say everything kind of fell into place because some unfortunate incidents happened, but that led me to find out if I could do my job.”
In case you missed it, there was a story on Moore in Tuesday's Observer, with Charles Chandler writing about the man who would be Carolina’s future QB.
-- Stan Olson
Posted by Observer Sports on May 7, 2008 at 08:56 AM | Permalink
Comments
I like Matt Moore if Jake can't go put Matt in. GO CAT!!!!!
Posted by: xPOSTALx | May 7, 2008 9:16:41 AM
Matt Moore is going to make an impact in the NFL and I am happy to say he is a Carolina Panther! Not many teams in this league are lucky enough to have a QB as good as Jake Delhomme and a QB of the future learning from him. I am looking forward to seeing Jake back on the field leading us to wins this season but I know that Jake only has 2 maybe 3 good years left in him so I hope we are able to hold onto Matt for that long. It wouldn't suprise me if teams like Chicago and Tampa Bay try to make him an offer when his current contract is up... by the way does anyone know how many years we have Matt signed for? I know we signed him after he was released by the Cowboys but I just can't remember the details of his contract.
Posted by: Evan | May 7, 2008 9:20:49 AM
I like all 3 QBs. Matt and Brett are lucky to be able to learn from Jake. Not just the position, but also the leadership.
Posted by: David Stern | May 7, 2008 9:51:52 AM
I like all 3 QBs. Matt and Brett are lucky to be able to learn from Jake. Not just the position, but also the leadership.
Posted by: David Stern | May 7, 2008 9:52:46 AM
Moore is under contract for the next two seasons at about $425K each year.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 7, 2008 10:23:23 AM
I stated on the board the DAY they signed Testeverde that Moore should have been in the line up with Vinny in his ear.
Ive still got Jake as the Best Qb on the Roster and his throwing arm does in fact look bigger than in the past,However I for one as a fan am Completley comfortable with Moore in the lineup at Qb than that Monkey throwing poo ,David Carr last season that alot of folks where so high on.
Id like to see Brett give Moore some good competition however,because it will only make the two of them better.
Posted by: Ghost Of Sparta | May 7, 2008 11:30:49 AM
I agree with most on the surface, our QB situation is set for quite a while. However, I disagree with the comment that Jake only has 2-3 years left. Jake really does not have much mileage on him. Career back-up, even in NFL Euorope, been injured the last 2 years. So in my opinion, he has quite a bit of miles left in the tank. (Hopefully) As always, GO CATS!
Posted by: iamhubby | May 7, 2008 11:33:00 AM
you contradict yourself by saying hes got a lot left but then you say hes been injured the last 2 years.thats what happens to old players. they stay hurt . elway could still play but he couldnt stand the pain anymore.same with minter and a million other atheletes.im still not sold that jake will be the same.Go Moore!
Posted by: ray | May 7, 2008 12:03:52 PM
I would like to see Fox open up the QB competition. Let the best man win!
Posted by: Kelso | May 7, 2008 1:38:23 PM
If Jake comes back from the elbow surgery he could play 4-5 more years at a high level.
Posted by: Jim | May 7, 2008 2:03:30 PM
We let are best backup in David Carr go. Moore does not have the skills and leadership to carry us like Carr could. Moore's QB rating was near the bottom last year and one win came against Tampa's 2nd string
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 7, 2008 3:11:36 PM
Moore is the man
Posted by: David | May 7, 2008 3:14:57 PM
Shows how much Michael Procton knows once again! I believe he is probably more stupid than before. Look at him, saying David Carr could carry us! are you seriouse? If Jake some how couldn't play this year. I guarantee you that Matt Mohre would have more wins that stupid David Carr. It would be a 8-8 or 9-7 with Matt Mohre (Because we have a great running game) For David Carr it would be a 5-11 or 6-10. David Carr sucked and for you to say that he could carry us is just another way that you show how much of an idiot you are. Find another blogg to be stupid in.
Posted by: Cameron | May 7, 2008 3:22:43 PM
Procton, you knowledge of football is laughable; you would really be doing everyone a favor and just stop posting. Honestly I know you think you have some football knowledge, even at first I sort of thought you did, but it is now clear that you do not and you could be passing that ignorance down to other fans who come on here to learn things about football and the panthers. You are only making it harder for them to get a grasp for this game. Please stop polluting message boards.
Posted by: Billy | May 7, 2008 3:24:17 PM
Again, I didn't post that. The final sentence, however, is accurate, aside from the fact that Tampa was resting most of their second string, too.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 7, 2008 4:18:02 PM
Can we just all agree to NEVER bring up the name David Carr EVER again? Just hearing that name makes we turn into a raging lunatic, thirsty for that man's personal ruin and anguish.
But as football goes, I'm sooooo glad that Matt Moore is getting first team reps while Jake is out. He needs to build his rapport with Moose and Hackett, as well as Smitty, just in case. He showed alot last year in his three starts, all against division winners, and he should have been 3-0 if not for the refs/NFL favoring the Cowboys in Charlotte. Most importantly, he knew that Steve Smith HAD TO GET THROWN TO. But that shouldn't be a problem this year at all.
Posted by: Al Asher | May 7, 2008 5:15:33 PM
Good article on NFL.com right now about Moore. While I'm not completely sold on Moore, I definitely think he has all the tools necessary to be successful in the league. He has a quick release, throws the deep ball well, confidence, studious nature, and quick feet in the pocket. I love his attitude and I really think there is something to the undrafted/drafted late QB's that sets them apart. Delhomme, Romo, and Brady are all great examples of players who let there situation drive them, and it appears the same for Moore.
Posted by: mountaineerdynAsty | May 7, 2008 8:06:04 PM
Honestly guys, posting stuff under someone else's name is ridiculous. It's laughable and immature that you would rather post fake things underneath someone else's name then step up and have an honest debate with them. I don't care how much you dislike someone on this blog because of their opinion, but posting something fake underneath their name and then lambasting that fake post afterward to make you look like the "better blogger" is so childish. If you want to make Procton look bad that much, then try and base your arguments with some facts or just get over the fact that he might have a differing opinion. Posting a fake post is just making him look like the better man. We're all Panthers fans here, so try and represent a little better k?
Posted by: Christian | May 7, 2008 8:52:34 PM
Moore may have had a low QB rating last season but it was mostly because Fox kept sending him in at the end of games that were already lost. Thus, Moore was just slinging it and hoping for a miracle. In the games that Moore actually started, he had a QB rating in the mid 80s, which is impressive for a rookie.
Posted by: Jerad | May 7, 2008 11:49:56 PM
So like I said before, please leave my boyfriend Michael Procton alone you silly billys. We have a tranny choir concert tonight and I don't want him rattled. Michael, are we going out this Friday? You better say yes.
Posted by: Christian | May 8, 2008 4:13:40 AM
Please switch me back to WR. I don't have the confidence or skills to play CB and its safe to say this experiment was a bust. Thanks.
Posted by: Chris the Gamble | May 8, 2008 4:14:58 AM
which experiment are you talking about?
Posted by: matt | May 8, 2008 6:28:27 AM
chris gamble is our best corner. toward the end of last season defenses were throwing at lucas side.gamble is still learning the position.tim lewis seems to be good for him.he couldnt tackle cause he had a broken arm.
Posted by: ray | May 8, 2008 9:18:02 AM
Procton,
Did you see the article about Peppers looking like he was sculpted after a greek god or something because of the shape he is in at mini camp? Remember awhile back when all the talk about him being in Denver and everyone thought he should be in Charlotte and all that? I told you Pep was at that training facility in Arizona,where Larry Johnson and Brady Quinn was at during there holdout, getting right! Big year for Pep especially if he gets moved to the right side.(Sorry for getting off the subject but I had to remind Procton about that all in good humor)I like what we got in Matt Moore. I believe this year's team is going to be successful!
Posted by: EG | May 8, 2008 9:43:10 AM
WE WILL SWEEP TAMPA!! AND MAKE IT TO THE BIG DANCE? SUPERBOWL TO YOU NONBELIVERS.. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
Posted by: kev ski | May 8, 2008 10:32:36 AM
Look I understand optimism and I'm happy to see fellow Panthers fans like their team, but you guys aren't being realistic. Moore is a solid player, and will someday be a very good BACKUP. But let's not confuse that with what it takes to be a starter in this league. Yes you can find QB's anywhere in the draft(or after), but more often than not you find QB's in the earlier rounds(Elway, Marino, Favre, Manning, Palmer, McNabb, Roethlisberger, Aikman, Brees, Bradshaw, just to name a few). There are QB's every year that go undrafted, and you can only name a handful that ever make a career for themselves. Delhomme needs to be effective, and I think he will, and this team will go far with the rest of the talent. We still need to get our QB of the future, sorry guys but Moore just isn't the man.
Posted by: Ray | May 8, 2008 10:52:56 AM
Joe stop posting this dumb crap. You sound like you need a swift kick to the junk.
Posted by: Joe Schmoe | May 8, 2008 4:15:29 PM
Guys,
I like penis.
Posted by: mountaineerdynAsty | May 8, 2008 6:38:33 PM
Ray,
Do names like Leaf,leftwhich, boller, carr harrington, couch, mcnown, a. smith ring a bell just because you are drafted early does not mean you will make a great QB. Once the draft is over it does not matter when/where you are drafter or signed everyone has they same chance.
Posted by: Billy | May 8, 2008 7:04:13 PM
You guys are totally right...my football knowledge is awful. And we lost to the Cowboys because of an NFL conspiracy.
EG, Peppers always LOOKS the part. You can't see effort in the size of a guy's delts, however.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 8, 2008 7:34:27 PM
Hopefully delhomme comes back from da injury..if he does..we'll..have a good shot 2 make it 2 da big dance...matt moore showed promise in his three games late last year..I think he has a bright future with us...who eva said chris gamble is our best corner I give u props da numbers don't lie...last year was a injury year 4 him I expect 4 him 2 bounce back in 08"......
Posted by: bennyfrankz | May 8, 2008 8:35:27 PM
For the record-- Matt Moore ws 2-1 as a starter with his only loss being the robbery they called the Dalls NFL Network game.
Posted by: Wes | May 9, 2008 9:58:24 AM
"You guys are totally right...my football knowledge is awful. And we lost to the Cowboys because of an NFL conspiracy. "
Did you know that impersonating another person using electronic communication is a Federal FELONY?
Micheal and Mountaineer... I'd suggest you file a police complaint and they can supeona the Observer's records to trace the IP address used to post those notes. Let's get the AH off here!
Posted by: Busted | May 9, 2008 1:09:09 PM
Everyone said Delhomme would be a great backup too - and he took us to the SB and the NFC Champs twice. Moore should have his shot, he was getting it done against good teams with a crap Oline and no running game behind him. Besides anyone who could get Keary "Butterfingers" Colbert to catch a ball more than 10 ft from the line of scrimmage deserves some playing time.
Posted by: Ben | May 9, 2008 3:03:40 PM
Billy you can list whatever busts youd like, but I can make a list 8x as long of QB's drafted after the 3rd round that never made an nfl team for more than 3 years. At least most of those so called busts you listed last and make viable second options for teams for years to come. People need to stop getting so high on steals and realize they are few and far between, but yes I do believe Moore was a steal as a backup, but he will be proven to be nothing more over the course of his career I promise.
Posted by: Ray | May 9, 2008 4:27:28 PM
What was he getting done, Ben? The team had a whopping 13 points in each of the real games he played. That's not going to get it done on a week to week basis.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 9, 2008 5:01:55 PM
For once, I'm somewhat with Proctor, except for thinking that Carr could be anything more than a bust. However, I'm not sold on Moore. He managed the game okay, but he was far from stellar and eventually that's going to catch up to him and bite him in the ass. Basanez is better at this point, but he's not been able to stay healthy. Moore has a lot to prove before I just hand the "future of the franchise" tag over to him. He had a passer rating of 67, and had more INTs than TDs, and in the last game he was playing against what was practically a practice squad. I'm not saying Moore won't be good; I'm just saying we need more evidence before everyone just goes gaga over him.
Posted by: Joe A. | May 10, 2008 8:47:07 AM
I really believe that any player can make it in the NFL if they have talent and make it to the right system. David Carr had the right system in college. He definitely didn't in Carolina. Jake has the talent to bring wins to the cats. If he goes down Moore is the man to carry the weight. But we have to all work the system. Our backs have to stay healthy so that our WR's can move he ball down field. This is our year. Peppers will come back to form and our D will dominate.
Go Panthers !!!!
Posted by: Marc | May 11, 2008 4:20:53 PM
Maybe I'm crazy but it seemed to me that at the end of the year when the season was virtually lost and Matt Moore was finally put in as a starter, the Panthers started to play. I don't mean they looked like the dirty Pats in the regular season last year, but they looked like they wanted to win. That's something I can't really say for the rest of the season, they looked lethargic as a team for the most part and I sat there week after week with the rest of you wondering if they had given up. This is not to discount the efforts made by some individuals (ie Smitty who sacrifices his body play after play), but as a team it wasn't the Cardiac Cats from years past.
Then in comes Matt Moore. Now he isn't a Manning or even a Romo at this point, but there seemed to be an attitude change with the team that coincided with Moore taking the field. Could be a coincidence, or it could be that Moore was the difference...only time will tell. Regardless of a QB's touchdowns and ints, there are intangibles that cannot be measured whether it is pumping your team up, focusing harder under pressure, or just remaining calm and collective when you're down in the 4th. Not everyone has those intangibles, but it looked like Matt Moore did. Am I sold on him as the next greatest thing...absolutely not. That takes time and good performances in playoff games, not media hype. I won't hate on Moore though, he was warming the bench for the guy that was warming the bench and stepped in and helped this team win a few games, and what else can you ask out of a backup? It's trivial that he scored 13 points, because he also didn't get sacked every other play and kept drives alive. So for now, Moore is okay as a backup in my book. Sorry for the long post, just had to try to knock some people off of the hate train.
Posted by: James | May 12, 2008 5:26:12 AM
Aha! YES, JAMES, YOU'VE GOT IT! Firstly, in the only game he faced any real pass rush, he DID get sacked ridiculously frequently (5 on less than 30 passes against Dallas.) Also, what good is "keeping drives alive" when you're only scoring on THREE of them over the course of the game? The notion that the team played "harder", or "more inspired", or any differently at all for Matt freaking Moore (whose name plenty of 'em probably didn't even know) is ridiculous. These players are paid, at minimum, hundreds of thousands of dollars to play a game. If they need to see a mediocre rookie under center to play hard, they should find another career.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 12, 2008 7:16:29 AM
Thats why i can tell that youve never stepped foot on a football field procton.these men are pros but they are also human beings. when moore came in he had the it factor.he rallied the troops around him. the players could sense that they had a chance to win with this kid.so instead of folding the tent in the 4th qtr like they had with your boy carr,when they were dead tired they gutted it out.thats why youll never get it procton. youve never been hurt and bloodied in the 4th qtr,so tired you could barely get up.
yes, these are pros procton, but they are still human.try to remember that procton.
Posted by: ray | May 12, 2008 8:26:22 AM
Wow, it's amazing how you think that just because the guy is a rookie he can't inspire or lead men. That is laughable. You're right Ray, it's easy to tell when a person's football experience lies only in reading and watching. Oh, and if you only score on 3 drives, keeping the drive alive still gives the defense a rest. That's something Carr was never able to do. It disheartens a defense when they force a 3 and out, only to watch their offense get punished the same way time after time. Oh yeah and 3 TDs in 3 games...the same number that Carr had in 4 starts out of 6 games, while taking 13 sacks to Moore's 6 total sacks including the 5 from the Dallas game. Not to mention Carr has been a starter in this league since 2002 and still holds onto the ball twice as long as Moore did as a rookie. I never said Moore was the wave of the future, but 2 out of 3 wins isn't bad considering the team only won 7 all year AND the guy came in for the last 3 games of the season with an offense that's seen more QBs than any team I've seen in a long time. It's funny how you think that Moore has to throw TDs for his presence to matter, like getting close enough for the RB to punch it in has absolutely nothing to do with the game. Ha!
Posted by: James | May 12, 2008 12:10:38 PM
Good call, James. In 3 starts by Moore, the Panthers averaged 29:24 in time of possession, including a WHOPPING 21:00 against Dallas, when he couldn't sustain a drive (or stand in the pocked and make a freaking pass, for that matter) to save his life. Why didn't he get sacked? Because he played against a team that put up no pass rush whatsoever in Seattle (the credit for which belongs to the LINE, not Moore), and a team playing its practice squad (TB.) And yes, it would be great if he got "close enough for the RB to punch it in", but he didn't do that either against any team but TB. He produced 2 TDs in the two real games he played, and only one of those was a passing TD. 1 TD per game, again, ain't gonna get it done.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 12, 2008 2:16:17 PM
As I recall, that is still better than Carr's average TDs per game. Neither is stellar, but once again, Moore is a rookie with room to grow and Carr is a seasoned vet that did not look the part. Everyone blamed Houston's line because of all of the sacks taken by Carr when he played for them, but when he left they weren't nearly as bad. Then he comes to Carolina, where he takes a ridiculous amount of sacks in a short time. Why? Because he holds the ball, cannot make decisions quickly enough, and frankly looks like he is still a rookie. You can blame the line if the QB gets sacked early on, but if they have to hold the line for 20 seconds every play because Carr is lost by the concession stand, it will never work. The Cowboys were the #1 ranked defense last year. By the way, your boy Carr took SEVEN, yes seven of the 40 total sacks produced by the Titans all year. Do the math, he held the ball long enough to account for over 17% of the years sacks for a team that ranked 7th in sacks all year all by himself. Sure the line could have played better, but no line can hold a defense for 20 seconds while the QB combs his hair. Moore took 5 sacks with the same line against a better defense because he didn't comb his hair under center, he tried hard and looked like a rookie that could one day make it.
Posted by: James | May 12, 2008 3:00:49 PM
I don't know why you're trying to stake your point on the fact that Moore was better than Carr. Carr was awful. One step above awful is...terrible?
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 13, 2008 1:53:01 PM
I don't understand all the talk of Moore being the next best thing since sliced bread... I did not see anything in particular that would lead me to believe that he is the next Franchise QB....He did not do anything at all out of the ordinary...what's the big deal?? I mean the guy did have #89 (who can probably make anyone look good with the exception of Carr) to throw to....I would not feel comfortable as a fan if something happened to Delhommie again at the beginning of the season and Moore or Baz had to take over. I think there is a reason neither of those guys were drafted, and (particularly this year) we are not in any position to groom a QB. I appreciate the effort that both guys have given the organization, but I think we can only keep one of those guys (probably Moore). We need a Vet QB as insurance IMO. We and (Fox) have to win now.
Posted by: rhackney | May 13, 2008 10:31:15 PM
You know rhackney, I'm not excited about the idea of Moore taking over next season either, but I'm happy having him as a backup to learn from Jake and one day maybe taking it over. I will say this much, signing the verteran QBs has just not seemed to work out in the past, and at least we know where this guy was at the end of last season and where he needs to improve. He definately has some improving to do, but he still has a lot of room for that. For the guys that care about someone's draft position or lack thereof, why do you care? If a man can pick up and play and perform better in the NFL than he did in college, then why does any of that matter? Athletes like this improve or they get the boot, period. Not to mention that if our running game returns to form, having a so so backup isn't the end of the world. I still have much faith in Jake, and even though he's bounced around a few leagues for awhile, he's not THAT beat up and the surgery has most likely improved his arm like it has for many baseball players.
Posted by: James | May 14, 2008 10:47:47 AM
Jake will be back in good form this year, and I think we'll grab a wildcard playoff spot. This team is just too talented to do otherwise, if they don't it's Fox/Hurney's heads on the chopping block. And by the way, I'd say Jake will be the solid starter til about 2009-10, when Moore takes over and makes the Pro Bowl his first full year sa a starter. Bottom line, deepest ever at WR and QB.
Posted by: Aaron | May 14, 2008 5:05:50 PM
Aaron...if we're gonna be the wild card, who beats us in the division? And yes...Moore's 3:5 TD:INT ratio definitely suggests he's a Pro Bowl candidate
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 14, 2008 5:29:49 PM
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