Fox weighing QB change, unsure about "status quo" with Delhomme

   Panthers coach John Fox said today he still believes Jake Delhomme is the team’s best quarterback, but that doesn’t mean Delhomme will start Sunday against Arizona.

   “The reality is we’re not operating very well there, and I don’t know if status quo is necessarily the answer or not,” he said.

   One day after a painfully disappointing 20-9 loss to Buffalo, in which two of Delhomme’s three interceptions led to touchdowns by the Bills, Fox left wide open the door that he could make a switch to Matt Moore or A.J. Feeley.

   “We definitely need to do whatever it takes to get better,” said Fox. “If that entails a quarterback change, that’s what it’ll entail.”

   Fox acknowledged that the Panthers’ confidence in their passing game is waning.

   “I don’t know that there’s a lot of confidence in that part of our offense, whether it’s by the offensive players or what-not,” he said.

   “As an offense, your job is to score points. When you kind of travel quite a few yards and get no points, it doesn’t do a lot for your confidence. We have to get over that, plain and simple. Nobody’s going to come rescue us. We have to fix it. We’ll do the necessary things to do that to the best of our ability.”

   Of Delhomme’s league-high 13 interceptions, two have been returned for touchdowns and five more have directly led to TDs by the opposition, including four that were returned to the Carolina 10-yard line or closer.

   Fox was noncommittal about when he’d announce his decision, but he said he hadn’t arrived yet at what he plans to do.

   Probably the earliest he’d make an announcement would be after practice Wednesday, after the Cardinals install the majority of their game plan. But Fox could wait until just before kickoff to reveal what he plans to do, primarily to keep Arizona guessing.

   “I think there’s a competitive nature to that, and we’ll leave it at that,” he said.

   The big question Fox faces is whether he has a valid option other than Delhomme.

   He certainly would have if Josh McCown (31 career starts) wasn’t on injured reserve. Moore is in his third season and has made three starts. Feeley is a nine-year veteran with 15 starts, but clearly is best-suited to be a backup.

   When asked about Moore, who’s been the No. 2 quarterback with Feeley No. 3 for the past five games, Fox said:

   “He’s a young quarterback. He’s gotten some playing time, albeit not a lot lately. But he’s been in the offense. He understands the offense.

   “The other guy, A.J. Feeley, has not been in the offense that long, albeit he’s been in the National Football League a little longer. Time will tell.”

 

   -- Charles Chandler