| Panthers QB Moore feels better prepared to lead the Panthers this time around (updated 8:30 p.m.) |
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| Written by Steve Reed |
| Wednesday, December 02, 2009 3:43 pm |
 All eyes will be on Matt Moore this Sunday when Carolina hosts 1-10 Tampa Bay. (Photo by John Clark) CHARLOTTE – Forget what you remember about Matt Moore’s last stint as a starter. Now in his third season, Moore thinks he's much better suited to lead the offense especially now that he’s more familiar with the playbook. We'll find out on Sunday. The Panthers won't come out and say it, but Moore will start for Jake Delhomme, who broke the middle finger on his right hand this past Sunday in a loss to the New York Jets. While coach John Fox won’t make it official, if you listen to the folks in the locker room it has become a foregone conclusion, the worst-kept secret in team history. “I think Matt is going to do an outstanding job,” Delhomme said. Moore's first opportunity to play came at a crazy time in Panthers history. After shuffling through the likes of Delhomme, David Carr and even Vinny Testaverde, the Panthers literally had no other option than to start Moore, an undrafted rookie they'd claimed off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the year. He went into those games with a scaled-down playbook designed to make things easy for him. He didn’t put up great numbers - five interceptions and three touchdown passes -- but his two wins have become the stuff of legend to so-called “Jake haters” who insist Moore is the answer, or at the very least, a better option for the Panthers at quarterback. Moore said he’s much more prepared this time around. “In '07 everything was real quick for me,” Moore said. “My first read, if that wasn't there I'd go to my second read and get the ball out, whether that be throw it way or hitting somebody. I think now I've kind of developed and learned in most instances you have some time. Work through, find your running back, go to your fourth read, things like that. Whereas earlier, not a panic, but wanting to get the ball out quick as far as passing. I think that obviously comes with time.” He also said he’s picked up on the tempo of the game. “Being around it for three years now you get a feel for how the game works and how the game rolls along,” he said. “I think he is more ready than he was the last time he went in,” Fox said. “He's got a good grasp of the offense. Like I said before, he's got all of the abilities. That's been true of a lot of people at the quarterback position. He's got the right attitude, and I know we'll get his best effort.” Moore hasn’t changed his approach since 2007, remaining supportive of Delhomme. Moore stumbled through an unproductive preseason in 2008 and dropped to third-string on the depth chart after he broke his leg in the final exhibition game against Pittsburgh, prompting Panthers general manager Marty Hurney to trade for Josh McCown. Moore remained the No. 3 guy until earlier this year when McCown went on IR with a broken foot. On Wednesday Moore ran the first-team offense, although he couldn’t showcase his skills given the Panthers were forced to move practice inside to the Charlotte Sports Complex because of heavy rains in the area. “I've been here before, obviously,” Moore said. “All I can do is prepare and get ready, and if it's the case that I've got to go, then I've got to go. The week will go by, the game will go by, we'll do everything the same and just get ready.” So far this season Moore has completed 6 of 12 passes for 63 yards with one interception, all of those coming in a mop-up role in the season opener against Philadelphia. For his career, Moore has a quarterback rating of 63.5, completing 69 of 123 passes for 793 yards, with three touchdowns and six interceptions. “We've started Matt Moore before,” Fox said. “He stepped in and did a pretty decent job. We've had more time with him now. We'll go from there. We haven't got a chance to see him in a whole lot of the live play lately. I think he's capable of making all of the throws. He's got the height, weight and arm strength you look for. The quarterback position is about decision making, and until you get in there in live situations, you really never know, and he hasn't had that opportunity a lot. I think he prepares hard and he'll definitely give his best effort.” Moore probably won’t be asked to do much with his arm this week unless the Panthers fall behind. The Panthers have rushed for a combined 566 yards and seven touchdowns in their last two games against Tampa Bay. However, if he continues to lead the Panthers down the stretch he’ll likely be asked to throw more against teams like New England, Minnesota, the New York Giants and New Orleans. And his teammates are confident he can do the job. “He's a gunslinger,” wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. Muhammad said Moore is a big, strong guy with loads of untapped talent. He’s bit taller than Delhomme and a little more mobile. He also has a reputation for having a big arm, perhaps because of his baseball background. “I like the way Matt throws the deep ball,” Muhammad said. “I think he has a knack for throwing the deep ball. It may take a little time to get his pinpoint accuracy down. But he does have a nice touch on the ball, too. We're all looking forward to seeing what he can do. I think he's looking forward to his opportunity to play.” |