So the Panthers are going to start Jake Delhomme Sunday at Arizona, ending two days of speculation after coach John Fox's public indecision on Monday as to who would start vs. the Cardinals.
I think it's the wrong thing to do, as I've written several times before. I'd start Matt Moore in this one. Here's my reasoning in brief: Delhomme just isn't the same QB as he has been for most of what has been a very good career at Carolina. Something broke last January when he threw 5 interceptions against Arizona, and it hasn't been fixed yet.
So when you've got a quarterback who has lost his confidence and you keep putting him out there, what do you get? You get an NFL-high 13 interceptions, a 2-4 record and an uncomfortable locker room.
Now because I personally like Jake very much, I'd be happy for him if Sunday turns into a storybook: if he throws a handful of touchdown passes, cuts the mistakes out and leads Carolina to an upset win. And maybe this will happen -- the NFL fools millions of people every Sunday, which is one reason why all those casinos glisten in Las Vegas.
But I don't think it will work out that way. If you keep doing the same thing, as coach John Fox is doing, and then expect a different result... well, let's just say there are a lot of jobs on the line here, and putting your future in the hands of No.17 these days is pretty shaky.
Fox is a ferociously loyal man, and so it's very hard for him to pull the trigger on this QB switch. But sooner or later this season, I continue to believe it has to happen.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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56 comments:
The problem is it will happen when it is too late to help. But i for 1 will still be sitting here watching the games hoping, GOOOO PANTHERS!!!
Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.
Hello John Fox???
I was convinced...convinced...that Fox would not start Jake after what happened against Buffalo. No way, no how.
Guess Fox is more stubborn than I thought. I think he's a good coach, so I hesitate to substitute stubborn with foolish, but sometimes you really have to wonder.
MrBernz, I'm with you man...I will be cheering just like I always do. But man, it's getting harder and harder to stand behind Jake as the QB of this team.
All I know is, the very first missed open receiver...the first sign of shaky Jake...and clearly the first pick - and Jake better be on the bench.
This season sure ain't as fun as last year was!
Rodgers-Cromartie is going to pick Jake at least once, probably twice.
Now I don't know what to root for. If we win, then it might be several more weeks before Fox yanks Jake. If we lose, then maybe we finally get to see what Matt's got.
Decisions, decisions.
I love Jake, but it's clear to (almost) everyone that he's lost it. At least with Matt Moore at the helm, we'd be gaining valuable information about our future QB situation.
On my fantasy team, I'm starting the Cardinals defense this week.
Mr. Richardson has overtaken Bob Johnson as the most ego driven owner in sports. Take a hint, the fans are through with your nonsense. Fire the bum you have as head coach and at the same time fire all your assistant coaches and the GM. Show the fans you DO CARE what we think. Then and only then will I spend another dollar at Panthers Stadium. YOUR PRODUCT IS HORRIBLE!!!!
fox backing jake is total insanity.
Scott, I've always wanted to say this. You have one of the best head shot pictures of anyone at the Observer. Fantastic.
I am a Panthers fan. This is why I hope Arizona destroys them this Sunday. Doesn't make sense? If Delhomme has a "storybook" game, he will remain the starter, obviously. If he doesn't (safe bet), he will probably still be the starter, but there's more hope for a change. If he does good, he will screw us over when it matters most, just like last year.
I have a better idea on ways to spend time and save money when the Panthers are in town. Walk up to the ticket person, let them kick me square in the nuts, turn around and save the $30 for consessions I would ahve spent. And if the Bobcats are playing, walk over there and spend that left over money on a sports team that cares. The Panthers from top to bottom are garbage.
LOL, OH BOY, HERE WE GO AGAIN..........
I can't believe Jerry is sitting back and allowing these irresponsible decisions to continue. Where is the sane leadership? If this guys can give his own sons the boot, why can’t he place his size 9,10, 11 (whatever it is?) up some other rear-ends. I hear the local HS has some good QB. Use them! Anyone but Jake, for crying out loud!
If they dont trust their back-ups then why are they signed then why are they even on the team well i guess they are going to keep sayin we need to fix our problems and get better but nothing changes is wish they quit running those same plays
How do you konw Moore is a bust might I ask??? Doesn't he have a winning record as a starter? Like many have said, can't get much worse. Would rather have a "kid" in there making mistakes that at least has an arm and might be able to hit a wide open receiver further than 5 yards down the field! JAKE CAN'T HIT AN OPEN RECEIVER!!! I mean isn't that the least he should be able to do?
I hate when anonymous morons get on here and act like they know anything about being a "TRUE PANTHER" fan, then are moronic enough to "try" and insult the writer....
Mr. Scott isnt the only one that in his opinion thinks our QB should sit a bit, obviously Jake has some demons he needs to exercise, and unfortunately the team is paying the price for it...
What the hell does that have to do with any of us having an opinion, regardless if it does or doesnt agree with another...
Like MrBernz said, the good, the bad, the ugly, win or lose, I still love my Panthers!!!!
All these anon's that are just fans, when it comes with the W....take the rest of the season and work on your insults, or take your own advice and quit life in general <:-)!!!!
Someone needs to investigate Jake Delhomme for extortion. The only way he still has his job is he's blackmailing the ownership of pictures of them and farm animals. There is no way this guy should be starting. What is Fox trying to do become, Jeff Fisher?
And to follow up to Jenn's comment, I don't recall Scott ever saying he was a fan. He's a reporter d-bag...giving his opinion is his job. Understand?
So im thinking Jake will throw at least 10 INT's and fumble maybe 3 times this sunday...i guess its better then 6 and 1 like last time against Arizona...Can we seriously make a trade...Or hold a try out and Bojangles and let Jake pick a fan who should replace him...
Man, what else can we say.....this is insane!!!!! It is so depressing cheering for the Panthers, but they are my team. Go Panthers
When you have a almost empty Stadium, concession revenue gone,maybe then Mr. Richardson will decide who starts at quaterback. Jerry
Did Jerry Richardson DIE and someone just hasn't notified the media? Where is he in all this? If last Sunday's shot of the stadium is any indication, how is this franchise paying their bills-that stadium was EMPTY!!! I like the Panthers but I expect them to go out and do their job, which is to ATTEMPT to win a game. Lately they all look like they've gone back to their Midget Football years, you know, where Mom has the pictures of little Jake, standing out in the field picking his nose or scratching his butt or something other than concentrating on the game? This has gone beyond ridiculous now.
Look, if we start anyone other than Jake we are essentially giving up on the season. We have to keep Jake in and hope he can get thinkgs clicking quickly. Matt Moore is NOT going to come in and get us in the playoffs, get over it.
"Something broke last January when he threw 5 interceptions against Arizona, and it hasn't been fixed yet."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Actually, it broke coming out of the break last year.
Jake looked TERRIBLE against Oakland, putting up 72 yards passing and followed it up looking TERRIBLE against Detroit with just 102 yards passing.
They managed to go 6-2 before getting smacked in the mouth at home by Arizona, but those two games were the vision of things to come.
This is the reason I believe Charlotte is home to a bunch of losers. Not in the sense that your personal lives are horrible, but that Charlotte fans don't know how to win. Starting with Scott Fowler. Lets say he does as you say. Then, the rest of the year he causes the loss of every game. Then what? When do you say something new is in order? Jake's time is up. This is no slump. Jake is done. Its not just the interceptions that he throws, every game, during key times, like clockwork. Nor is it his inability to stretch plays. Nor is it his inability to place the football where it needs to be. Nor is it that the only thing he seems capable of doing is handing the ball off. Nor is it that every pass play with Jake as quarterback is a hail mary. It's because Jake knows just as well as we do that he is over. Sit him down, and start grooming our next QB.
Again, as I end all my remarks, See y'all next season. This season is over.
325 yards passing is lot to bench. My problem is with Davidson. Why throw 44 times with Delhomme when you're gaining almost 5 yards per carry on the ground? Only 25 running plays versus 44 passing plays. More problems than Delhomme.
Ok lets use some logic. We are 2 & 4 and just lost to Buffalo, where our QB missed two wide open recievers to give the Bills 14 points. We all cringe when he goes back to pass and time after time he locks in on one guy. Next year we have a draft coming and we need to know if Moore has it or not as a starter he was 2&1 so give him a shot, let Jake get his head together and see what happens.
If you are a betting man, take the Cardinals and give whatever points the Panthers are getting. They'll lose by 20 at least. Pathetic.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." -- Albert Einstein
Hey Jennifer@4:39....hell yeah baby, I'm with ya 100 percent..
Hot pic there...you single?...
Yes the same guy who stuck with Deshaun Foster two years ago while Delangelo Williams sat on the bench.
And the Deshaun picked up 250 yards for the 49ers and Delango rushes for 1500 for us the next year.
Einstein... I wonder if we could have used those 1500 rushing yards the year before.
Please fire Fox. This is idiocy.
Thanks for NOT being a HOMER. Hard for most of us to figure out the reasoning here. I'm sure Jake is a nice guy and we want to see him play well, BUT he ain't. Why have backups if you have NO confidence in their ability to create a spark in game situations?? Fox's loyalty to the same game plan will be his demise.
I was confident that fox was going to replace Jake. How many times do the fans have to suffer the embarrasment. There goes the fan support. Soon no one wants to attend a panthers game.
The worst thing that could happen is Jake goes out and actually plays well. The clock will reset and we'll have to go through 4 more games of crap before we get back to this spot we're in now
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/gottosavecarolina
Do high priced quarterbacks and coaches quafify for unemployment benefits?????
They should have signed Jeff Garcia. He could have led us to the playoffs. Instead we have three backups who Fox has no confidence in. Garcia would lead us to 11-5 record.
What kind of special teams coach do we have? We have the worst punt and kickoff teams in football. Hey Fox field position is the most important stat in football. Get a clue
Unbelievable.... I have no clue who is running the show Scott. After the firings of his two sons at the first of the year. Your next article should be something close to is the Panther organization in disarray? Who is calling the shots.... Look at the big picture here. we are correct that it is not all "Pick 6 Jake's" fault. Big Cat is not handling his organization anymore. There is no way Hurney, Richardson and new Main Man Morrison can agree to let Fox embarass the team like this. Jake thanks for the good times... You are outta here. ADA
obviously someone's a verrrrrrry slooow learner
Special note to the Panthers secondary in preparation for the Cardinals game Sunday: The Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald, I know this may seem like news to you, is actually a **receiver** (gasp!!) Yes, you heard me--he is **not** a tackle as it seems all you thought back in January.
Consequently you may want to consider covering him this time.
Just a thought.
The point is that I believe Jake will have a very good game. He always does when you don't expect anything from him. But then he will be old Jake for the following two games and this old tired conversation will occur again.
Jake is that crazy girlfriend that you had great times with but the lover (Fox) just doesn't want to let go.
Let it go Fox. Let it go. Delhomme is not the future. We are going to be horrible for the next year or two because of Fox's poor decisions in mortgaging our future to win now. Unfortunately, those wins aren't there.
Hopefully Richardson will clean house and spend some good money next year to get us a good team.
I love the Panthers. I am a die hard fan, and have the most terrible Sundays when they lose. That being said I have never wished ill upon any of our players, however, on Sunday I desperately want Jake Delhomme to get torn up. I honestly hope he throws pick after pick after pick, so John Fox will finally realize not only is a time to finally dump Jake, but its time to look to the future. News for all you optimists: Mat Moore is not the future. He should be given a chance, but he is nothing special. The Panthers need someone talented enough to push this team to a Superbowl. Trade Peppers get a first round pick and cash, sign a couple key free agents and draft a quaterback. Please!!! By the way another great article Scott.
If Jake has a good game on Sunday, I am literally going to cry. haha i agree our secondary should consider takling Larry hahaha that was so pathetic last year
The issue is that if Jake throws a early pick or throws high, the team may quit. Can you blame them when your opponents best player is consistently your QB. I hope the panthers play well including Jake sunday but in my heart don't believe Jake will. I still want Matt Morre to have a shot.
how many more times do we need to see people posting this, Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. Really people, get something new, thats almost as played out as people saying "it is what it is".
Going to take up fishing Sunday, and the Sunday after that, until Moore get's a chance!The tickets will go in the trash!
I wrote elsewhere (http://sweetteaandlivermush.blogspot.com/2009/10/sports-report.html) that it would be far more entertaining to see the Panthers bench Delhomme in favor of running the Wildcat every play: let Williams, Stewart, Smith and Peppers take those direct snaps. That would be fun! I agree, though, that the time has come to test Moore's mettle, to gauge his worth for next year.
When I heard, going into the Buffalo game, that Jake's QB rating was worse than all 31 other starters *AND* one reserve quarterback, I was convinced he'd not survive a poor showing. Boy, was I wrong.
Stuckin1977 said his fantasy defense was playing the Panthers. Good point. I'd said that any Defensive Coordinator would be licking his chops at the bountiful harvest the Panthers were serving up, and forgot about FFL. So true. Fact is, Jake's fantasy team executes a trade *every* week to pick up the defense he's playing against. (kidding)
I like Jake, but it's time for him to geaux.
The answer is simple as hell. Fox can diversify QBs like a lot of high school and colleges already do. The pros have always been reluctant for idiot logic when every other position is substituted.
On offense you use different WRs, TEs, RBs. Screw NFL tradition. Its time to use different QBs and this will shut the whinyazz fans plus allow for a broader range of experience for those QBs who never play plus if one screws up them you can insert another.
Delhomne and Moore would be the obvious rotation QBs for starters and could be inserted on different action plays or passing. Try a 3 QB rotation if that doesnt work with Feeley.
This is not rocket science. Try it and dont give this bullchit logic about the QB cant be replaced. Any player on the football field can be replaced and should be if thats what it takes to get the job done and this includes QB MLB WR DB and the offense or defense.
Hell with 53 players on the team and at least 3 deep and 3 QBs and one on injured reserve McGown. All this whining and emotional crybaby bullchit is stupid as hell. SUSTITUTE every other play if thats what it takes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Try different options at QB.
Why Not? Just Do IT !!!!!!!
The Cardinals had three picks against Eli Manning last week by harassing and pressuring him all day...how do you think Jake is going to fare against that kind of D? I predict another 5 turnover game by Joke Delhomme, unless he gets yanked first!!!
Hey, if I had just given ole' Jake a $20MM contract for 5 years, I wouldn't want Jerry to find out Matt Moore can do the job better either...I'm pulling for Arionza to go for 6 turnovers this game...
The Panthers have more problems than Jake. The problem is his play has been so obviously bad that it gets all the attention- media and fan. From an odds standpoint, a normal Jake is the best qb we have on our roster. The problem is how the coach is handling this.
Just starting him and hoping they can all work it out is a do nothing strategy, when the team needs a change strategy.
Bench Jake for the first half. Jake needs to have more than a belief in himself- he needs to translate that believe into action. If Moore is doing great, leave him in. If Moore is ineffective, bring Jake in for the second half. His frustration and embarrassment needs to explode within him so that he translates his belief into action on the field. Riding pine will eat at him such that he'll come out firing bullets. The team will also take responsibility and respond to this.
I heard that Fox put his house up for sale after announcing Jake as the starter for this week. Doesn't his two kids graduate HS this year? Maybe he thinks it is time to move on too . . . . only way the Jake decision is possible.
Sorry, Buster, but the problem is not a mental one. It's a question of talent and reliability. Receivers in the NFL don't stand in one spot waiting for the entire time it takes a QB to release and deliver the ball. For that reason, a QB has to throw where the receiver *will* be. Part of the equation is that those Panthers receivers (Smith included) aren't predictable (read reliable) enough in the execution of their routes, and Jake isn't talented enough to compensate for the variety of timing and touch required to overcome the inconsistencies of those receivers.
Some Offensive Coordinators can teach a methodical procession that actually incorporates split-second route-punctuality, but Davidson does not appear capable or willing to be that precise. And I don't think that's the fix, for what it's worth.
Jake and Steve caught lightning in a bottle back when Steve could get open. Teams have learned how to cover Smith, and he & the coaching staff have yet to find a solution that gets him in open ground. Now, a back-shoulder-fade equals a pick-six instead.
A QB with NFL-caliber talent (not confidence), knowing Smith is drawing the concern of two DBs on every pass play, KNOWS where the favorable one-on-one matchup is. Jake, you gottawannaneedtaluvhim, does not possess that talent.
I like Jake, and am happy for the excitement and success he brought to the field, and his inspiration to the team. If the coaches were determined enough to stick to 85% running plays, and take the accuracy question out of the mix, fine...keep Jake in. So long as they need (or think they need) a passing QB, he'll never quite measure up again.
On another note, Scott, what's the greatest number of comments you've ever gotten on any one post?
Ive been calling for Jake to be replaced for two years now. I knew this would happen. I was hoping we would resign David Carr. He was a little shell shocked due to what happened to him in Houston but he was better than Jake, hell every QB is better than Jake it seems. He cant pass far, he misses receivers, and he forces it to much. WE ARE A RUNNING TEAM! RUN! We got to the semifinals last year by running the ball then after we went up 7-0 we start passing?! WHY? If it wasnt broke then why fix it? Or better said, it was working with the run so why pass? We need to just run 50 times a game. We wouldnt have as many points but in theory our HBs, all of em including FBs, can get the yards needed to keep our Defense off the field and win the game. I much rather do that then see what is happening now. if we lose a couple more times then thats it. the whole team will give up. We have NO to worry about and catch up to SO GET IT TOGETHER! Get rid of Jake. Take a 4th round pick if you have to. Trade Peppers for a 1st rounder and get a backup if you must. I hear Vick might be interested. Also you can sign one of those disgruntle Minn QBs who thought they'd be playing this season.
Ive been calling for Jake to be replaced for two years now. I knew this would happen. I was hoping we would resign David Carr. He was a little shell shocked due to what happened to him in Houston but he was better than Jake, hell every QB is better than Jake it seems. He cant pass far, he misses receivers, and he forces it to much. WE ARE A RUNNING TEAM! RUN! We got to the semifinals last year by running the ball then after we went up 7-0 we start passing?! WHY? If it wasnt broke then why fix it? Or better said, it was working with the run so why pass? We need to just run 50 times a game. We wouldnt have as many points but in theory our HBs, all of em including FBs, can get the yards needed to keep our Defense off the field and win the game. I much rather do that then see what is happening now. if we lose a couple more times then thats it. the whole team will give up. We have NO to worry about and catch up to SO GET IT TOGETHER! Get rid of Jake. Take a 4th round pick if you have to. Trade Peppers for a 1st rounder and get a backup if you must. I hear Vick might be interested. Also you can sign one of those disgruntle Minn QBs who thought they'd be playing this season.
Smith had a business-like response to the news that Delhomme would continue to be the quarterback trying to deliver him the ball.
"I just work here," said Smith. "If Jake's the guy, Jake's the guy. It's not my call.
"I can't worry about what's going on in somebody else's kitchen because I've got grilled cheese burning on the stove myself.
>>>>>Im with Steve on this one, I'm just gonna eat my sammichs (hopefully not burnt) and read between the lines!!!
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