Progress

[Mr. Scot]

To date, I've seen a lot of judgment on the value of Matt Moore. It's run the gamut from franchise savior to waste of roster space. The one thing I can say that a lot of it has in common though is a tendency to be based on either the most recent game or only the games that best fit the argument of the person posting.

My own opinion? I'm watching the progression.

Early on, Moore looked like what he was, a third string guy who'd had very few reps with the starting offense. Some drew comparisons - both favorable and unfavorable - to Jake Delhomme's first few starts. As time went on, and Moore got both more practice time and game experience, he grew to look better, more comfortable. And in the two most recent games, you could at least argue that he's had his "breakout".

Right?

Maybe :sosp:

What happens if, in his last game, with the team's best receiver sidelined, he falls back to earth? Does that mean everything leading up to that game was an illusion?

Eeeehh, not really :nonod:

What if, on the other hand, with limited receiving options he still manages to direct a dazzling aerial display that beats the Saints as badly as the Giants were beaten? That will mean he's arrived, right?

Well...Not necessarily :sosp:

In fairness, there's still a lot that's unknown. The staff has worked hard to play to Moore's strengths. Throw in that Jonathan Stewart has been stellar. And add that there's not a lot of material out there for teams to use in gameplanning so Moore can be a bit of a wildcard. Also true that Moore has faced teams that were down an important player or two. Again, in fairness, the Panthers were down a player or ten. That makes it even, right?

Sort of

The bottom line for me is that Moore has made a nice progression, and at this stage that's what you want to see in a young quarterback. With that said, it's probably still premature to anoint Moore as the future of the franchise. It is, however, equally myopic to suggest that his progress hasn't at least earned him the right to go into next season with a shot at the starter's job. And yes, you can make a pretty sound argument that he should be the presumed starter if the team returns the same stable of QBs currently on roster.

But has he shown enough that the team should abandon any thought of outside free agents and/or high draft picks?

Now that's the big question, isn't it? :confused:

Will there be enough material to make that decision an easy one? Doubt it, but that doesn't really matter. The decision will have to be made this offseason whether there's enough to go on or not. In the end, it'll be based on a total of five games. What fans have to hope now is that the team braintrust is smart enough to divine the proper path using that five weeks worth of material.

Will they make the right choice?

Really wish I knew the answer to that one

[Jangler]

Can you let me have my mancrush?

[pantherfan81]

Wow. I feel you man, wish I had a DeLorean that could get me to next season & answers some questions that's for sure.

[Mr. Scot]

Can you let me have my mancrush?

Can I stop you?

Moore could be everything people hope for in a QB. I'd certainly love it if he were. For my part, I'm one decent game away from saying re-sign him to a moderate contract tender and hand him the starter's reins next season.

It's what to do at the other spots that's troubling.

Economics probably necessitate bringing Delhomme back as a backup. And truthfully, there's some value to the idea. I'm a McCown fan too though, and I don't like the idea of tossing him aside to keep a guy who, while he's been the best QB this franchise has had, doesn't seem to have it anymore and is being overpaid.

Happily for me, I don't have to make those decisions.

(I get to just sit back and take shots at the guys who do) :sosp:

[Matt Foley]

Moore will be successful until opposing defensive coordinators are forced to acknowledge him and will design gameplans to exploit his weaknesses.

[KillerKat]

They'd still have to bring in competition. They'd be stupid not to (again).

[Mr. Scot]

Moore will be successful until opposing defensive coordinators are forced to acknowledge him and will design gameplans to exploit his weaknesses.

Maybe, but that doesn't always happen. What plays a big role in determining whether or not that comes to pass is the quality of players with which the team surrounds him.

Build a good enough team around him, and give him time to progress, and who knows?

[Carolina Mike]

The book you wrote was well written.

You basically said:

(A) Moore although playing really good right now it is too early to make a real decision right now.

( Panthers need to bring in a few options at the QB spot just to be sure of things.

© Can the Panthers make the right decision?

OK so those are the cliff notes.

[Mr. Scot]

They'd still have to bring in competition. They'd be stupid not to (again).

I can understand the idea, but honestly there's nobody I've seen in the free agent pool that's a definitive upgrade over just re-signing Josh McCown.

Rookie? As a QB to groom for the future, absolutely. As a challenge to start next season? That I'm not so high on, especially given we'd likely have to trade up, way up. Not an option I like for a team that has more than one need.

Trade? Anyone worth it would likely net a high pick. And again, I think we have more than one need. And if they aren't worth a high pick, why give up something to get a guy that's only backup quality when we already have that?

There just aren't a lot of good options next season.

Moore being the guy really is the best case scenario. I just don't know if that will happen.

[Mr. Scot]

The book you wrote was well written.

You basically said:

(A) Moore although playing really good right now it is too early to make a real decision right now.

( Panthers need to bring in a few options at the QB spot just to be sure of things.

© Can the Panthers make the right decision?

OK so those are the cliff notes.

Not bad

I'd sum it up this way.

Some people don't want to give Moore the job because he isn't already great, but that ignores the progress that he's made up to this point.

Some people want to hand Moore the keys to the franchise because he's done well so far, but that notion ignores the fact that there's still a long way to go.

The main point? I think people should see it as a progression rather than an "all or nothing" based on the last game they saw.

[Squirrel]

Moore's made good progress but I'm still worried when Defenses figure him out how he will play. We defiantly need a veteran and like you said nobody out there available can beat out Mccown. But I still would like to pick up a qb in the draft either 2nd or 3rd round. But then what do you do with Jake. Do you cut him and eat his $13 million or do you keep him around?

[Raskle]

I say eat the cap hit and drop Jake. Loved what he did for us, but he's been in dire need of a fork ever since the surgery. Keeping McCown I wouldn't be opposed to, unless someone better ends up being a surprise cut and FA acquisition. But we still need to bring at least one more QB in this offseason to compete.

Draft a QB in the lower rounds if you find someone worth it, but don't trade a damn thing this year, unless it's for more draft picks and not too much lower in position than we will be in April. If guys aren't there at the right time, then skip drafting and keep Cantwell as #3 this upcoming season to groom. Let the four of them battle in TC and see who comes out on top.

Not opposed to:

1) Moore

2) McCown/FA Vet

3) Cantwell/whomever isn't #2

Draft a WR in the 2nd round. Draft a WR in the third round. Draft depth in the next rounds using BPA mentality to fill up special teams. Other than WR, I don't see any glaring holes for us, especially with the plethora of DTs coming back from injury next year. If you can sign Pep to a team-friendly deal, great. If not, let his ass walk. I'm tired of the drama he's brought, and I don't want another Favre-like offseason from him.

Let Diggs and Anderson fight it out in TC for the SLB spot. Love Diggs, but if the kid is faster and picks his game up, he should get a legit shot. Same goes for Godfrey/Martin -- everyone knows that's one spot that should be open and fair competition. Lastly, let Vincent and the young guys we have Duke it out (pun intended) for the RG spot. we may just be pleasantly surprised. Added one more.. put Barnidge in as #1 TE.. that kid's gonna be extremely special for us. Hunches suck, I know, but that's what I have about him. Think Novacek meets Walls special.

Oh yeah.. and draft another WR... maybe if we get three, one of them might actually make an impact for us when Moose retires. Well.. just as long as we stay the hell away from USC receivers that is.

[DaveThePanther2008]

Mr. Scot...once again Great Post.

Moore does deserve the helm win or lose next week. Jake spoiled all the fans. 1st Game he comes in the 2nd half and brings the team back to win a game. DRAMATICALLY. The Cardiac Cats of 03 was a magical season. For a couple of years, he did it all the time.

Moore, He wins a couple of games but nothing really DRAMATIC. No pin point pass to win the game on the last play. He just wins. Our fans love that Drama and think that whoever we draft will come in and be the next superstar QB give us some of the Rookie QB HERO DRAMA(aka M. Ryan). The chances of us getting one like that is slim.

I believe we have all we need at QB. A solid QB, Moore, a good backup, McCown and Jake who can fill in, in a crunch. We also have a young strong armed QB in Hunter Cantwell on the practice squad who we are developing. So do we give up on Cantwell or release Jake? Can't keep 5 QB's. And if we draft a QB most likely he is going to have to stay on the active roster or someone will ****** him up like we did Moore.

My opinion is, Give Moore more weapons, especially in the WR catergory. Make is so defensive coordinators have to dig deep to find Moores weaknesses. I believe if we had a #2 or Slot Receiver like Wes Welker or Desean Jackson how do you really contain the Panthers.

We have 5 picks in this draft (not counting compensation picks) So we need to make the most of them. Drafting a QB IMO is now a low priority.

Go Panthers

[KillerKat]

Keep Jake: 12 mil

Cut Jake: 13 mil hit

Saving 1 mil is not worth it.