Quarterback throws multiple interceptions, Chris Gamble gets burned, John Fox’s play calling is questionable and the Panthers Lose.

Is this Jake Delhomme and the 2009 Carolina Panthers? Am I stuck in a scene from the movie “Groundhog Day?” Or maybe the new direction of the 2010 Carolina Panthers is the same direction we saw last year.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way:

Defensively: Very little pressure put on Eli Manning; only one sack during the game. The defensive backs got burned (what’s new?). And the defense remained on the field far too long.

Offensively: Line provided little to no protection. Matt Moore made horrible decisions in the red zone. Steve Smith needs help in the receiving core. And why would a run-first team not run at all?

Having gotten that out of the way, let us move to the meat and potatoes.

The Meat: It is apparent that Jimmy Clausen is the future of the team; the future should start now. Most teams provide their young quarterbacks a veteran quarterback to mimic, to provide explanations and nuances of the position at the NFL level. The Panthers opted not to have a seasoned quarterback on the team from whom Clausen can learn. Therefore, like the rest of us at our jobs when there is no formal training, he must learn on the job -- baptism by fire.

If the team is going to struggle the entire year at the position of quarterback anyway, why not do so with Clausen so that he can get acclimated to the team and to the NFL? Why prolong the inevitable and make the fans go through a learning curve with Matt Moore only to go the through the same learning curve with Jimmy Clausen down the road?

The Potatoes: I am the first to admit that the Bobcats’ drafting of an entire graduating class from UNC Chapel Hill in an attempt to provide a hometown feel to the team was absurd. Yet, when local and/or hometown players are selected because of quality and not nepotism then it’s okay. This is true with receivers Kenny Moore (Wake Forest University) and Trent Guy (West Charlotte High). Both receivers proved during the pre-season that they were just as good, if not better, than the receivers on the current roster, yet both players were cut.

Yesterday the Panthers’ receiving core, with the exception of Steve Smith, was non-existent, and I cannot help but think that Kenny Moore would have been a viable option for Matt Moore had he been on the team. Moore to Moore would mean More receptions for the offense, it’s just that simple.

Trent Guy, just as he was in the pre-season, would have been an excellent return man for special teams. Once again John Fox and the Panthers management continue to make questionable decisions for the betterment of the team.

We know that John Fox is leaving after this year, but what about General Manager Marty Hurney? When will Hurney leave and we get a GM the caliber of a Bill Polian of the Indianapolis Colts, who we fired?

The bright side of yesterday is “How ‘bout them Cowboys?”

Hopefully, next week I will awake from this nightmare and we will open up the home stadium with a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Remember, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
 

Sign up for our Weekly Email Newsletter Email: For Email Marketing you can trust

Other Ways to Share Twitter Del.icio.us MySpace

Discussions and Submission Agreement