Writers picking sides in QB debate

[Mr. Scot]

Here's where the guys who cover the team look to be leaning in the great QB debate...

Darin Gantt (Rock Hill Herald): Jake Delhomme

Don't get sucked into Moore hysteria

Wait to see if Delhomme gets his head back together and looks like the passer of 2003 through 2008, instead of the ridiculous 2009 version. As angry as people are with him at the moment, the resume states that Delhomme has been enough of a quarterback for several years. Call it sentimental if you want, but he is still a career 82.1-rating quarterback, and that's still in the top 40 of the NFL's all-time list in that category. The 85.2 he claimed going into this year was on the fringe of top 20.

As much as he hurt your feelings, it's simply foolish to roll those guys out to the curb with your garbage, because there aren't that many of them.

As much as you love Moore at the moment, it might be wise to slow down before anointing him.

Steve Reed (Gaston Gazette/Carolina Growl): Matt Moore

Is Moore better for Panthers?

Maybe, just maybe, the Carolina Panthers don’t need to go out and find a quarterback of the future.

He might already be here.

Third-year quarterback Matt Moore proved last week’s performance against Minnesota was no fluke, throwing three first-half touchdown passes to lift the Carolina Panthers to a 41-9 rout of the New York Giants in the Big Blue’s final game ever at Giants Stadium.

...

Moore’s production can no longer be ignored, especially given starter Jake Delhomme’s turnover issues earlier this season and the fact he’ll turn 35 in January.

Scott Fowler (Charlotte Observer): Matt Moore

Moore making his case to start in 2010

First, it was Brett Favre. Then, it was Eli Manning.

During an eight-day span, the Panthers' Matt Moore thoroughly outplayed both of those quarterbacks, who each have won Super Bowls but have recently been outgunned by an undrafted 25-year-old career backup.

...

More importantly, Moore improved to 5-2 as a starting quarterback for Carolina, including a 3-1 record in 2009.

"I'm not worried about making a statement," Moore said when asked if he thought he had put himself in a good position to win the Panthers' starting job outright for 2010.

There's no doubt Moore has put himself in the middle of the 2010 debate, however.

Tom Sorenson (Charlotte Observer): Someone Else

Let's see more before anointing Moore

I don't know who starts at quarterback next season for Carolina.

But you do. You've appointed 25-year-old Matt Moore.

...

If Moore continues to play the way he did in the fourth quarter, the Panthers will average 80 points a game.

If he plays the way he did the first three quarters, they will average eight.

I understand your support. Moore has many things going for him, among them that he's not Jake Delhomme. When fans sour on the starter, the popularity of the backup soars. When Moore finally got to play, so did his passes. Everything was high.

...

I admit that Mint Street Matt has a nice sound. Want to hear an even better one?

With their second-round pick in the 2010 draft, the Panthers select a quarterback.

That's it for the local guys. I've looked, but haven't so far found anything from Charles Chandler (or David Scott for that matter) that spells out an opinion. That doesn't seem to be their thing. If anyone else has something from them, by all means show me a link or just post it.

Here's a few others from different sources:

Andrew Mason (Panthers.com): Matt Moore

Stats show more about Moore

(admittedly I'm reading between the lines on this one)

Has Matt Moore positioned himself to make a run at the starting quarterback's job next summer?

The fact that the topic has arisen in chatter about the Panthers -- and was broached at head coach John Fox's press conference Monday -- is a blessed development for the team, since it wouldn't have been a consideration had Moore struggled during his December stint as the Panthers' starting quarterback.

But Moore's performance to date -- and his steady week-to-week improvement -- has not been merely palpable, but impossible to ignore.

...

Besides, a quarterback doesn't make the case for an expanded role by politicking; he does so with his play. A 3-1 record as a starter this season and a 5-2 mark overall including his three games at the close of the 2007 season speak loudly enough.

"He's got the size, the arm strength, a lot of the tangible things," Fox said. "The things you don't know are the intangibles, and I think I've seen him grow with every start, whether it was two years ago or this year."

And the offense has evolved with him. He possesses more mobility than Jake Delhomme, who started 11 games before breaking a finger against the New York Jets on Nov. 30, so the offense began incorporating more rollouts to capitalize.

...

And one key measure -- quarterback rating -- Moore is quantifiably among the league's best at his position since becoming the starter. Only San Diego's Philip Rivers and the Giants' Eli Manning have better ratings this month than Moore; he stands above luminaries like Indianapolis' Peyton Manning, Minnesota's Brett Favre and New England's Tom Brady, among others.

Pat Yasinskas (ESPN): uncommitted, but seemingly pro-Moore

Moore making difference with long ball

From what I’ve seen of Carolina quarterback Matt Moore, I think he’s a lot like Jake Delhomme in his early years with the Panthers. That’s good because Delhomme used to be the perfect quarterback for Carolina’s system. Obviously, Delhomme struggled earlier this year, but the fine folks at ESPN’s Stats & Information just sent along a great item about the difference between Delhomme and Moore this year.

Michael Lombardi (National Football Post): Matt Moore

Diner Morning News: Pro-Bowl Misses

Panthers quarterback Matt Moore makes his second consecutive appearance in the Sunday Best, but this time it’s to anoint him the starter when the Panthers return to training camp next summer. I’m not sure whom the competition might be, but in my mind, his recent play has earned Moore the right to be the starter. Former starter Jake Delhomme can hold the clipboard.

National guys like Peter King and Mike Florio have also made one or two pro-Moore statements, though iin reality they're not really engaged in the debate.

At this point, only Gantt is really all that firm in his ideas. Most others are just sort of leaning one way or the other. Lombardi is the one who's made the most definitive statement about Moore.

As to the fan opinion...

Well, it's a tad one-sided at this point :sosp:

[John Fox]

gantt is such an idiot, "HE WAS GOOD, HE REALLY WAS"

[John Fox]

i also love how he uses QB rating for his argument (as we all know is useless and a pointless rating). he's essentially saying jake is up there with Joe Montana, Steve Young, Peyton Manning etc.

[Brandon]

I wonder if Gantt has a hard time typing while fellating Jake off concurrently.

[RonnieDobbs]

Well, the thing is Gantt left out the bad things from 2008. Raiders game, anyone? Delhomme has always been streaky, but when he was on, HE WAS THE BEST. Unfortunately, when he was off, he was freakin' horrendous. His time has passed, for better or worse. Moore seems to be doing ok, don't you think? He may not be the savior, but he's looking like he may be the one to start next year. Bring in some competition, but don't count him out. Peyton Manning holds the record for interceptions a rookie year, but look at him now. On the flipside, who would have thought Cutler for 26 interceptions this year (or whatever)? Point is, we don't know. I think Moore will be a great qb for the Panthers, but if I could see the future I would be more worried about the lottery.

[KillerKat]

Jake Delhomme the past 2 years: 24 TDs, 35 INTs, 54.9 Cmp %, and 61 QB rating.

That's including last season (along with the Arizona playoff game) and this season. Gantt is nothing more than a joke of a writer and can't be taken seriously.

[rico6]

Surprise Surprise, Needle Dick Sorenson one of the most wishy-washy, bottom of the barrel opinionated jackasses in our local media is between the fence *kinda* this guy could have Matt put up Peyton like numbers and say yada, yada he's not proven until whenever.

And Gantt.. his name alone makes him sound like a ***, lol at him trying to name Jake up there with the top Passers in history, was when his credibility was lost.

[rayzor]

darin gantt = kanye west

Yo Matty, I’m really happy for you…I’ll let you finish. But Jake had one of the best careers of all time! One of the best careers of all time!

[RonnieDobbs]

Good stuff. Well played sir, well played.

[Mr. Scot]

Occurs to me that our resident tree rodent will probably spin this post as evidence that I am Scott Fowler :sosp:

Pay the Squirrelly one no heed. He knows not what he speaks :crazy:

[skarbar001]

Surprise Surprise, Needle Dick Sorenson one of the most wishy-washy, bottom of the barrel opinionated jackasses in our local media is between the fence *kinda* this guy could have Matt put up Peyton like numbers and say yada, yada he's not proven until whenever.

And Gantt.. his name alone makes him sound like a ***, lol at him trying to name Jake up there with the top Passers in history, was when his credibility was lost.

hahahahaha Funniest post I've read in a while.

[KillerKat]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=3392

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=3401

Hanging on to a QB based soley on QB rating is retarded to say the least, but to say Gantt is retarded is offensive to retards.

[Munkey]

I liked the QB of 2003, then it started going downhill very fast. Overthrown balls all the time, can't throw it away, too jump in the pocket not mobile in the LEAST bit. 2003 - 2008 he was good..... really? lol.

[Mr. Scot]

I disagree with Gantt - in this case, strongly so - but he's not an idiot. He's a reporter with an opinion. He believes it, and thus he defends it, same as we do in this forum.

An incorrect opinion? I think so, but he's still one of the better writers covering the Panthers. It's not impossible that he could be proven right; just highly improbable.

(of course, that too is an opinion; specifically, mine)