National Football League

Offseason moves not helping Panthers' passing woes

Published Aug. 22, 2010 1:25 p.m. ET

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After Jake Delhomme's meltdown last season, the Carolina Panthers took drastic measures determined to turn around the NFL's 27th-ranked passing offense.

Delhomme, a seven-year starter who led Carolina to its only Super Bowl, was cut despite still being owed $12.7 million. Matt Moore was promoted to starter after a solid finish to last season, and the Panthers took Jimmy Clausen in the second round of the draft.

The Panthers drafted two receivers in the third round, didn't re-sign starter Muhsin Muhammad, then shook up their offseason workout program to spend extra time on the passing game.

After all that, it's hard to imagine the Panthers' passing game could look any worse halfway through the preseason.

''It's definitely fixable,'' left tackle Jordan Gross insisted. ''It's been widely known that we have a young team. We've got a lot of new faces in the receivers and a new guy slinging the ball and I don't think it's all going to come together overnight.''

Coach John Fox was doing all he could late Saturday night to mimic a political operative and try to put a positive spin on the Carolina's 9-3 loss to the New York Jets.

Moore and Clausen are still learning, he said. The Panthers didn't game plan and faced a lot of blitzing. The Jets had the top defense in the league last season. Top receiver Steve Smith (broken arm) is still sidelined.

But it's hard to ignore just how bad the Panthers have looked in failing to score an offensive touchdown in two preseason losses. From overthrown passes to poor protection to drops by a myriad of underperforming receivers, it's been brutal to watch with plenty of blame to go around.

''I'd like it to be farther along then we are now,'' Gross said. ''But the only way to do it is to go back to - not to square one - but get back to the basics and make it better because the regular season is approaching in a hurry.''

Many of Delhomme's 18 interceptions last season came on overthrown passes, and it looked like a 2009 rerun when Moore airmailed a pass for rookie Brandon LaFell on Carolina's first possession Saturday night. Jim Leonhard acted like a center fielder in picking it off.

Then came drops by LaFell and Kenny Moore, while Dwayne Jarrett couldn't get open. Armanti Edwards, being converted from a college quarterback, looks overwhelmed as a receiver and punt returner.

Perhaps the most embarrassing part of the night was the Jets yanked their starters early in the second quarter, and the Panthers' first unit failed to pick up a first down in four possessions against the Jets' reserves.

''I don't know if surprised is the word,'' Moore said of the slow progression of the passing game. ''All I know is we need to keep working and there are plays there to be made and we know that, and we're capable of making them.''

Moore was 6 of 17 for 57 yards and a passer rating of 21.0. There might be a quarterback controversy if Clausen had been halfway decent in the second half. But he was just 9 of 22 for 72 yards and a pick.

Moore, who closed last season 4-1 as a starter, has thrown for 89 yards and has a passer rating of 34.9 in two preseason games. Clausen, though, has two interceptions and a passer rating of 35.0. The Panthers have managed three field goals in 28 offensive possessions against the Ravens and Jets.

''You have to deliver the ball and catch the ball. We didn't do that as well as we needed to and it's something we'll continue to work on,'' Fox said. ''We saw a wide variety of different pressures (Saturday) with two relatively young quarterbacks.''

After giving up seven sacks against Baltimore, the offensive line was better against the Jets - although the Panthers can't seem to find a backup center who can snap out of the shotgun.

The receivers are another story.

The Panthers have been seemingly trying to find a capable No. 2 receiver for years. Smith, who is expected to be ready for the regular season, noted last week that no receiver had separated himself.

Nothing changed Saturday night. Kenny Moore's 26-yard catch was Carolina's longest play from scrimmage.

''There are plays that should have been made and we didn't make them, myself included,'' Matt Moore said. ''I missed a couple things and those are just things that we need to learn from and get better.''

Gross was quick to come to his quarterback's defense. Moore is 6-2 as a starter, but all those games were late in non-playoff seasons. Still, with Clausen looking to get comfortable - he's been quick to check down to underneath receivers or throw the ball away - the Panthers need Moore to get them out of their offensive funk.

He'll get his longest look of the preseason Saturday against Tennessee, when the starters play into the third quarter.

''He's throwing the ball well and he's making good reads,'' Gross said. ''We need to help him more with protection and running routes better. He's doing fine. He's definitely going to be a part of the solution.''

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