Checkdown Chatter

Unlike the sad QB pictured below, Jake Delhomme has every reason to be bummed.

Following yesterday’s loss to the Jets where the Panthers offense once again let down a superb effort by the Panthers D there was some discussion of John Fox making ’some changes’ on offense.

The good news for Fox, is that Jake Delhomme has a broken finger. Hardly a career threatening injury, but it does give Fox an excuse to take a look at Matt Moore.

Things can’t possibly get worse on the offense in Carolina. DeAngelo Williams was ineffective against the Jets, but should bounce back. The Panthers will still be a run based team with Moore in the game, and the change will hopefully mean they are able to hold onto the ball longer, which should mean good things for Williams’ in terms of production levels. It should mean good news for Steve Smith as well, as I said, he can’t possibly be less effective than Delhomme.

It’s hard to bench the 42.5 million dollar man (by contrast Moore makes $460,000 this season), but its equally hard to watch him play at this point.

… sit down, Foxy, this may be hard to hear…

As an owner who is heavily invested in DeAngelo Williams in fantasy this year, I’m a bit biased, I’ll admit that going in, but I just don’t understand what is going on in Carolina.

I’m sure going into games the Panthers are wise enough to plan to limit throwing opportunities and turn the ball over to the rush attack. What I don’t understand is that the second they start trailing, the Panthers try to act like their in a 2 minute drill – even with 20 minutes of game left.

Delhomme threw the ball 42 times last night against Miami. 42 times! His performance wasn’t atrocious (though he completed less than half of his attempts) but his lone interception came at an absolutely crushing time – and a time when the Panthers should have been rushing the ball.

DeAngelo Williams was rushing the ball at will last night against one of the league’s top Rush defenses. His 9.4 YPC were more than 2.5 times what the Dolphins had been giving up all year – even if you factor out his 50 yard run (which should have led to a touchdown, or at the very least a field goal to make the game a one score affair WITH 25 MINUTES OF CLOCK TIME LEFT) he still carried 12 times for 72 – a 6.0 average. My question – what was Delhomme doing tossing it up on a very manageable 3rd and 3. Stewart had just carried twice for 7- bring in DeAngelo rush again, or have Delhomme try to pick up three with a pass to his tight end, not heave it to the end zone for Steve Smith. Yes, tha Panthers have to take chances, but not to the point of sacrificing gimme points that they desperately needed.

From that point on, the Panthers began desperately passing the ball. When Delhomme is asked to throw more than 30 passes in a game the Panthers win less than 33% of the time. Obviously, part of that stat has to do with the fact that when he throws a bunch of passes, they are already trailing – but how does it make sense to over use him knowing this fact?

Williams was running the ball successfully in every possible context last night, up the gut, bouncing to the outside, breaking tackles, making something of nothing. The result of the skill he displayed? 13 measley carries. Jonathan Stewart, who struggled last night, at least in comparison to Williams and although he has posted some good numbers this season has been way too inconsistent compared to the veteran back – had 12. With 1 extra carry Williams outgained him by 79 yards, yet the Panthers kept handing him the rock.

If the Panthers continue to take the ball out of the hands of their top producer, be it via a focus on the pass game, or giving the ball to the wrong back, they cannot be succesful. Its plain to me, and I’m not the only observer thinking so – yet the Panthers play calling goes the opposite direction. Someone on the coaching staff needs to figure it out, however, it looks like its too late for the Panthers in ‘09.

On the flip side: Kudos to the Dolphins for knowing exactly how to get the most out of Ricky Williams after losing Brown for the season.