IMPACT ROOKIE- MATT MOORE (CAROLINA PANTHERS - QB)

By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible Senior Writer

Jake Delhomme’s week three elbow injury not only marked the end of the road for the seven-year NFL veteran’s 2007 campaign, it was also the death knell for Panthers head coach John Fox in his season-long struggle to find the right signal caller to right the ship of a punchless offense gone astray.

Second stringer David Carr was flat out disastrous in his feeble attempt to lead Carolina as he went on to average a paltry 4.3 yards per pass attempt. The ageless 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde proved to be much more effective, but found it rather difficult to make back-to-back starts due to his inability to bounce back from weekly bumps and bruises.

With the season already in shambles, Fox finally decided to see what he had in undrafted rookie quarterback Matt Moore who had the unenviable task of trying to penetrate a playmaking Seattle Seahawks defense in week 15.

Coming off an embarrassing 37-6 drubbing at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars the week prior, most Panthers fans had every right to expect a similar fate against Mike Holmgren’s pass-happy crew.

Moore, however, had other plans. The Van Nuys, California native put together an efficient, mistake-free performance, completing 19-of-27 passes for 208 yards in spearheading his team to a stunning 13-10 victory.

In addition to avoiding turnovers despite treacherous winds which kept the game scoreless during the first three quarters, Moore successfully put the ball in the hands of game-breaking wide out Steve Smith who recorded six receptions for 72 yards.

“I just couldn’t get the play out of my mouth…Guys were like, ‘Come on! Come on!’” said Moore while describing how he panicked and froze while calling a play in the huddle at the end of the first half.

The 23-year-old’s brief moment of trepidation could easily be understood, considering he was nothing more than a training camp long-shot in his short-lived, pre-season audition for the Dallas Cowboys.

The rookie free agent showed positive signs as a member of America’s Team and completed 21-of-29 passes for 182 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. But despite that, Dallas released Moore on Sept. 1.

How ironic that Moore would end up facing off against his former team in his second professional start--a Dallas team also led by an un-drafted triggerman in first-time All Pro Tony Romo.

Although Moore did toss an interception and was sacked five times, he also threw his first NFL touchdown--an 11-yard strike to Smith. Hefollowed that up with a 57-yard pass play to Smith, which put kicker John Kasay in position to connect on a 25-yard field goal, as Carolina cut the Cowboy lead to seven points late in their 20-13 loss.

Projected as a day-two selection by the NFL Draft Bible, the lanky 6’ 3” 195-pound passer has the ability to throw deep, as well as the mental acumen to masterfully go through his progressions and often throw very catchable balls to his receivers.

Moore showed further evidence of his physical gifts in week 17 by exhibiting the poise of a 10-year veteran, hooking up with his targets on 15-of-24 pass attempts for 174 yards with two scores and one interception.

With the offense in the hands of youngsters Moore and running back DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers finally began showing some promise as they went on to outscore the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-23.

While Moore’s late-season heroics don’t in any way guarantee him the starting quarterback role in 2008, one can be sure that the resilient field general will not be intimidated by the prospect of having to compete with the 33-year-old Jake Delhomme for the number one spot on the depth chart.

The gritty rookie faced much bleaker options when suffering a leg injury during his sophomore season at UCLA in 2003. In his absence, Moore’s starting position given to Drew Olsen. After taking a year off from football, the strong-armed multi-sport athlete enrolled at Oregon State where he established himself as the unquestioned leader of coach Mike Riley’s high-octane attack, and capped of his college career by throwing for 3,022 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2006.

Named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for December, Moore has all the makings of the next Carolina quarterback to one day return the Panthers to the big game.