Offseason moves not helping Panthers' passing woes

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 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 myriad 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.