Panthers camp report: Delhomme elbows his way back
Editor's note: Clark Judge, Pete Prisco and Mike Freeman are traveling to every NFL training camp and filing daily reports and analysis. Next camp report from Prisco: Falcons
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Those who have watched him closely insist Jake Delhomme's surgically repaired throwing arm has given his passes more zip.
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| Delhomme winces after injuring his elbow last Sept. 23 in Atlanta. (Getty Images) |
"No, I'm still not afraid to throw a duck," Delhomme said laughing Saturday night.
He wouldn't be Jake Delhomme if he didn't. That's part of the charm of Delhomme the quarterback. He's been as unconventional at times as any passer in the league, throwing from awkward angles, his passes sometimes looking like punts off the side of the foot.
Yet there is no doubting Delhomme's importance to the Panthers. When he went out in the third game of the 2007 season after tearing a tendon in his throwing elbow, it forced the Panthers to turn to three quarterbacks the rest of the way, two who weren't even on the roster when camp opened. Delhomme opened with eight touchdown passes and one interception and looked to be on his way to a big season before the injury hit, which made his loss sting even more.
Carolina finished a disappointing 7-9 and its passing game was deplorable. The Panthers finished 29th in the league with 170.9 yards per game. The quarterbacks completed 56.4 percent of their passes, 30th best -- and that's counting Delhomme's 64.1 completion percentage before he got hurt.
Don't get me wrong, the Panthers, under coach John Fox, have never been a pass-first team, but without Delhomme on the field their passing game was tough to stomach last season.
That's why having him back throwing again is so vital to the Panthers having any chance to push for a division title. Delhomme threw just one pass in the team's preseason-opening victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
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"I'll take that any day of the week," Delhomme said. "I knew I was going to play one or two series, get a few throws. Would I have liked to have a few more? Absolutely, but I know I'm going to play a whole lot more coming up this week and the following week."
He has made all the throws during camp, including the deep balls with good velocity, which has eased the tensions about his return.
"I'm re-energized after the surgery," Delhomme said.
The name of the surgery that athletes who use their arms don't want to hear? Tommy John surgery, named for the former major league pitcher who successfully had the surgery to extend his career.
Just hearing the name Tommy John surgery can be scary for any player, even if it's rare for a quarterback. I asked Delhomme if it concerned him.
"Not a whole lot," he said. "It was such an uncommon injury for a football player."
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kaaduge: "The Panthers should win the NFC South division title in 2008. I see improvements on both sides of the ball, and a better over-all rounded team than the NFC South rivals. Maybe a first round playoff victory." |
Delhomme had the surgery last October, giving him a long time to heal before the 2008 season. There were murmurs that he'd never come back, that the zip on his passes was gone forever.
In other words: The end.
"We fixed three or four things inside the arm," Delhomme said. "I never once thought what if I don't (get back). It never crossed my mind. Maybe I was being naïve. I just thought it couldn't get any worse."
He started his rehab by throwing a Nerf football. He also noticed something while at home that told him he was on his way back. During playtime with his daughter, he noticed he was doing things with his right arm, not thinking about the surgery.
"That's just the body telling you it's OK," Delhomme said.
In February and March, he worked up to throwing 20-25 footballs inside the Panthers' locker room. Surprisingly, Delhomme said there wasn't much trepidation about cutting it loose the first time.
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Positives: His receiving corps could be the best in the NFL. Delhomme has an elite player in Steve Smith and solid complementary options in D.J. Hackett, Muhsin Muhammad and Dwayne Jarrett. That will help Delhomme's overall play since now opposing defenses can't just focus on Smith. When healthy, Delhomme has been a quality quarterback. He averaged 3,333 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions from 2003-06. Negatives: The elbow. He had Tommy John surgery last season and is still not 100 percent. He will also be on a "pitch count" in training camp to limit the number of passes he throws. He is expected to be fine for the start of the season, but the unknown will scare Fantasy owners. He also doesn't run much since he has only three rushing touchdowns with the Panthers. Outlook: Take Delhomme as one of the first backup Fantasy options. The uncertainty with his elbow makes him a risky starting option, but if he returns to form with the revamped receiving corps, he has the chance to shine. Look for Delhomme to pass for about 3,500 yards, 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2008. -- Jamey Eisenberg RB: Jonathan Stewart (60th overall) QB: Jake Delhomme (94th overall) WR: Steve Smith (29th overall) TE: None drafted |
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"I didn't feel any of that," he said.
Eventually he worked up to making all the throws. He practices once a day during camp to reduce the wear on his arm, but he is taking a lot of reps during the practices he does work.
"We don't talk about the arm anymore," Fox said. "We don't even think about it. Other than resting him up some, we don't even consider it."
That's because the arm is better than it's been in years. Delhomme said he had problems with it in 2005 and 2006, the pain felt when doing simple things such as shaving. Now he feels none of that.
He worked hard this offseason to strengthen the arm and his body. He said he did a lot of workouts to help strengthen his core because passes are often thrown from strange angles -- especially for him. He also worked hard to get back to the basics, throwing the way he did when he helped the Panthers get to the Super Bowl in 2003.
"I was probably changing my delivery to compensate for the pain," Delhomme said.
At 33, coming off elbow surgery, there are going to be questions. One bad game and the fans will holler that his passing arm is shot. One floating pass plucked out of the sky by the opposition will lead to cries that the zip is gone for good.
Who wants a quarterback who has lost his fastball?
"He looks stronger," Fox said.
Why wouldn't he? He has the rebuilt arm.
"You don't feel like you do at 22, but I feel very, very good," Delhomme said.
Just not good enough that those ducks we've seen him throw will go away. He wouldn't be Jake Delhomme without them.
