Trying to figure out why any NFL quarterback is struggling is tough to do, but in the case of Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme it is downright absurd. Here is a quarterback that has everything going for him as far as players and organization. Yet still, he has turned the ball over eleven times over the course of two games dating back to the 08 season.

Jake Delhomme has Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammed. Most NFL teams would kill to have these two as their top two, and the Panthers are no exception. Jake has targets to throw to. Steve Smith is the most underrated player in the NFL. He has been pulling Jake along for years now, but nobody has really paid attention. There have been many games where Delhomme would have had horrible numbers were it not for the acrobatics of Steve Smith. How many times has Smith caught balls that he had no business catching? How many interceptions has Jake thrown that Smitty has broken up and saved him with? The truth is, Steve Smith is the reason that Jake has had the success he has had.

With that said, the Panthers have to be one of the easiest teams in the NFL for a quarterback to run. They have a great pair of sure handed receivers. They have a coaching staff that is run, run, run. They have running game that is second to none when they remain focused on it.

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are the best one two combo in the league. They have spent a great deal of time cultivating this great running game. Part of the reason for this is because they realize the limitations at quarterback. The most that Jake is asked to do is occasionally to hit a play action pass or screen. The other pass plays consist of throwing the bomb down the sideline to Smitty and occasionally Mushin. Regardless of where Jake heaves the ball to, Smith will more often than not bring those down.

So given the teams focus on the run, Smith’s incredible talent and the awesome talent of the running game, why exactly is Jake struggling? The truth is, Jake is the same Jake he has always been. He has always thrown into double, triple and sometimes even quadruple coverage. That is nothing new. He has always made bad decisions about when to throw the ball away, and when to heave it in the general direction of Smith. The truth is, he is not getting the breaks that he once did, and Smith has been unable to save him.

If Jon Fox wants to save the Panther’s season, and possibly Jake’s career, he had better get back to his roots. He had better take the football on Sunday, and squeeze every inch out of the running game. Do not allow Jake to throw the ball unless all eight men are stacked in the box. When they come rushing, Jake needs to have two options. Throw to a quick route, or throw the football away. That is the only way to save him at this point with his head so messed up. All it will take is a little success to get things rolling in the right direction.