Should we sit Cam?

[Cary Kollins]

Scott Fowler brings up some good points in the Observer yesterday:

 

 

He’s not completely healthy, and the Carolina Panthers are trying desperately to play him and protect him at the same time.

You can’t do both – especially not with this offensive line.

 

So it is time for the Panthers to do one of two things.

 

They either need to sit Newton down for the game at Baltimore on Sunday for his own good so he can have a full week to heal those ribs and that ankle and whatever else is hurting.

 

Or, if he is truly healthy enough to play, they are going to have to let Newton play. This would be my preferred choice, but in this scenario, he is going to have to be able to run the ball four to six times per game and put that element back into an offense that badly needs every spark it can get.

 

If that sounds too dangerous, well, there’s your answer as to which choice it should be. Bring on Derek Anderson until No. 1 can be a dual-threat quarterback again.

 

Newton ran the ball a career-low two times against Pittsburgh in Carolina’s 37-19 loss. He gained 7 yards on two unplanned scrambles and took a monstrous hit on the sideline on one of them.

Was he simply not wanting to run?

Said Newton after the game: “My main thing going into each and every game is trying to execute the game plan. It wasn’t asked of me to run.”

Think about that for a second. The Panthers quarterback who ran for 28 touchdowns in his first three seasons – at least three times more rushing TDs than any other NFL quarterback during that time period – never kept the ball on a designed run play Sunday night.

Why?

“The obvious (reason) is that he takes shots,” coach Ron Rivera said. “What we want to do this year is eliminate those or limit them. Again, it’s the way he plays. And right now, he’s not quite where we need him (as a runner).”

 

 

What Newton needs is to be able to play the way he plays. If the Panthers aren’t willing to let him do that because his injuries scare them too much, that’s fine. But it’s time to sit him down until he can.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/22/5192848/carolina-panthers-choices-sit.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

 

So what do yall think?  Sit Cam and allow him a chance to heal, especially with the brutal stretch of the schedule coming up. Or play Cam and maybe incorporate the QB runs that have made Newton the franchise player that he is.

[Dunn]

part of the weapon that is cam newton, is his feet and his ability to be mobile.  He can't do that right now and that KILLS us, especially with no RB's to lean on now to pick up at least some of the slack in aquiring first downs even on a broken play and the glaring problem that is our OLine, its tough to say start him right now

[SteveSmithGaveMeAShiner]

If he's going to take hits in the pocket behind this ragtag line anyway, might as well put him on the move and give him a chance. Having said that, he looks nowhere near peak Cam explosiveness through two games. Taking more hits isn't going to improve his situation. He's the present and the future of the franchise. Take care of what is sure to become a very pricey investment after this season. Sit him until he is closer to 100%.

[The Huddler]

This sucks

[Toundra]

Yes big Yes, we have the luxury to have 3 good QBs.

Like Cam, DA can lead this team all the way to the superbowl.

[JccOldTime23]

Well with Derek I feel like the ball gets out quicker. Not sure if that's Cam holding on too long or Shula calling quicker routes with Anderson in. If we aren't going to be able to run the ball the quick passes are best for what we need. At the same time Cam IS thus offense. I know we can win with DA against a terrible Bucs team but I'm not sure we can win with him against Baltimore.

At the same time if you're going to lose I'd rather get swept by the AFC North and win the rest of our games. It's a pickle and I'm not even sure this post makes since. I'll say it like this. If Cam is healthy enough that he's the best chance to win he needs to be in there.

[Silent Majority]

I said earlier, 

 

"Broken ribs and surgically repaired ankle, be damned, right?  Cam's not running the ball and being "Cam". He runs and is labeled a running QB. He gets better every fuging year and is CURRENTLY killing teams from the pocket, but he isn't "Cam', so let's sit him. How about let's hire an OC, who can adjust in real-time and who doesn't call counter-productive plays".

[therealmjl]

Ugh.

[SteveSmithGaveMeAShiner]

If Cam is healthy enough that he's the best chance to win he needs to be in there.

 

I agree, but I also think Cam is undeniably better than DA as long as he is able to stand upright and grip a football. Cam's passing has not been the problem. To me, it looks like the ankle is bothering him enough to dampen his ability to move around in and out of the pocket, which leads to more big hits and a higher risk of making the injury worse. You can't design runs for him to keep a defense honest if he's physically incapable of making those plays. If the leaky line and absent running game are putting a QB at risk, throw your veteran backup to the wolves, not your gimpy, 25 year old franchise QB.

[Panthro]

We are a better team when he is able to do the things that have made him successful thus far in his career. He is in more danger sitting back there and not reacting how he has been previously. 

[blackcat]

Sit him until he can run and be the threat that we need him to be.  If he's going to survive behind the Oline, he needs to be able to run.  He can't do that right now. 

[PhillyB]

no

[PhillyB]

adjust gameplan and playcalls to accommodate injuries

[jasonluckydog]

If Cam keeps getting hit on every other play he won't last much longer those ribs need time to heal.

However I do believe Cam should start but have DA come in as soon as Cam shows any signs of being in pain.