Top franchise cornerstones

[CelibatePimp]

1. Andrew Luck

 

Already a prodigy in the pocket and a fourth-quarter comeback artist entering his third season, Luck is now leading the NFL in attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdowns. He's second in first-down percentage and third in throws over 20 yards. The Colts offense is No. 1 in both yards and points per game.

He combines youth, ideal body type, athleticism, arm strength, football IQ, leadership and commitment. Former NFL general manager Charley Casserly has anointed Luck the best young quarterback he has ever seen since entering the league in 1977. Current Colts general manager Ryan Grigson has compared his quarterback to Michael Jordan with the game on the line.

 

2. Aaron Rodgers

 

Rodgers has been the NFL's best quarterback since the start of the 2010 postseason. He's also six years older than Luck, closed out the 2006 season on injured reserve with a broken foot, missed seven games last season with a fractured collarbone and has sustained multiple concussions. As phenomenal as Rodgers is right now, Luck is the safer long-term investment.

 

3. Cam Newton

 

Even with improvements in pre-snap reads and post-snap progressions, Newton wouldn't have been this high a year ago. His accuracy was simply too scattershot, due in part to inconsistent footwork. As Gregg Rosenthal has pointed out repeatedly on the Around The NFL Podcast, Newton has been on point this season while taking control of the Panthers offense. Much like an early-career Ben Roethlisberger, that improvement as a passer will serve Newton well when age and hits catch up to his legs.

 

4. Russell Wilson

 

Wilson isn't tasked with carrying his team to the degree of Luck, Rodgers and Newton, but he's far more dynamic than his "game manager" critics charge. He has a first-in-the-building mentality, is undefeated in head-to-head matchups versus the cream of the NFL's quarterback crop and is the face of a franchise with dynasty potential.

 

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000411495/article/andrew-luck-aaron-rodgers-top-list-of-cornerstones

[KissMyConverse]

I'm happy Cam is getting his due but Luck #1... Over Rogers?

 

The forth Quarter comeback back artist really never gets the credit he deserves for putting them in that 4th quarter hole. 

[*FreeFua*]

Steve Smith will always be one of my favorite Panthers, but there's many on here crediting Cam with spreading the ball around alot more this year than in years past. Alot of that has to do with Smitty and not so much Cam imo. I think Cam also feels comfortable taking full control of this offense now as well. Many times last year we saw Newton lock onto Smith and many would blame Cam. I see now releasing Smitty has actually been alot more beneficial to Cam than the other way around. I just wish DG would've drafted another WR in the draft to give Cam some help.

Cam has proved for the last 3 seasons that he can carry a team on his back. As Cam's ankle gets stronger he'll open alot more eyes. It's amazing we still have some doubters when it comes to Cam, but I can't wait to sit back and watch this kid get even better. Pretty crazy to think he hasn't even hit his ceiling yet.

[Luck's neckbeard]

Cam Newton > Andrew Luck... & it's not even close

"Luck wins more games!"

I know that is what all of you mental midgets and proud He-Man-Cam-Haters-Club members are shouting at your screen right now, as you furiously type away in response after reading the first line. Let's go ahead and show why Luck's team has a better W/L record than Newton's. Yes, winning is a team stat. There is a reason why Trent Dilfer has the same number of Super Bowl rings as Peyton Manning and Dan Marino combined. Football is the ultimate team sport.

Strength of Schedule

IND- #14, #30, #32

CAR- #1, #10, #1, #22

IND- 355-411-2 (46.2%)

CAR- 530-490-4 (51.8%)

There it is, folks. This is completely self-explanatory, although I know some still won't manage to comprehend it. The Colts have literally played the easiest schedule in the entire NFL throughout Luck's career, while Carolina has played the toughest schedule in Newton's career. All those wins against terrible teams. Luck has only beat 1 more team with a winning record. Short of being Ryan Leaf, or an autistic monkey, Luck should have a better record than Newton.

Wait, there's more. Right? Luck is the great comeback kid! Newton just doesn't have it. Wrong. Again, wins are a team stat. Newton can't do everything by himself. Did you know that Newton has more 4th quarter go ahead scores than Luck? That's right. Newton is actually Mr. Clutch, not Luck. The difference? Carolina's defense blew pretty much every one of those leads in Newton's first two years. Again, it's a team sport.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's take a look at their stats. Going by what 99% of the media says, this should be no contest. Right? Luck is heralded as the best young quarterback in the league and an elite, MVP-caliber player. On the other hand, Newton is still questioned by most and needs to prove himself worthy as a "franchise" quarterback.

QB Rating, Cmp %, Yd per play, Td per play, t/o per play

Andrew Luck: 84.7, 58.6, 6.7, .046, .026

Cam Newton: 87.0, 60.0, 7.2, .049, .025

I'll go ahead and type that out for you, incase you have trouble reading charts.

Panthers QB Cam Newton, who entered the league extremely raw and inexperienced, has a better quarterback rating, higher completion percentage, gains more yards per play, scores more touchdowns per play, and commits fewer turnovers per play than Colts QB Andrew Luck, who entered the league very experienced and considered a finished product. Cam is putting up better numbers across the board while playing against much tougher competition.

Cam Newton is better than Andrew Luck. That's right, I said it.

***

I only compared Luck & Newton for a very specific reason. They play in a different era than guys like Marino, Elway, etc. They are also in entirely different situations from guys like Kaepernick and Wilson, who were drafted in middle rounds by very good teams. Luck & Newton were drafted #1 overall in back to back seasons, giving them a very similar situation.

I listed their stats in the most unbiased way possible. It breaks their production down to a per play basis, which makes it impossible to favor one over the other. I'll list the numbers incase you don't trust my math, or are just in denial that Luck is inferior to Newton. FYI; don't bother splitting the rushing & passing into two comparisons, you won't like what you find.

1,608 plays, 10,908 yards, 74 touchdowns, 42 turnovers

2,046 plays, 14,780 yards, 100 touchdowns, 52 turnovers

Edit #1

"Derp! Derp! Luck won a playoff game!"

IND- 11-5 (1-1) lost Div Rd

CAR- 12-4 (0-1) lost Div Rd

You're right, he did. I can't deny that Luck needed an extra game to get his 12th win and reach the Divisional Round. I'm sorry Cam was better at that, too.

Edit #2

TL;DR

Luck is better than Newton, just watch ESPN.

Edit #3

[xerxes]

Accolades are not a zero sum game. Believe it or not both Luck and Cam can be great QBs...

[CelibatePimp]

Dude, stats don't tell the whole story man. I mean Wilson has the best stats apart from yds but he sucks as a pocket QB. I think what may be missing from Cam's game may be the deep ball. Luck has mastered that with TY Hilton.

[TheRed]

I think Cam and Andrew are pretty close to even at this point if anything. Both are superb young QB's, there is no debating that.

[*FreeFua*]

Dude, stats don't tell the whole story man. I mean Wilson has the best stats apart from yds but he sucks as a pocket QB. I think what may be missing from Cam's game may be the deep ball. Luck has mastered that with TY Hilton.

We have zero deep threats. I'm not ready to say Brown is a deep threat yet. However when Cam did go deep to him last Sunday it worked out pretty good.

Newton hit Ginn perfectly a few times last season, some went right through his hands and others he caught.

One of my favorite Cam throws of all time was that BOMB he tossed against GB his rookie season to Smitty perfectly in stride from the 20 yard line to the other 20.

Not sure where this lack of deep ball accuracy comes from. He threw a perfect ball to Cotchery Sunday as well while getting hit. If Cotchery would've opened his eyes he would've caught it.

[Oudaman90]

I think Cam and Andrew are pretty close to even at this point if anything. Both are superb young QB's, there is no debating that.

Pretty much this. They're even. Both are in two different situations, with different team offensive styles, and are still about dead even. It should be noted that Cam is on a run heavy team, and is asked to run a ton. He still has similar passing stats to Luck. That is amazing...

[Luck's neckbeard]

Most of Luck's "deep bombs" are Hilton breaking free with his speed.

Cam threw Ginn about a dozen PERFECT deep balls that should've all been a TD. Too bad Ginn dropped all but one or two.

[CelibatePimp]

We have zero deep threats. I'm not ready to say Brown is a deep threat yet. However when Cam did go deep to him last Sunday it worked out pretty good.

Newton hit Ginn perfectly a few times last season, some went right through his hands and others he caught.

One of my favorite Cam throws of all time was that BOMB he tossed against GB his rookie season to Smitty perfectly in stride from the 20 yard line to the other 20.

Not sure where this lack of deep ball accuracy comes from.

 

Why do you think Shula or Dorsey? had him throwing into trash cans down the field when last season began? As for the ball to Brown, yes he was around the area but we would never have known if it was accurate because of the PI on him.

 

I do agree that we lack that kind of WR anyways.

[PantherWake]

It should be:

 

1. Rodgers

2a. Cam

2b. Luck

3. Wilson

[gettlemanjack]

I'm happy Cam is getting his due but Luck #1... Over Rogers?

Rodgers is 30 years old (easy to forget because he sat behind Favre all those years). Look at it like "Who are the three best QBs under age 30?"

This isn't the first time I've seen that question answered with Luck, Cam, Wilson.

(Matt Ryan will be 30 in half a year, Cutler is 31, Rivers is 32, Big Ben is 32, etc)

[KissMyConverse]

Rodgers is 30 years old (easy to forget because he sat behind Favre all those years). Look at it like "Who are the three best QBs under age 30?"

This isn't the first time I've seen that question answered with Luck, Cam, Wilson.

(Matt Ryan will be 30 in half a year, Cutler is 31, Rivers is 32, Big Ben is 32, etc)

Yeah but you get around another 6 or 7 years with Rogers. 

 

I'd still take Cam over Rogers but I'd take both over Luck.