Now After We've Had A Night to Process Yesterday's Debacle, My Immediate Concern Regarding Cam

[TylerDurden]

Yesterday, all I was worried about was him as a person, and his health and long-term well-being off the field.  And I still am.  And I'm still pissed that he isn't given the same protections that other QBs are given...  But, it's obvious the league doesn't care and they're enabling teams to headhunt him.

Combine that fact with the issue that we now have his first officially diagnosed concussion which removed him from a game...  I'm starting to worry.  What makes Cam such a once in a lifetime talent is his physicality as a runner being the marked difference between him and any other great passer who happened to be mobile.  The type of runs he can finish off, no other QB, or many other runners for that matter regardless of position, have the ability to do so.  Defenses always have to account for the pass AND the run when it comes to Cam, but we all know this...

But, my concern now, is if this concussion even may not have been his first, if it was severe enough to have him leave the game, does this one make him prone to have more concussions?  Does him suffering this concussion make him subconsciously less willing to deliver or invite contact as a runner?  Simple and short, does it change the way he plays and/or the way we call plays for him?  

At some point, I know every athletic QB has to transition over to relying almost solely on their passing ability, but Cam isn't even 30 yet, so I hope we're not to that point.  But, I think this should be a legitimate concern (after his overall health as a human being, of course) going forward.

[RoaringRiot]

2 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

 And I'm still pissed that he isn't given the same protections that other QBs are given...  But, it's obvious the league doesn't care and they're enabling teams to headhunt him.

Is this really fair? Outside of Denver he hasn't been headhunted. You don't get QB protections when you're a runner. The Denver hits were in the pocket - yesterday he was clearly a runner. 

[stirs]

You always have this concern when drafting a "running QB".  What makes them exciting and dangerous to opposing teams, also makes them vulnerable.  If the league is not going to enforce head to head contact because they are treating him like a RB, then we have a big concern.

I think in the meantime, putting him on a clock so to speak, as far as getting rid of the ball would be smart.  That, and cleaning up his mechanics.  That should keep him safe.  Ryan got rid of the ball very quickly yesterday

[borissalty]

it should make him subconsciously less willing to waltz into the endzone for the easiest score of his life while down 18 points

[bigdog10]

This team and the league let Cam down in that Denver game by not protecting him from the cheap shots and himself. 

Im not sure if the investigation is finalized as to whether our sideline acted appropriately with regards to the Denver game, but if it is still ongoing, we can probably expect some punishment to be levied. 

[TylerDurden]

1 minute ago, RoaringRiot said:

Is this really fair? Outside of Denver he hasn't been headhunted. You don't get QB protections when you're a runner. The Denver hits were in the pocket - yesterday he was clearly a runner. 

Every player in the league is supposed to be protected from headshots as a runner.  It's their rules.  But, he doesn't get that consideration.

[truthjuice]

Cam has too much heart and is too resilient. I think he still plays the same. He's special and he knows his athletic ability. I remember his dad saying once on the radio that he had to tell Cam these guys get paid to hit you. Cam is physical and he will be okay. I sure hope that his coaches and teammates come through with better protection and support.

I'm with you, I don't think it's his first. I think it's his first diagnosed, but I don't think it's the first time he's had one. 

[electro's horse]

the book is pretty much out on him that to take him out of his rhythm, you go hard and you go high. 

even with a QB like Ben Roethlisberger, who can seemingly absorb like at least one 9/11 attack a game's worth of hits, people aren't intentionally going for his head.

Because Cam runs so much, he technically becomes "a runner" and teams are tee'ing off at his head. 

If he's going to survive, he's going to have to change the way he runs, because the refs aren't protecting him. 

Yesterday's goal line was another great example. Yeah, Cam shouldn't have cadillac'd in, and maybe the defender didn't use the crown of the helmet or whatever excuse the announcers were giving him, but he left his feet. that's the definition of an illegal hit. ref looking right at it, and nothing.

cam is still a dynamic QB if you're not using him in fullback leads or whatever. like i've never once seen a play action rollout. Ever. 

[RoaringRiot]

4 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

Every player in the league is supposed to be protected from headshots as a runner.  It's their rules.  But, he doesn't get that consideration.

The guy didn't lead with the crown of his helmet. I'm not aware of any protections outside of that. Please share if I am wrong so I know what rule you're referring to.

[GoobyPls]

Cam is struggling with his timing. And short passing game

 

But at the end of I can't judge Cam harshly. Gettleman has done absolutely nothing to help Cam. No free agents, reaching for project receivers, no trades and is obsessed with drafting defense. Guys like Ted Ginn, Funchess, Philly Brown wouldn't  even see the field in other teams. Ginn was a 5th string WR in Arizona and SF and he's our number 2.

[Nate Dogg]

16 minutes ago, RoaringRiot said:

Is this really fair? Outside of Denver he hasn't been headhunted. You don't get QB protections when you're a runner. The Denver hits were in the pocket - yesterday he was clearly a runner. 

If it's not in the rules it should be. The defender clearly lunged to the head/neck area of Cam when he could've made a textbook hit in the strike zone.

[electro's horse]

15 minutes ago, RoaringRiot said:

The guy didn't lead with the crown of his helmet. I'm not aware of any protections outside of that. Please share if I am wrong so I know what rule you're referring to.

Helmet to helmet contact is unavoidable. There's reasonable doubt as to whether or not it was intentional  

If a qb is in the pocket and helmets touch, that's a flag 

Regardless of position, if a defender leaves his feet and leads with any part of his helmet, that's supposed to be a flag.

when a defender literally has to jump up in the air to do it, well, kinda hard to claim reasonable doubt anymore is it?

 

[RoaringRiot]

3 minutes ago, Nate Dogg said:

If it's not in the rules it should be. The defender clearly lunged to the head/neck area of Cam when he could've made a textbook hit in the strike zone.

Im not arguing that. I think we all agree on that. But it's not there now (as far as I've been able to determine) so we can't use a "should be" when evaluating this play.

[RoaringRiot]

3 minutes ago, electro's horse said:

Helmet to helmet contact is unavoidable. There's reasonable doubt as to whether or not it was intentional  

If a qb is in the pocket and helmets touch, that's a flag 

Regardless of position, if a defender leaves his feet and leads with any part of his helmet, that's supposed to be a flag.

when a defender literally has to jump up in the air to do it, well, kinda hard to claim reasonable doubt anymore is it?

 

But Cam wasn't in the pocket yesterday. So I'm not sure what you're getting at. He didn't lead with the crown. The video clearly shows that.