Cam Newton wants to be Big Ben

[MattB]

Find me an NFL scout that thinks Newton is ready to step in from day one.

We're not getting a franchise guy this year, not from the draft or free agency.

This year's best hope is a stopgap, then try to get a franchise QB next season.

Why not try and do both? Get a vet and draft a QB and start him when he's ready.

[TheRealDeal]

Newton with the right training could be one of those guys. I will be interested to see his combine and hear what his personal coach has to say about him.

You expect his personal coach to say anything but great things about him?

[King Taharqa]

Here ya go KT, saved you the keystrokes.

We really seriously need to discuss "intangibles"

why this subject hasn't been covered in relation to Cam before now baffles mw

Going by what Cam's teammates and coaches say, they love having him around and his energy is infectious. Look at my sig and those Auburn fans reaction to Cam. He truly won that fanbase over (in 1 season) this season and made them feel every bit a part of his success. I like how he always tried to get them involved before and after the games. When you've got a guy who's won on every level every season, there's something to be said about his intangible qualities and his ability to lead. I dont think you can win that consistently without having that moxie and flair to lead.

[blackcatgrowl]

I agree but you've yet to share your opinion on his plays except that he's the bestest player evar!!!!!

You've probably only seen his highlights and therefor love him. You might be like KT and be an AA and only want an AA QB to succeed which is fine because you are proud of your race but don't make it like he doesn't have holes in his game. Before KT even know who Cam was, he wanted Pryor to be our QB next year.

Can you show me anyone (besides some posters on a MB) who thinks Cam Newton can come into a franchise next year and be an unquestioned starter from day 1?

Whoa whoa whoa... when did I say he was the "bestest player evar"?

What I've been saying, is that he would add a dimension to our offense that we lack. He CAN throw. He CAN run. With protection problems, he could escape sacks, and maybe even gain yardage, where pickles just throws it out of bounds.

He's tall, which will give him vision. He's big, like Ben, which will help him avoid going down. And he's FAST. My god he's fast for his size.

You're just looking at some polish issues in ONE game and calling the kid a project. Anyone can have a bad game. Example... if you looked at Aaron Roger's play from yesterday, you'd think he was terrible... but we know he isn't because of his record as a starter, his stats, and his ability to lead. We know he just had a mis-match on defense in the 2nd half, so can look past ONE game.

You need to look past ONE game for Cam too if you want to be unbiased.

[CarolinaKat]

Doesn't matter if he's pegged #1 or not...this team needs a QB. Cam has more to offer a team then any other random no name brand QB in the draft or free agency. I'm not focusing on black white anything...just talent. Clausen has none. But since you brought up bias....You can't honestly name a better choice then Cam in this QB draft without Bias. Or bias from the "scouts"

[panthers55]

You expect his personal coach to say anything but great things about him?

The guy has a professional reputation to maintain. He works with pro athletes. He has to tell it straight in order for others to value his opinion and seek him out. He might tell the media fluff but when a GM calls, he will give him the straight skinny.

[Zcustom]

Going by what Cam's teammates and coaches say, they love having him around and his energy is infectious. Look at my sig and those Auburn fans reaction to Cam. He truly won that fanbase over (in 1 season) this season and made them feel every bit a part of his success. I like how he always tried to get them involved before and after the games. When you've got a guy who's won on every level every season, there's something to be said about his intangible qualities and his ability to lead. I dont think you can win that consistently without having that moxie and flair to lead.

So basically he's a winner who is so polarizing people want to ride his coattails, even his slacker father?

Sounds like a leader to me, and a natural one at that.

I don't doubt that he's a project physically speaking, much like Josh Freeman, but I doubt he's a 3 year project, more like 1 (just like Freeman).

Jake lived off his intangibles for years, and look where that got him.

Now look at Pickles intangibles, not only is he not much of a leader, it was widely accepted at draft time that he was a bit of jackass.

Regardless, anyone making definitive claims about potential draft prospects should slow it down, as there are no sure things when it comes to the draft. None.

[TheRealDeal]

He's tall, which will give him vision. He's big, like Ben, which will help him avoid going down. And he's FAST. My god he's fast for his size.

You're just looking at some polish issues in ONE game and calling the kid a project. Anyone can have a bad game. Example... if you looked at Aaron Roger's play from yesterday, you'd think he was terrible... but we know he isn't because of his record as a starter, his stats, and his ability to lead. We know he just had a mis-match on defense in the 2nd half, so can look past ONE game.

You need to look past ONE game for Cam too if you want to be unbiased.

He's not that fast, 40 time between 4.5 and 4.6 is nothing special in the NFL and it's pretty common that Dlinemen and Linebackers run in that same range.

I said I've seen nearly every game his season. The reason I did a breakdown of the NC game was because most people didn't get to see him all season but everyone had a chance to see that game so they could dispute my points play by play. I have yet to see someone rise to that challenge. I could do it for any game this year but without a response, what's the point? I've spent a long time breaking down tape for a variety of organizations at a variety of levels but you don't have to take my word for it. You can watch whatever team drafts him EARLY and see how well he plays. If a team drafts him late, his chances of success increase exponentially.

I'm not against drafting him one bit. I'm against drafting him #1

[panthers55]

Whoa whoa whoa... when did I say he was the "bestest player evar"?

What I've been saying, is that he would add a dimension to our offense that we lack. He CAN throw. He CAN run. With protection problems, he could escape sacks, and maybe even gain yardage, where pickles just throws it out of bounds.

He's tall, which will give him vision. He's big, like Ben, which will help him avoid going down. And he's FAST. My god he's fast for his size.

You're just looking at some polish issues in ONE game and calling the kid a project. Anyone can have a bad game. Example... if you looked at Aaron Roger's play from yesterday, you'd think he was terrible... but we know he isn't because of his record as a starter, his stats, and his ability to lead. We know he just had a mis-match on defense in the 2nd half, so can look past ONE game.

You need to look past ONE game for Cam too if you want to be unbiased.

All you really have to do is look at Luck's performance against Oregon versus Newton's. Newton clearly was the more effective quarterback particularly in the second half.

[King Taharqa]

I don't doubt that he's a project physically speaking, much like Josh Freeman, but I doubt he's a 3 year project, more like 1 (just like Freeman).

And thats pretty much how I see Newton coming in. Not starting day 1 on opening day, but eventually being bumped up into starter halfway thru the season like Freeman did. That way you take your lumps and learn on the fly as a rookie, then come back your 2nd and 3rd year with that experience under your belt. If Tampa didnt play Freeman his rookie season, I dont think he would've performed as strongly as he did this season.

[MadHatter]

Neither one of those two could beat out Cam right now. What advantages he brings to the table with his athleticism and raw passing ability would outweigh any "arm strength" those two have. Just putting Cam out there would bring an excitement and attention to this fanbase that those 2 dont bring. It would give Richardson a lot of credibility and put him back in good graces with a lot of people. If Clausen starts most of next season, this fanbase will shrink tremendously by next offseason. Bank it! Those 2 dont score or win enough games to validate starting over someone with Cam's potential. Remember, Matt Moore couldnt even keep his job over Clausen even with all the cards in his favor and this team putting him in a position to shine. Neither one of those dudes step up when called upon, most other NFL franchises would've been canned these dudes and started over from scratch.

Only thing you see is a BLACK QB......nothing else matters in your eyes.

For the record, I would not be opposed to Newton....if we had a late 1st round pick. Guy is NOWHERE near a Top 5 pick.

[TheRealDeal]

The guy has a professional reputation to maintain. He works with pro athletes. He has to tell it straight in order for others to value his opinion and seek him out. He might tell the media fluff but when a GM calls, he will give him the straight skinny.

Disagree. Since the player likely doesn't have money when he's working with him, the coach's pay is likely tied to his draft position as an incentive deal.

You make me a first rounder, you get a better payday. Thus when he's talking to GMs, they are likely to hear the same thing. Also, any GM who calls a player's personal coach for input on drafting him should be fired on the spot.

[chknwing]

lol how else coul dyou persuade Jerry to take you with the #1 pick then to show your appreciation for the Steelers.

[blackcatgrowl]

He's not that fast, 40 time between 4.5 and 4.6 is nothing special in the NFL and it's pretty common that Dlinemen and Linebackers run in that same range.

Dlinemen can COMMONLY run a 40 in 4.5? Are you SURE you want to stick to that statement?

Linebackers I could maybe see running this fast... but still... if he can keep up or beat an LB in a foot-race, we're already upgraded at the QB position.

I said I've seen nearly every game his season. The reason I did a breakdown of the NC game was because most people didn't get to see him all season but everyone had a chance to see that game so they could dispute my points play by play. I have yet to see someone rise to that challenge. I could do it for any game this year but without a response, what's the point?

The point is that you took what could arguably be his roughest game all year, a game in which he was playing hurt for most of the 2nd half, to the point he got X-rays on his back, and used that as a criteria to show how bad he is.

If you want to have a complete analysis, go take his best game, probably the SEC game, or his Ole-Miss regular season game, and do the same break down.

Till then, you've just shown your bias.

I've spent a long time breaking down tape for a variety of organizations at a variety of levels but you don't have to take my word for it.

Trust me, I don't take anyone on the Internet at their word. Nothing against you personally.

I'm not against drafting him one bit. I'm against drafting him #1

Just because we have the #1, doesn't mean we don't have position upgrades to make. The #1 draft position is just that, a number. The impact position we need upgraded first-most is QB. We could have the 32nd position, and that wouldn't change this fact. If we trade down, we'll probably miss him. Then we're stuck with Mr. Scot's "Stop-gap" crap of confusion and proven poor performance.