Charlotte Observer: Fact or Fiction

[teeray]

But the reason you gave for him doing that is the same reason a guy like Gabbert or Locker could... but Cam is the only one taht gets that label, despite the fact that Gabbert is apparently pretty close athletically (at least according to Buddy Nix, maybe a smokescreen!?) and Locker is probably *more* athletic... I dunno.

but you're right. I did ask. I shoulda known this is what I would get since it is the only way it makes sense. You did nothing wrong.I was just a bit mean earlier ;)

The reason I don't see it happening is there have been players that have been probably just as athletic, just as gifted, if not more so... and they didn't "change the game" so I dont' really see Newton doing it, either... but hey, it's possible.

I think this is where the real divide is with Cam Newton even among scouts. How high you evaluate Cam I guarantee you is directly proportional to how a person thinks his athletic ability translates to the NFL. Combine numbers don't tell you how athletic someone is. There are a lot of RBs with better combine/pro day numbers than D-Will. But D-Will knows how to use his gifts better.

But regardless I am 90% positive that the big divide between us and scouts is how much of his atleticism translates. I think it will translate very well and you don't think it will as much as I do. That is probably why we have such different views on the guy (aside from off the field stuff).

[King Taharqa]

Cam Newton will redefine the Carolina Panther fanbase and their idea about what is a successful NFL QB. FACT!

[teeray]

Freeman is nowhere near the threat on the ground that Vick is. The only way I see Newton approaching Vick's production is if he starts trucking people over.

Don't get me wrong, Freeman is exciting to watch and his strength is obvious, and Newton can certainly toss some of the smaller guys off of him at times, but that is TOTALLY different from being more productive than Mike Vick. My point was never that Newton won't be effective with his legs, but that he won't be effective in the same way he was in college.

Like I've said all along, I tend to think that if Newton is going to be successful it will be more in line with Big Ben (and now, Josh Freeman) than it will be Mike Vick... and there's *nothing* wrong with that at all, but it certainly seems unlikely he'd change the game that way even if he was an elite QB.

Josh Freeman ran a 4.90 40 and is still an effective scrambler.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=65150&draftyear=2009&genpos=qb

[mav1234]

Josh Freeman ran a 4.90 40 and is still an effective scrambler.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=65150&draftyear=2009&genpos=qb

I know he's a great scrambler but he is NOT as productive as Vick on the ground, which is fine... he doesn't need to be I think he had like 400 yards last year. He's very good at picking up critical yards as we know all too well and frankly I think Newton would be just as good (probably better) in that area if he could start making teams respect his arm more than his legs.

Sure, Newton's faster than Freeman but he's still no Vick. His speed was more in line with Vince Young's, I think, and Young was certainly deadly on the ground as well... but again, not Vick.

Cam Newton will redefine the Carolina Panther fanbase and their idea about what is a successful NFL QB. FACT!

Let's be honest here... wouldn't take much for that to be true :)

[jtnc]

Newton will be that spark on offense we once had with Delhomme.

[teeray]

I know he's a great scrambler but he is NOT as productive as Vick on the ground, which is fine... he doesn't need to be I think he had like 400 yards last year. He's very good at picking up critical yards as we know all too well and frankly I think Newton would be just as good (probably better) in that area if he could start making teams respect his arm more than his legs.

Sure, Newton's faster than Freeman but he's still no Vick. His speed was more in line with Vince Young's, I think, and Young was certainly deadly on the ground as well... but again, not Vick.

Let's be honest here... wouldn't take much for that to be true :)

Def doesn't have Vick speed. And you are right in order to be as effective as Vick he will have to truck some people. I honestly don't want him to run that much. Just enough to keep the LBs from bailing out into coverage and to force teams to maintain weak side containment.

I hate to sound like a broken record but I truly believe Cam will be great in the deep red zone amd those 3rd and short situations. He might not have the big plays Vick does but I truly believe he will extend drives better than most QBs.

Where he will struggle early on IMO is third and 9 and third and 10.

But we just won't know until football starts. Instead we will just continue to destroy one another until at least the draft. :)

I hate typing on my phone. That is why my spelling is so fugged.

[Stumpy]

Cam Newton will redefine the Carolina Panther fanbase and their idea about what is a successful NFL QB. FACT!

You are absolutely right KT. Watching him fail in Cincinnati will make us all realize how good we have it with teh Jimmay. :D

[Tarheels23]

Freeman is nowhere near the threat on the ground that Vick is. The only way I see Newton approaching Vick's production is if he starts trucking people over.

Don't get me wrong, Freeman is exciting to watch and his strength is obvious, and Newton can certainly toss some of the smaller guys off of him at times, but that is TOTALLY different from being more productive than Mike Vick. My point was never that Newton won't be effective with his legs, but that he won't be effective in the same way he was in college.

Like I've said all along, I tend to think that if Newton is going to be successful it will be more in line with Big Ben (and now, Josh Freeman) than it will be Mike Vick... and there's *nothing* wrong with that at all, but it certainly seems unlikely he'd change the game that way even if he was an elite QB.

The reason I think Cam can be more efficient than Vick is because I see him as a guy who can move the chains. Also I don't see Cam taking nearly as many sacks as Vick. You see with Vick, at lease early in his career it was either a big run or a sack for a big loss. With Cam I can see constant 3, 4, and 5yd gains with his feet, and big down the field throws to Gettis and LaFell after a play has broken down. Oh, and not to mention the many many gains D. Williams/Stewart will have up the middle due to DE's not being able to crash down to help or LB's having to spy on Cam. To me it's about the threat of the run, more so the run.

[teeray]

Ewwww. TH23 I actually disagree a little. That is my biggest concern on Cam when he first gets a chancw to play. I do think he is a better passer than Vick and is stronger so he will be able ro extend passing plays like Roethlisberger.

But I really worry about, especially when he is younger, holding onto the ball too long and not getting rid of it. But lots of QBs go through that.

[Udogg]

I would love to see a Panther QB shake off sacks like Rapelisburger does.

[Tarheels23]

Ewwww. TH23 I actually disagree a little. That is my biggest concern on Cam when he first gets a chancw to play. I do think he is a better passer than Vick and is stronger so he will be able ro extend passing plays like Roethlisberger.

But I really worry about, especially when he is younger, holding onto the ball too long and not getting rid of it. But lots of QBs go through that.

I worry too, but I think that's the type of style we as fans will have to get use to seeing. When I speak on extending plays, I'm speaking more on outside of the pocket than in.

[mav1234]

I worry about Newton running too often. He's going to take a beating. We've already seen that he can get beat up in a college game if he runs too much... He'll have to know when to live to fight another day.

I agree he'll be deadly in third and short though.

[teeray]

I worry too, but I think that's the type of style we as fans will have to get use to seeing. When I speak on extending plays, I'm speaking more on outside of the pocket than in.

Gotcha. He AT MAX is going to need to keep his carries around 6 or 7 a game. Maybe sometimes a little higher and sometimes a little lower. If he carries it 15 times a game he is going to have a tough time finishing a season.

I say he isn't a delicate flower but he isn't superman either.

I know that you didn't say he should run it that much I am just expanding on it some.

[Marguide]

It's a stretch to say Newton will change the game. This is no different than every year someone getting anointed as a once in a decade prospect.

But the game may be changing at the QB position out of necessity. There just aren't enough classic pocket passers to go around, as evidenced by how many teams need QB's this year.

Good coaches are going to have to learn to adapt their offense to what is available. It seems like every year there are fewer and fewer QB's coming out that fit the traditional mold.