The final case for Cam Newton

[Jackofalltrades]

I base it on watching his interview with Gruden, listening to him talk and knowing he ran an uber simple offense with a number system at Auburn.

[davos]

@CarolinaPanthers8789

I don't think its the wonderlic score that people are targeting that claim Cam is not that intelligent. Its more-so the interviews and specials that are made to showcase him as an elite prospect yet he comes across as someone who genuinely doesn't know much about offenses in the NFL and needs a lot of work. Btw, I'm just trying to play devil's advocate not saying Cam is actually unintelligent.

Imo wonderlics are garbage for the most part

[mav1234]

This really proves that Wonderlic’s are essentially garbage and they mean nothing. Some of the best quarterback’s have had the best wonderlic scores and worst wonderlic scores, then some of the worst quarterback’s have had some of the best wonderlic scores and worst wonderlic scores. I really don’t know how you would put much if any stock into wonderlic scores.

Wonderlics are only one measurement of intelligence. Teams also look at football IQ - how quickly a player progresses through his reads and how quickly he can diagnose a defense and respond. How do they react on the whiteboard and in interviews? Can they draw up their own plays? Can they tell you what happens given certain defensive formations? All this matters quite a bit. But I'm going to take a step away from intelligence, and look speifically at the Wonderlic for a second.

The game, and the draft process, has changed so much since the days of Kelly, Marino, Bradshaw, and Cunningham that it is hard to say what those guys would have gotten today. Today, the average QB wonderlic is 23, but beyond that, only 1 QB in the last decade to participate in a Superbowl has a wonderlic of less than 25 (McNabb). There have been a handful of others with unknown scores (Delhomme, Warner, Johnson). You can read a further breakdown of it here: http://fantasyfootballmetrics.com/Player_News/2011/NFL%20Draft/NFL%20Draft_2010%20Carolina%20Clausen%203-6-2011.htm It is worth checking out, if only to see how crazy the last decade has been with QBs above average wonderlic scores. Basically, Favre and McNabb have been the only quarterbacks *recently* to do anything at all significant in the playoffs with a known below average Wonderlic score.

I think the NFL has changed quite a bit - and so has the draft process. I think, in general, quarterbacks need to be smarter because defenses have gotten smarter. It's not enough now to be able to study hard and practice, you also need to be able to think and adjust on your feet. That being said, I don't think 25 is some magical breaking point and I'm sure at some point (perhaps Cam Newton? :) ) someone will buck that trend.

[Meg001]

were auburn fans having the same argument about him as we are before he went on a tear at auburn?

Yes! Even in my family, we were divided. My son, who attends Auburn and knew a guy on last year's team, was all for Cam, based on what he was hearing and seeing first hand.

Then we went to watch him play, and we started becoming Cam fans. He has a way of involving the entire fan base. It's like he's out there leading the team just for the fans, and he comes up with all these ways to make the fans feel part of the magic. There is a sweetness about Cam, and a driving energy that just makes you feel alive and happy to watch him.

My niece also knew some of the little kids Cam tutored last year, and they said he never missed a session.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I base it on watching his interview with Gruden, listening to him talk and knowing he ran an uber simple offense with a number system at Auburn.

If you're regarding his intelligence on that interview, all my credibility that I had for you is lost. Alex Smith played under Urban Meyer at Utah and had the same problem as Cam Newton; he didn't understand what to tell people regarding the offense they ran at Utah. However, unlike Smith; Newton did all he could to let Gruden and others know that there was not much to the offense it was simple and if a simple offense is going to win you a championship then so be it, but a stupid quarterback is not going to tear up the SEC, win a Heisman Trophy, and get drafted # 1 overall. I have already mentioned this countless times, Cam Newton has received a copy of our playbook and if he is the pick, then it is because the coaches believe he grasps it and has the ability to understand it.

Also, Cam Newton’s job is not to explain to all of you what he did out on the field, his job is to understand what HE and HE (ALONE) is doing out on the field. As long as he knows what he is doing I have complete and total faith in him.

Cam Newton did what Gruden asked, him he put up his x's and o's on the board (by the way did anyone notice that he has great penmanship) and explained the play. He explained it as in depth as one could possibly do it because like others have mentioned Auburn did not use a huddle and actually communicated their plays through the back-up quarterback on the sideline. The offense was designed to win a championship, not get Cam Newton drafted # 1 overall. If one really bases their sole argument of Newton's interview with Gruden then I can't begin to argue with you because you wouldn't listen if I handed you examples and evidence of Cam Newton dissecting and going through his progressions on a golden plate.

[Meg001]

Well, thank you for your kindness to an interloper. I'm off to supervise my hubby on his materials' purchasing for the next project on his (my) list. Bye!

[Jackofalltrades]

Stupid QB's can win a lot at the college level, where athleticism gets you pretty far- Marcus Vick would be a good example.

You're right, Cam doesn't have to explain anything to me, but he will to coaches and to teammates and that's where credibility is lost.

[Sword]

Yes! Even in my family, we were divided. My son, who attends Auburn and knew a guy on last year's team, was all for Cam, based on what he was hearing and seeing first hand.

Then we went to watch him play, and we started becoming Cam fans. He has a way of involving the entire fan base. It's like he's out there leading the team just for the fans, and he comes up with all these ways to make the fans feel part of the magic. There is a sweetness about Cam, and a driving energy that just makes you feel alive and happy to watch him.

My niece also knew some of the little kids Cam tutored last year, and they said he never missed a session.

thanks meg...I foresee if we do take him people will start singing a different tune sooner or later.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Stupid QB's can win a lot at the college level, where athleticism gets you pretty far- Marcus Vick would be a good example.

You're right, Cam doesn't have to explain anything to me, but he will to coaches and to teammates and that's where credibility is lost.

Please Read this.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Panthers have given copies of their playbooks to Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Mallet. They will test them on it during an upcoming visit.

That quote came from ESPN, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, and every other reporting website.

If Cam Newton is the pick, it is because on his return visit he explained to the COACHES, some of the schemes and plays in the playbook.

DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND?

[TruCatzFan]

Well, thank you for your kindness to an interloper. I'm off to supervise my hubby on his materials' purchasing for the next project on his (my) list. Bye!

No... Thank u Meg! That was great inside info!!!

P.S. Take it easy on those lists for the hubby...

They can become taxing! Believe me, I know!

[davos]

Please Read this.

That quote came from ESPN, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, and every other reporting website.

If Cam Newton is the pick, it is because on his return visit he explained to the COACHES, some of the schemes and plays in the playbook.

DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND?

yeah we do...and joat was just like giving you his opinion man :cornut:

[BBQ&Beer]

I base it on watching his interview with Gruden, listening to him talk and knowing he ran an uber simple offense with a number system at Auburn.

That's why we gotta trust our coaches & management. If Cam is picking up the play book he got from Chud & is showing he can learn great! Draft him. If they call on the 27th & find that he either can't or won't get it, draft someone else.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I understand, he was giving me his opinion. However, numerous times I have said this and I get the response of "well he will have to show the coaches he can progress through reads, dissect defense's, etc... and it's quite frankly annoying when I have presented the information countless times and it's ignored.

Honestly, if the coaches wouldn't have given Newton a copy of the playbook, I wouldn't be that high on him. However, the fact that they did means that Newton could be studying our playbook every day and come training camp time; well he will be ready to go.

[Jackofalltrades]

They gave Mallet a copy of the playbook too.

Also, at this juncture, I'm not certain there will even be a training camp.