NFLN made interesting point on Cam

[MadHatter]

This is how I pretty much feel. ATL's coaching and situation isnt as good as Philly's and that has the biggest impact on Vick today. Dudes act like Vick didnt have 3 and 4 TD passing games in ATL, he just didnt do it consistently because of the scheme and talent around him. The dude was a 3 time pro bowler before he went to jail and played in an NFCG (farther than he's gone with Philly at this point) but people still act like he wasnt talented or didnt display that talent frequently til he got out.

I don't think that is true KT.

Most people said that his consistency in the passing game was a big weakness while he was in Atlanta. He definitely flashed huge ability (even with his arm) while he was there.

[panthers55]

Don't even go there buddy, facts are facts. Cam Newton pales in comparison as a pocket passer (statistically) to the other QBs drafted behind him in the draft. The reason he went ahead was because of his running/agility/playmaking ability... whatever you want to call it. The last person to be drafted #1 with the same resume was Mike Vick. They happen to both be black. You brought it up, not me.

That isn't true. Last year Newton's passing numbers regarding TD/INT ratio, yards per pass attempt, completion percentage, TDs as a ratio to attempts were all near the top. I don't have time to do the comparisons but someone will I am sure. Use the quality stat measures above for Newton, Gabbart, Dalton, Locker and Luck and see where they fall. I am pretty sure Newton's numbers match up very well. Forget the running bonus, just his passing numbers were good.

[CRA]

I think what worries me the most is the throng of people saying Newton one-hops so many passes and has bad footwork. I know he's a work-in-progress. I know. But you want to see your #1 overall pick show improvement in those ways. Hopefully he does, but for some reason I'm just feeling bad mojo about Friday.

I think people twittering out every practice rep causes people to over evaluate.....well, practice reps.

Overall, Reed reported today it was fair to say Newton outplayed Clausen in Spartanburg.

Given the shortened camp, Cam looked better than most should of expected for preseason game 1....

...what is there to have mad mojo about. He is a big work in progress that looks to be ahead of schedule.

[mj4life]

newton has shown by word & by deed so far that he is willing to do the things to become a better pocket passer, but in the meantime we could spread teams out especially if we play shockey & olsen together. teams would have a hard time matching up with these guys & stopping the running game

[Montsta]

Do any teams in the NFC South have a Thomas Davis lite on their roster? That's what teams will need to stop Cam, just as Carolina developed him pretty much solely to stop Vick. The difference between the two, is that Vick relied on arm strength and his ability to move the chains on the ground, thus making coverage on his receivers and Alge Crumpler a lot softer. He has been interviewed by Mora himself and said he used to le the DVD's of game film stack up because he wouldn't watch them. Granted, I do think Philly has a better scheme and coaching staff that is uber QB friendly, but Vick is putting in the extra work now.

We as Panthers fans are lucky because we now have a bigger, stronger version of Vick, who is a perfectionist and is putting the work in before he's well north of 30 and has lost a little of that athleticness. There's no doubt in my mind that Cam will be a good pocket passer, but will also still have the ability to extend plays and make positive yardage on busted plays as well.

[CatMan72]

This only works for Carolina if Cam can prove he is an effective passing threat. If he comes out throwing a lot of interceptions, then they will play defenses that invite him to pass and discourage him from running.

So if we put Cam in the shotgun and spread out 4 wide with Olsen in the slot, you're going to play the run?

Good luck with that...

[Cyberjag]

what about as a downfield gunslinger? would that not work while he worked on his game?

I mean he might have a little Favre in him that is overlooked. While not ideal long term....it would open up the ground attack.

Favre was an effective WCO Quarterback who kept the defense honest with his vertical threat. Cam needs the same short and midrange passing game if he wants the same respect for his vertical abilities. Otherwise teams will just stack the line and shade their safeties deep.

[CatMan72]

Do any teams in the NFC South have a Thomas Davis lite on their roster? That's what teams will need to stop Cam, just as Carolina developed him pretty much solely to stop Vick. The difference between the two, is that Vick relied on arm strength and his ability to move the chains on the ground, thus making coverage on his receivers and Alge Crumpler a lot softer. He has been interviewed by Mora himself and said he used to le the DVD's of game film stack up because he wouldn't watch them. Granted, I do think Philly has a better scheme and coaching staff that is uber QB friendly, but Vick is putting in the extra work now.

We as Panthers fans are lucky because we now have a bigger, stronger version of Vick, who is a perfectionist and is putting the work in before he's well north of 30 and has lost a little of that athleticness. There's no doubt in my mind that Cam will be a good pocket passer, but will also still have the ability to extend plays and make positive yardage on busted plays as well.

Good points... the most important thing to keep in mind: Vick = 5'11" 190 lbs, Cam = 6'5" 250 lbs.

[chef17]

I think a lot would depend on Smith. If Smith plays like old and commands double teams then defenses will have a difficult time covering everyone. If Smith has lost a step and only draws single coverage, then defenses could have one safety deep and use one as a spy to help contain Cam.

[Montsta]

I think a lot would depend on Smith. If Smith plays like old and commands double teams then defenses will have a difficult time covering everyone. If Smith has lost a step and only draws single coverage, then defenses could have one safety deep and use one as a spy to help contain Cam.

This is true, but at the same time Cam is 6'5" 250. Not many safeties are going to be able to bring him down one on one. Granted I hope he slides 90% of the time on runs and doesn't hurt himself, but when the yardage is needed, 6' 205 lb. safeties will have their hands full for sure.

[CRA]

This is true, but at the same time Cam is 6'5" 250. Not many safeties are going to be able to bring him down one on one. Granted I hope he slides 90% of the time on runs and doesn't hurt himself, but when the yardage is needed, 6' 205 lb. safeties will have their hands full for sure.

I thought about that as well.......have you ever seen Cam slide? I can't recall it.

[chef17]

This is true, but at the same time Cam is 6'5" 250. Not many safeties are going to be able to bring him down one on one. Granted I hope he slides 90% of the time on runs and doesn't hurt himself, but when the yardage is needed, 6' 205 lb. safeties will have their hands full for sure.

I'm sure they won't stop him everytime. But I do think it would help contain him. Just play man coverage, Cam can run and nobody would see. At least with a spy, he knows somebody is watching him and may be less likely to take off.

[rayzor]

This only works for Carolina if Cam can prove he is an effective passing threat. If he comes out throwing a lot of interceptions, then they will play defenses that invite him to pass and discourage him from running.

lots of good QBs have thrown a lot of INTs.

what makes them good is hitting enough of the big throws downfield that they become a legit threat.

i agree that he has to be an effective passing threat, but INTs by themselves aren't going to stop that by himself. brett favre was an INT machine, but he was also a big play and TD machine as well.

[rayzor]

I'm sure they won't stop him everytime. But I do think it would help contain him. Just play man coverage, Cam can run and nobody would see. At least with a spy, he knows somebody is watching him and may be less likely to take off.

you don't want steve smith or greg olsen in single man coverage. you definitely don't want both of them. those two are going to occupy at least 3 defenders. you add in the cam spy and then that's 4. you add in 2-3 more receivers (doesn't matter if it's TE, RB, or WR) and you potentially have yourself a nightmare scenario for a DC.