Newton's Prototype

[Mr. Scot]

It's been discussed many a time on this board. To whom does Cam Newton most closely compare?

The name that seems to get thrown out the most often is Ben Roethlisberger (that based mainly on his size). Daunte Culpepper is another in that same vein. Michael Vick is evoked for athleticism (don't see it myself) as is Vince Young. Jamarcus Russell comes up on the negative side (not seeing that one either). As far as who people want him to develop into, the names most commonly mentioned are guys like Donovan McNabb and Steve McNair. Others go for the whole "let him just be himself" thing, as if comparing him to someone else was a disservice (it isn't).

I'm gonna suggest, however, that based on what I've seen so far, Newton is in a different mold than the names most commonly discussed.

The names I'd prefer to evoke?

Brett Favre...

John Elway...

...and our old buddy Jake Delhomme.

Newton's not a pinpoint accurate passer like a Peyton Manning or a Tom Brady. And while he's young and coachable, I think it'd be a mistake to try to make him into one. Do you want him to be a pass-first, run-second guy? Absolutely, and you'll most certainly coach him up when it comes to technique, mechanics, footwork and decision making. But you still have to tailor your coaching to his skill set, and that's way closer to a guy like Favre than it is a guy like Brady.

Favre, Elway and Delhomme were all "gunslinger" types. Gutsy quarterbacks who trusted in their arms and in their receivers. No, they might not throw the prettiest passes in the world, and yes, sometimes their receivers had to work a little harder than those the more precise QBs had. Worth remembering also that these guys were all known for fourth quarter comebacks, but those comebacks sometimes were necessitated by early mistakes.

Ball placement accuracy tends to be spotty in these types, as is consistency. A typical game might feature throws that looked near perfect and even borderline miraculous mixed in with throws that looked like something the cat dragged in. Fans watching teams led by this type of QB have tended to ride a rollercoaster between "holy cow" and "what the #@%&" (something Panther fans should know quite well).

Still, more often than not, they get the job done :thumbsup:

To be clear, Newton's arm and athleticism are way closer to Favre/Elway than Delhomme. That's good, because if you're going to make tough throws, it helps if the velocity on them makes them difficult to pick off. Again, the passes might not be pretty, and they won't be as likely to hit a receiver in perfect stride, but "pretty" and "catchable" aren't the same thing, and I'll happily take a pass that's catchable even if it's ugly.

(I'll happily take wins that way too, thank you) :D

So have we finally got our franchise quarterback? If week one is any indication, yes. But people looking for a Brady / Manning / Brees type of franchise guy are barking up the wrong tree. Newton's not that, and trying to turn him into that is as likely to mess him up as it is to accomplish anything positive.

The better move: Take him for what he is, and make him the best he can be in that mold. Yes, it may mean going back to the "Cardiac Cats" style and looking up prices on home defibrillators again, but I can live with that. Just get 'er done.

Truth be told, gut wrenching as it might be sometimes, it makes for some pretty fun memories :lol:

[Marguide]

Great post. :thumbsup:

[Mr. Scot]

There's a sort of irony to it :lol:

Generally speaking, people who were calling for a 'franchise QB' during the Delhomme years had in mind a Brady / Manning / Brees / Ryan type (i.e. a surgical precision pocket passer).

Well, The wish for a franchise QB finally came true, but in the form of a bigger, more athletic gunslinger type.

Not much difference to me as long as he wins, but it does give me a bit of a chuckle.

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Why does he have to be compared to anyone? He is Cam Newton.

The only 2 people I can honestly say he reminds me of though are big Ben and Josh Freeman. He will be better than Josh Freeman though in my opinion.

We have no idea how is going to be yet. No reason to try to say who he will be like or not be like. Just let the man play and write his own story. We will see in 10 years if he is one of the greatest, out of the league, or sitting on the bench holding a clipboard somewhere. No one knows at all.

[JawnyBlaze]

Good post. I think his placement was maybe a little better than some are giving him credit for, though. There were a few great catches (Lafell and Olsen come to mind) that weren't placed great but there were some passes that were placed perfectly (a lot of the sideline throws to Olsen and Shockey, some of the crossing routes (although some were also thrown a bit high)).

I thought his placement was far better than in the preseason though. For example, the similar plays that were Smitty's first TD catch and the 20+ yard Armanti throw in the preseason. The preseason throw was behind and didn't give Armanti much chance to get YAC. The throw to Smitty wasn't perfect, but it was much better than the Armanti throw.

So while I agree his placement wasn't Brees or Manning like, it was far better than most expected.

[cookinbrak]

Randall Cunningham.......

[rico6]

Every tight end pass was a thing of beauty. I was actually shocked that Cam even threw those passes at times.

[Future of the Funchise]

being that he wears number one he looks to me as if he's the second coming of Warren fckin Moon. Which by the way would be unbelievably awesome if he's even a close comparison to that hall of fame man.

[Zod]

None of them fit.

Cam's prototype? Cam Newton

No NFL QB has ever had the combination of his size, speed, ability, and leadership.

[panther4life]

None of them fit.

Cam's prototype? Cam Newton

No NFL QB has ever had the combination of his size, speed, ability, and leadership.

Correct

[chknwing]

Mr Scot, This game haunting you? Cant Sleep? heh I mean "Today, 04:44 AM "

[KillerKat]

So just because he threw a lot and can throw fast, he's a gun slinger? I don't see Newton as that. I didn't see Newton fitting the ball into tight windows where most QBs shouldn't have thrown the ball. I saw Newton put the ball exactly where it should have been placed. Just because he can throw fast doesn't make him a gun slinger. Based on this game, I saw nothing of that according to your definition of one.

[Mr. Scot]

Mr Scot, This game haunting you? Cant Sleep? heh I mean "Today, 04:44 AM "

Look back at my history and you'll see quite a few posts made at late hours (insomnia).

None of them fit.

Cam's prototype? Cam Newton

No NFL QB has ever had the combination of his size, speed, ability, and leadership.

Not ready to go that far after just one game.

Let's at least let him play a full season before we start talking about all time greatness.

[Mr Smiley]

Not that opinion matters cause I'm a nooblet. But I started getting flashbacks of jake when he would just throw the ball to steve even though he was covered, and somehow steve would beat the corner. It was... INCREDIBLE..