Scott Fowler: Wins are Cam's litmus test this year

[top dawg]

Again, excuse me if it has been posted, but surprised no one put Scott Fowler's commentary on Cam here yet.

 

I would like to think that our tough schedule gives Cam an out this year, but after thinking about Fowler's article, I am in full agreement. Cam has to put up some wins this year, regardless, especially in the tight games (which you know we're going to have). No excuses! If Rivera ain't gettin' a pass, then Cam shouldn't either. It's the piss-or-back-away-from-the-pot moment.  And I love Cam, but he's gotta show more than he has shown (as does the entire staff, save maybe G-man). If he doesn't, then some poo's gonna hit the fan and we are going to be set back.

 

 

 I asked Panthers coach Ron Rivera once what percentage a quarterback’s play accounts for an offense’s success – or lack thereof. He came up with a very specific number: 55 percent.

Argue the number if you like, but I won’t. The quarterback is the mortar connecting every brick.

Newton has been good – sometimes extremely good – for most of his two years. What he hasn’t been is great, not in a team sense, not in the way that a quarterback wills his team to one fourth-quarter win after another. The Panthers are 13-19 since Newton arrived, and 2-12 in games decided by seven points or fewer.

 

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/29/4074136/forget-the-flips-cam-has-to-win.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

[TheRed]

Team sport. Newton has been the entire offense long enough. Let him be a quarterback.

Oh and don't you mean "sh*t, or get off the pot"?

[RoaringRiot]

L

[top dawg]

Team sport. Newton has been the entire offense long enough. Let him be a quarterback.

Oh and don't you mean "sh*t, or get off the pot"?

 

Good catch, Red. That could have been viewed as awkward (not trying to Call Cam a pussy).  I do think sh*t is too strong of a word in this instance because I don't think he's going anywhere (barring injury). I did however modify my statement to be more accurate---if not politically correct. 

 

I do believe it's a team sport, but like Rivera I believe that Cam is the cornerstone of the team.

 

 

Pie for the catch though.

[Kakarot]

Don't agree with the article. I'm one of the few who doesn't feel Cam has been given enough weapons on offense. If anything, IMO, wins are the defense's litmus test, as all the resources have been used on that side of the ball. Plus, as it was said above, this is a team sport. It's time this whole team steps up and puts some W's in the win column.

[JawnyBlaze]

Yea I've never been a fan of attributing wins to a single player or position in a game that's as much a team sport as football. If there is one person wins should be attributed to it's the coach and only the coach.

[FootballMaestro]

 

Again, excuse me if it has been posted, but surprised no one put Scott Fowler's commentary on Cam here yet.

 

I would like to think that our tough schedule gives Cam an out this year, but after thinking about Fowler's article, I am in full agreement. Cam has to put up some wins this year, regardless, especially in the tight games (which you know we're going to have). No excuses! If Rivera ain't gettin' a pass, then Cam shouldn't either. It's the piss-or-back-away-from-the-pot moment.  And I love Cam, but he's gotta show more than he has shown (as does the entire staff, save maybe G-man). If he doesn't, then some poo's gonna hit the fan and we are going to be set back.

 

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/29/4074136/forget-the-flips-cam-has-to-win.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

I know articles are going to be written like this during the off season. So no biggie, I get it.

 

Nonetheless, I think it would have been more humorous or convincing, if Fowler would have asked Ron Rivera, what % the Head Coach makes? Lol. 

 

How many games did Rivera blow the last few years, with his dumb clock management, late game defensive blunders, end of half offense, and his apparent  fear of scoring points when he has a 14 point or more lead, and/or when the Panthers are in a close games. I tell you it's more than Cam cost the team. 

 

I'll just leave it at that. 

[bleys]

Hard to argue Cam needs to win a game if he's near the end zone and throws the ball into the dirt just before his wide open TE...

[CRA]

Why didn't Scott Fowler ask Ron Rivera, what % the Head Coach makes? Lol.

I'll just leave it at that.

Rivera would be forced to address coaching without a complete defense if he answered honestly....hasn't played with one yet. Glaring hole last year in the secondary.....and glaring hole at LB year prior.

[CRA]

Hard to argue Can needs to win a game if he's near the end zone and throws the ball into the dirt just before his wide open TE...

Hard to justify not calling a run and letting Cam get a yard more so IMO. Short yardage throws are his weakness....and Cam has been stopped what once in short yardage to my memory for no gain?

[TheRumGone]

Hard to justify not calling a run and letting Cam get a yard more so IMO. Short yardage throws are his weakness....and Cam has been stopped what once in short yardage to my memory for no gain?

 

It's also hard to justify Cam not making that throw. We all love Cam, but he should have made that throw.

[top dawg]

Don't agree with the article. I'm one of the few who doesn't feel Cam has been given enough weapons on offense. If anything, IMO, wins are the defense's litmus test, as all the resources have been used on that side of the ball. Plus, as it was said above, this is a team sport. It's time this whole team steps up and puts some W's in the win column.

 

You are not alone in believing that Cam hasn't been given enough weapons.  My thing is though that Cam has proven that he can win with what we already had when he protects the ball, so I surely don't expect him to go backwards.  Even though I would have liked to have seen another legitimate weapon at WR acquired, I would like to think that a sure-handed, possession type WR---a safety gap---like Hixon should add to the offense, not take away from it. I also am holding out hope that Brandon Williams can get on the road to the promise that he showed in college (pre-injury). Ginn, Adams or Bryant will hopefully step up, and Barner could be that x-factor we are looking for in the run-passing game. Some of these guys should at least be able to make a marginal difference---show up sometimes---and many times that small margin is what it takes to win.

 

I would feel a little better if we signed someone like Winslow to add to the level of competition.  

 

I feel you on the defense though. But let's not forget that our overall defense was ranked 10th last year.  It should only get better this year. But like I said earlier: Cam is the capstone---the Panthers football Jesus. It's gonna be on him to consistently save the day when/if we're driving for the win in the final minutes.

[FootballMaestro]

Hard to justify not calling a run and letting Cam get a yard more so IMO. Short yardage throws are his weakness....and Cam has been stopped what once in short yardage to my memory for no gain?

 

I'm sure a better offensive line and play calling can/could do wonders for Cam's short yardage/goal line passing (along with better, improved or new receivers) next season?

 

Remember, things usually don't stay static in the NFL. Half the teams that were in the playoffs last year, won't be in 2013. This means the Panthers have a chance to (miraculously to many I'm sure) be one of them. If so, that means, Cam would have made some/many of those passes for sure.  

 

I'll just wait for the season to start and not make incomplete assumptions on a growing third year player. 

 

Personally, I think Ron Rivera has been the number one reason for this teams competitiveness, but lack of  ultimate futility/closing out games. 

[Dont Check My Chicken]

Poor coaching is the biggest obstacle to a winning season for the Panthers.