John Clayton: Changing of the guard in the NFC South

[tiger7_88]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/lastcall1309/nfl-john-clayton-last-call-week-9

Here's what we learned in Week 9:

1. Changing of the guard in NFC South: The Carolina Panthers' 34-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons was a statement game. For years, the Panthers have been staring up at the New Orleans Saints and Falcons. Sunday's victory put them at 5-3, three games ahead of the Falcons and only a game behind the division-leading Saints. After four straight non-winning seasons, the Panthers are back to being a player.

All of a sudden, the Panthers have an edge in personnel over the Falcons, who had won seven of the previous nine games against Carolina. The Panthers have a defensive front seven that can overpower the Falcons' offensive line. Cam Newton may not put up the same numbers as Matt Ryan, but he can compete with him, particularly when the Falcons don't have Roddy White and Julio Jones.

Things can't be more positive for the Panthers. Jonathan Stewart came off the physically unable to perform list last week and led the team with 43 rushing yards Sunday. The Panthers, who had 131 rushing yards total, once again have a one-two punch of Stewart and DeAngelo Williams. Newton, the only player in NFL history with 53 touchdown passes and 26 rushing touchdowns in his first 40 games, had to run only five times.

The Falcons are 2-6 and out of it. "We have many different problems," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. Indeed they do.

[Darth Biscuit]

That's great but "Cam may not be able to put up the same numbers as Matt Ryan..."  wtf?

 

Has he looked at Cam's #s?

[Kettle]

That's great but "Cam may not be able to put up the same numbers as Matt Ryan..."  wtf?

 

Has he looked at Cam's #s?

Maybe he means the INTs.

[The Huddler]

You're damn right Clayton.

[Darth Biscuit]

Maybe he means the INTs.

 

idk what he means... 

 

Maybe I'm biased, but I don't see Ryan as being a great NFL QB.  I'm not saying he's a bad QB, but he's not all that.

[Kettle]

  Newton, Cam TDS 13 INT 7 YDS 1,801 RTG 93.1

 

 

  Ryan, Matt  TDS 15 INT 10 YDS 2,442 RTG 91.7

 

It certainly isn't the rating.

[tondi]

There isn't a team in the league that would take the long necked Ice Man over Cam.

[L-TownCat]

idk what he means... 

 

Maybe I'm biased, but I don't see Ryan as being a great NFL QB.  I'm not saying he's a bad QB, but he's not all that.

 

If all 32 teams started over Matt Ryan would be one of the guys a team would want to build around, after Manning, Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Luck, Cam, Rivers, Rothlesberger, Eli, Romo, Stafford, Cutler, Kaepernick, Wilson, Flacco, Dalton ah you get the point.  He's good man.

[csx]

I don't think Cam will be throwing 30 tds a year. At least now. That's how I  interpreted it.

[WOW!!]

Put Cam 1st 3 years against Ryans 1st 3 years and this conversation gets really pathetic.

[WOW!!]

  Newton, Cam TDS 13 INT 7 YDS 1,801 RTG 93.1

 

 

  Ryan, Matt  TDS 15 INT 10 YDS 2,442 RTG 91.7

 

It certainly isn't the rating.

 

And let's not add in the rushing numbers because then it becomes a foolish conversation.

[Peppers90 NC]

That's great but "Cam may not be able to put up the same numbers as Matt Ryan..."  wtf?

 

Has he looked at Cam's #s?

i think he means 40-60 pass attempts in a single game

[CatMan72]

So Cam is the ONLY player in NFL history with 53 passing TD's and 26 rushing TD's in his first 40 games but he doesn't put up the same numbers as Ryan? 

 

What individual number is more important for a QB than scoring TD's? LOL

[SmashNDash]

Outside of him saying Cam can't put up Ryan's numbers, I agree.  We have a solid young team that's only going to get better.  The Falcons went all in on the last couple years, sacrificing several picks for Julio and trying to load up their offense to make a run.  Now their failure is realized, their defense is pretty pathetic, Gonzo will retire after this year, and White is on the backend of his career, and they're trapped in a 100 million dollar contract with a slightly above average at best QB. They are several years behind us at this point.