Interesting comments from Nmandi A. regarding Cam Newton.

[Lomax to Green 84]

I just saw on ESPN 2 a few comments from Nmandi A. (cornerback of the Raiders) regarding his opinions of Cam Newton and his potential as an NFL quarterback. Nmandi was asked if Cam Newton will be an elite quarterback in the NFL. He said that yes he thought he would be. When asked why, he responded that you can never discount a winner, especially one with that type of unique skill set. He went on to say that Tim Tebow was alot tougher to play against that what he thought he would be and that Newton's game is similar but with a better arm and throwing mechanics.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

You have to put the winner comment into proper perspective though. Terrel Pryor is something like 32-4 as a starter. That doesn't make him a good QB. Look at the team these guys play for, OSU has about 9 wins built into the schedule from day 1. Same with most bigger schools. I ie Newton credit for playing well in the SEC. That, I think, is the main thing he has going for him. Going to the Luck comparison, I think it's alot more impressive of him bringing a perennial also-ran to a top 5 team in the country.

 

[Early]

Cam Newton is horrible. He can make some stats against some teams that are not good and don't know how to plan against the double threath of passing and running from the QB position. But as we see again and again, not even the best of the best, Vick, has a slightest chance of winning the SB. Competition gets better later on and especially in postseason, and when you are not an elite passer, it does not matter how good you are at running the football. It's so easy to scheme against these QB's.

Vick is by far the best of these QBs, and when he can't do it, than i don't see any of the others making a SB winner as well. You live and die by passing the football, by your IQ and understanding of the game.

It's clear as hell that you need an elite pocket QB to win it all. Either that or just the best defense that the sport has ever seen.

Ponder is by far the best QB in this class. Cam Newton is not even close to some of these other guys.

Tebow is a special case because he really is very smart guy and a leader. He is not a great pocket passer, but he knows well where to go with the football, and he might develop into a good one. Cam Newton is impressive running the football, but his accuracy is horrible and his reads are extremely simple and primitive.

Watch Ponder make reads all over the field, move the safeties intentionally with the way he looks, he is lightyears ahead in terms of NFL skills compared to Cam Newton.

I think Cam will get some success in NFL. Vince Young impact or so. But i don't see him having a slightest chance of greatness, it will be easy to scheme against eventually, he is very bad in the pocket in NFL.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

You have to put the winner comment into proper perspective though. Terrel Pryor is something like 32-4 as a starter. That doesn't make him a good QB. Look at the team these guys play for, OSU has about 9 wins built into the schedule from day 1. Same with most bigger schools. I ie Newton credit for playing well in the SEC. That, I think, is the main thing he has going for him. Going to the Luck comparison, I think it's alot more impressive of him bringing a perennial also-ran to a top 5 team in the country.

I agree you need to keep the winner thing in perspective. I found the Tim Tebow comments the most interesting, however. Nmandi said that a big, running quarterback like Tebow was alot tougher to deal with than what he originally thought. Tebow had around 150 yards passing and close to 80 yards rushing against the Raiders.

If we don't take Newton, I hope he doesn't end up in our division. The Cardinals have been awful against big, mobile quarterbacks (Alex Smith is not nearly as fast or as big as Newton and has tore us up in the past). Same for Troy Smith. Imagine what a physical freak like Newton would do against our defensive backs if and when he got loose on a run.

 

[kerouac9]

You have to put the winner comment into proper perspective though. Terrel Pryor is something like 32-4 as a starter. That doesn't make him a good QB. Look at the team these guys play for, OSU has about 9 wins built into the schedule from day 1. Same with most bigger schools. I ie Newton credit for playing well in the SEC. That, I think, is the main thing he has going for him. Going to the Luck comparison, I think it's alot more impressive of him bringing a perennial also-ran to a top 5 team in the country.

Okay, but Terrelle Pryor plays in a garbage conference and plays maybe 4 good teams a year. Cam Newton plays in the SEC and dominated against very good teams and outright destroyed bad teams.

Auburn is not Florida or Alabama; it's the SEC equivalent of Arizona State or Michigan State.

Basically, Cam Newton turned a 5-loss team in 2009 into a national champion in 2010.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Okay, but Terrelle Pryor plays in a garbage conference and plays maybe 4 good teams a year. Cam Newton plays in the SEC and dominated against very good teams and outright destroyed bad teams.

Auburn is not Florida or Alabama; it's the SEC equivalent of Arizona State or Michigan State.

Basically, Cam Newton turned a 5-loss team in 2009 into a national champion in 2010.

Agreed, though adding the #2 running back in the nation and Fairley stepping it up were also key factors in their climb to national champions.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Michael-Dyer-72082

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=504101

BTW Dyer is great but Marcus Lattimore from South Carolina, who was the top RB recruit in the nation is special. Him and WR Alshon Jeffery are guys to keep your eye on. If Jeffery were in the draft this year, he would rank higher than Green and Julio Jones. Jeffery is almost a perfect combination of Boldin and Fitzgerald. Big, strong, can get YAC, but also is great on jump balls. He's the guy I'd love for the Cards to draft in 2012, he's going to be an All Pro IMO.

 

[desertdawg]

Okay, but Terrelle Pryor plays in a garbage conference and plays maybe 4 good teams a year. Cam Newton plays in the SEC and dominated against very good teams and outright destroyed bad teams.

Auburn is not Florida or Alabama; it's the SEC equivalent of Arizona State or Michigan State.

Basically, Cam Newton turned a 5-loss team in 2009 into a national champion in 2010.

Plus the original question and comment were about Cam being a good NFL QB.
People can bring up other players in stupid comparisons to Newton, doesn't make them true on bit. Cam can play on the field, he is not mental, not going to end up in prison, big time leader on the field, and can run or throw.
Truth is he will be a very good NFL QB, he has everything it takes to be a good QB.
Big Ben has two rape cases and two Superbowl rings, Vick electrocuted dogs and was considered for MVP for a minute this year.
Newton will be a good QB, his issues or red flags don't spill on to the field, never have. It will be forgotten once he is making big plays in a NFL game, then he will be the success story on some ESPN special. Hopefully as a Cardinal.
If you have been hating or in fear of his red flags, you do your thing. I know talent (that will make it in the NFL) when I see it. Don't flip flop on me now, keep the fear alive!

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

You have to put the winner comment into proper perspective though. Terrel Pryor is something like 32-4 as a starter. That doesn't make him a good QB. Look at the team these guys play for, OSU has about 9 wins built into the schedule from day 1. Same with most bigger schools. I ie Newton credit for playing well in the SEC. That, I think, is the main thing he has going for him. Going to the Luck comparison, I think it's alot more impressive of him bringing a perennial also-ran to a top 5 team in the country.

I dispute your comment about Stanford being an also-ran. They were pretty darn good last year with quite a few starters returning. Stanford was a better team in 2009 than Auburn in 2009.

Newton and Andrew Luck had one common opponent this year: Oregon. Both put up very similiar numbers vs. Oregon in terms of yardage and completion percentage. Both had multiple touchdowns against Oregon. Only one came away with a victory on the biggest stage in college sports with 37 days of guest appearances, interviews, other distractions between the end of the regular season and the bowl game.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

Cam Newton is horrible. He can make some stats against some teams that are not good and don't know how to plan against the double threath of passing and running from the QB position. But as we see again and again, not even the best of the best, Vick, has a slightest chance of winning the SB. Competition gets better later on and especially in postseason, and when you are not an elite passer, it does not matter how good you are at running the football. It's so easy to scheme against these QB's.

Vick is by far the best of these QBs, and when he can't do it, than i don't see any of the others making a SB winner as well. You live and die by passing the football, by your IQ and understanding of the game.

It's clear as hell that you need an elite pocket QB to win it all. Either that or just the best defense that the sport has ever seen.

Ponder is by far the best QB in this class. Cam Newton is not even close to some of these other guys.

Tebow is a special case because he really is very smart guy and a leader. He is not a great pocket passer, but he knows well where to go with the football, and he might develop into a good one. Cam Newton is impressive running the football, but his accuracy is horrible and his reads are extremely simple and primitive.

Watch Ponder make reads all over the field, move the safeties intentionally with the way he looks, he is lightyears ahead in terms of NFL skills compared to Cam Newton.

I think Cam will get some success in NFL. Vince Young impact or so. But i don't see him having a slightest chance of greatness, it will be easy to scheme against eventually, he is very bad in the pocket in NFL.

Regarding Christian Ponder, I wonder if you caught the game earlier this year against Oklahoma? If you didn't let me fill you in on how he did, 11 for 28
(39% completion percentage) for 115 yards, zero touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. So against a good defense he was absolutely horrible. That coupled with the amazing run of Florida State quarterbacks (sarcasm) to make and impact in the NFL and call me a bit skeptical of your assessment of Christian Ponder.

 

[DoTheDew]

Newton and Andrew Luck had one common opponent this year: Oregon. Both put up very similiar numbers vs. Oregon in terms of yardage and completion percentage. Both had multiple touchdowns against Oregon. Only one came away with a victory on the biggest stage in college sports with 37 days of guest appearances, interviews, other distractions between the end of the regular season and the bowl game.

The difference had nothing to do with Newton "being a winner" and everything to do with Auburn's D playing great.

Not taking the win away from Newton but you can't really give Newton the edge over Luck for that game IMO.

 

[Shane]

I know talent (that will make it in the NFL) when I see it.

Why aren't you making a living doing that then?

 

[desertdawg]

The difference had nothing to do with Newton "being a winner" and everything to do with Auburn's D playing great.

Not taking the win away from Newton but you can't really give Newton the edge over Luck for that game IMO.

I agrre with that, but also both offenses usually look way better, I think the month off contributed some, plus Newton's back was jacked up the whole second half, and he did convert a bunch of third downs too. I was kinda glad he didn't put up a record setting game, he would be going top 5 if he had one of his better performances.

 

[Shane]

I agrre with that, but also both offenses usually look way better, I think the month off contributed some, plus Newton's back was jacked up the whole second half, and he did convert a bunch of third downs too. I was kinda glad he didn't put up a record setting game, he would be going top 5 if he had one of his better performances.

BTW my avatar much better than yours.

 

[desertdawg]

BTW my avatar much better than yours.

Only because I was asked to take down my butt burger babe. (yours is nice)

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

The difference had nothing to do with Newton "being a winner" and everything to do with Auburn's D playing great.

Not taking the win away from Newton but you can't really give Newton the edge over Luck for that game IMO.

I'm not, but I am arguing the point about Luck taking Stanford to a top 5 finish as being more impressive than Newton leading his team to the National Championship. Stanford was a really good team last year (better than Auburn), so Luck leading his team to 12-1 isn't as impressive to me as what Newton did.

 

[slinslin]

Cam Newton is horrible.

Stopped reading there, clearly a pointless biased rant following such a statement.

 

[juza76]

I'm not, but I am arguing the point about Luck taking Stanford to a top 5 finish as being more impressive than Newton leading his team to the National Championship. Stanford was a really good team last year (better than Auburn), so Luck leading his team to 12-1 isn't as impressive to me as what Newton did.

right ..tell it to those wise mens

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

LOL! @ Ponder>Newton and LOL! @ Tebow>Newton.

Newton can play in the pocket and he is a passer first. Didn't he complete around 67% of his passes this season?

 

[Shane]

Newton can play in the pocket and he is a passer first.

Did you even watch him play?

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Did you even watch him play?

yes, look at his passing attemps vs. running attemps. He is a good passer who uses the run. In College his size and speed allowed him to gain long runs, in NFL it will allow him to get the occasional big yards, but what is really shows--to me--will be his ability to keep plays alive ala Big Ben or Josh Freeman.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I'll go ahead and say it. I've watched more Cam Newton then anyone on this board. That doesn't necessailry make me more qualified to judge him then anyone else, but I have shake my head when I read some of the assessments of him. I think half the peoples first time seeing him was the National Championship game and that game did him no justice.

Hes got a cannon arm. He's got great accuracy on the deep ball. And he is an absolute load to bring down and a sure fire guy on 3rd and 3 or less.

Not only that but he is a big time leader and charasmatic guy and plays his best in biggest moments. If you are going to take a chance on greatness at #5, Newton is the way to go.

HOWEVER

After the month leading up to the NC game, and after watching that game, I am not an advocate for drafting him with #5 pick.

He has bad accuracy on mid to short throws (see the 3rd and goal skip pass in NC game) only makes one read in that offense, and as Early pointed out, he isn't going to be the runner he is now in the NFL. THAT I guarantee and anyone thinking otherwise doesn't watch enough NFL.

My biggest issue is the work ethic at this point. There are alot of rumblings that he has a lot of Vince Young in him and thats not a compliment. Here is a scouts take thats very interesting.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/20468/comparing-newton-young-at-this-stage

He has some nice pieces to him and his past season is beyond reproach. However I am not betting Ken Whishenhunts tenure as coach and the franchises next five years on Cam Newton. No way no how. This QB decision is TOO important.

JMHO

 

[Krangodnzr]

LOL! @ Ponder>Newton and LOL! @ Tebow>Newton.

Newton can play in the pocket and he is a passer first. Didn't he complete around 67% of his passes this season?

This just isn't true. I can count on one hand how many games Newton had more passing attempts than rushing attempts. He is a run first QB, who on most plays had one read and then he would run.

And his 67% completion is a mirage, he's throwing to completely wide open receivers. IMO projecting him to the pro game is VERY difficult since he didn't play in an offense that is even remotely considered a pro style offense.

Comparing Newton to any prospect in the past few years, he's obviously most comparable to Tim Tebow. At least Tebow had YEARS of game film while Newton only has ONE season.

IMO he's a great prospect, but NOT for the Arizona Cardinals. Newton needs to go somewhere that has an established decent veteran that won't need him to play right away. This team needs some impact from their first round pick, and you WON'T get that from Newton immediately.

He's a trememdous boom or bust prospect, as far from a sure thing as any QB like him that I've ever seen. IMO Ryan Mallet is less of a boom or bust prospect if you desperately want a QB high, as is Blaine Gabbert.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

I'll go ahead and say it. I've watched more Cam Newton then anyone on this board. That doesn't necessailry make me more qualified to judge him then anyone else, but I have shake my head when I read some of the assessments of him. I think half the peoples first time seeing him was the National Championship game and that game did him no justice.

Hes got a cannon arm. He's got great accuracy on the deep ball. And he is an absolute load to bring down and a sure fire guy on 3rd and 3 or less.

Not only that but he is a big time leader and charasmatic guy and plays his best in biggest moments. If you are going to take a chance on greatness at #5, Newton is the way to go.

HOWEVER

After the month leading up to the NC game, and after watching that game, I am not an advocate for drafting him with #5 pick.

He has bad accuracy on mid to short throws (see the 3rd and goal skip pass in NC game) only makes one read in that offense, and as Early pointed out, he isn't going to be the runner he is now in the NFL. THAT I guarantee and anyone thinking otherwise doesn't watch enough NFL.

My biggest issue is the work ethic at this point. There are alot of rumblings that he has a lot of Vince Young in him and thats not a compliment. Here is a scouts take thats very interesting.

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/20468/comparing-newton-young-at-this-stage

He has some nice pieces to him and his past season is beyond reproach. However I am not betting Ken Whishenhunts tenure as coach and the franchises next five years on Cam Newton. No way no how. This QB decision is TOO important.

JMHO

Excellent, non biased response. Thank you for giving us an educated opinion of this kid. I too have seen quite a few Newton games and he impresses the heck out of me. I'm an Alabama fan and hated the guy for what he did to the Tide, but also became a believer in his ability. The passes he made against South Carolina in the SEC Championship game were bigtime. The fade route to the corner of the endzone was as pretty a pass as any pass Kurt Warner ever threw. It wasn't a scramble or a play where the reciever was wide open. The defensive back was in perfect position and Newton threw the ball to the only spot where his reciever could catch the ball.

The off the field stuff is concerning especially the work ethic rumors. Hopefully, he dispels those rumors.

What about taking a defensive player with the 5th pick and then trading back into the middle of the first round to take Newton?

 

[Matt L]

Someone posted about a podcast with Bill Simmons and Trent Dilfer where they were discussing the balance of a QB needing both the skills and the intangibles to succeed.

Bill Simmons wanted to Dilfer to say that the Broncos were right to draft Tebow in the 1st round despite the draftnik's warnings because so much of the position is mental and people who have personality to command are more likely to succeed.

Dilfer responded that the position demands a type of personality that commands leadership from his peers but also the skills necessary to make plays in small areas. And having the personality is important but without the skills, those leadership qualities will matter less if the player cannot execute (sounds a lot like max hall).

Dilfer wouldn't say if he thought Tebow would be successful or not, it sounded like he thinks that Tebow has a chance but will need to work on his mechanics in order to become a successful NFL QB.

To bring this to the Cam Newton discussion; a lot of posters state that his mechanics are terrible and that he cannot play well in the pocket. The biggest issue that I have seen of him when he plays and also what I have read on this board is that when faced with a blitz, he throws off of his back foot. I do think that this is correctable.

I think that I am on the fence. I really believe he has the potential to be a Ben Rothlesberger/Josh Freeman type to extend plays and get the ball down the field. He has exhibited an ability to throw with some touch and also the arm strength to get the ball down the field. That really is not a skill that is taught or learned.

I can see both sides, I can get on board if the team decides that he is worth the risk at #5 or if they decide (as I suspect they will) to pick someone else (I would take Patrick Peterson in a heartbeat at #5).

If it were my job to run the Cardinals draft, I would take BPA at 5 (Patrick Peterson hopefully).

 

[AzStevenCal]

If we were picking in the early to mid-teens I'd take a gamble on Newton. But, if players are going to be paid based on the existing agreement, no way would I risk a number 5 pick on this guy.

Steve