Cam ranked smack dab in the middle of QBs according to some league insiders

[top dawg]

Per David Newton, according to Mike Sando's report, 26 league insiders ranked the QBs. Cam Newton came in 16th, the top of tier 3 according to their ranking.  

 

I have seen so many rankings with different metrics which probably provide a more accurate ranking as to where Newton really is compared to his peers, but this one seems purely subjective (even though I can't see everything being that I'm no longer an ESPN Insider).

 

You may ask why it's even worth mentioning. My answer is that it's just more par for the course in regards to Newton not really being given his due (which I suppose is the story of his young career so far).  I'm trying not to be a homer, and be totally objective, but it would seem that with what Newton has done---even if a good part is with his feet---that he would be ranked higher by the "league insiders".

 

According to Sando, one general manager called Newton "phenomenal'' and someone he would pay to see play. "He is a little bit like Ben [Roethlisberger] in that he is so physical," one head coach told Sando. "But he is so inconsistent. I would say he is a three. Some days, he's a one. Some days, he's a five." 

 

One defensive coordinator told Sando that Newton has "rare stuff." 

 

"You don't worry about him getting hit like you worry about other quarterbacks,'' the coordinator said. "He would be at the top of the list for me as a three because he is not a rare thrower, but he has rare stuff. I could see him elevating to a two, and it might just be winning past the regular season." 

 

 

Sure Newton isn't the most consistent thrower, but he made great strides last year as far as his consistency and overall game.  And he did so with a so-so receiving corps that wasn't necessarily consistent catching the ball, or consistent creating separation.  Moreover, Newton was at the center of a phenomenal win-streak and game-winning drives that included his ability to scramble, but also showcased his ability to make throws when they counted the most.  

 

Anyway, I guess that it's just another day in the media for Newton, and another day at the office for a Panthers fan.

 

 

 

 

[PantherWake]

Meh. We should be used to this by now.

[ctrcat]

I have my opinion too. As I've said, MJ wasn't the greatest pure shooter either, especially early in his career. Cam=MJ. GOAT=GOAT. More rounds the mental chamber for Cam.

[Hushed_Llama]

And they put Andrew Luck in Tier 1 with Manning, Brees, Brady and Rodgers. I can't take these guy seriously.

 

They even put Flacco, Stafford, Foles, Kaepernick and Eli above Cam.

[kls11310]

If you get better in nearly every crucial stat each year and have the best first 2 seasons by anyone playing your position EVER in the history of all time that should mean you're about average :huh:

 

everyone knows these stupid lists/rankings made by these 'experts' in the summer are to generate smack talk

 

i mean last year adam schein said we were one of the worst 4 nfc teams and cam was sorry, he predicted a falcons-texans superbowl lol he was all the way off....

 

can we get to the fuggin start of the season already

[Cary Kollins]

subjective anonymous grading...what could possibly go wrong

 

 

oh wait nick foles being "ranked" higher than Cam Newton

 

 

too many imbeciles making a living off of the NFL is all I have to say

[jtnc]

Luck has ONE fuging playoff win but these ass-lickers make it sound as if he already has a Superbowl.

[CarolinaSock]

Since I know these are the two guys most are interested in here you go.

5. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (1.50 average rating)

Luck doesn't have the track record of the other Tier 1 QBs, and there was a clear gap in the voting between him and the top four. But people in the league love him almost unconditionally, and 14 of the 26 voters insisted upon putting him in the top tier (each of the top four received 25 of 26 Tier 1 votes).

Explaining the tiers

• Once we had averaged the results for each QB, we rounded the numbers to the nearest tiers -- so that a 2.49 would round to Tier 2 and a 2.50 would round to Tier 3, and so on.

• Alok Pattani of ESPN Stats & Information added one point for every one-tier gap between a QB's average tier level and a voter's ballot. For example: placing Luck in Tier 1 created a 13-point penalty, counting one point for the 11 voters placing him in Tier 2 (one tier removed from his average) and two points for the one person who placed him in the Tier 3 (two tiers removed). Moving Luck into the second tier created a 15-point penalty (14 points for the 14 first-tier votes and one point for the single third-tier vote). This linear penalty system bumped Luck into Tier 1.

The evaluators think Luck has carried a subpar roster to a 22-10 record without much help. They see no limitations. They have zero doubt about his long-term stardom and felt strongly enough to give him 14 first-tier votes even while acknowledging he's below the Big Four at this early stage. Every other QB fell into the tier in which he received the most votes, and So shall Luck, even if his Tier 1 designation feels a bit premature.

"I'm not going to downgrade him because it's only his second year," a defensive coordinator said after placing Luck in the first tier. "He can put it on his back as a younger player, where some of these other guys had good help running the ball like Ben (Roethlisberger) or Matt (Ryan) or Russell (Wilson) or Joe (Flacco). They have had people you could hand it to. They say you can win with a young QB when you have a top-10 defense and a top-10 running game. Luck hasn't had either."

The Colts have gone 22-10 with Luck, while ranking 28th in defensive EPA and 24th in both rushing yards and rushing attempts by running backs. Luck ranks fourth in drop-backs over that span, trailing only Matthew Stafford, Brees and Ryan.

Still, there isn't much of an individual statistical argument for Luck's inclusion in Tier 1. His completion percentage (57.0) and passer rating (81.5) lag. His QBR score (63.8) ranks eighth and reflects significant value added through rushing. "Luck turns the ball over too much," one GM said in explaining why he left Luck in the second tier for now. A head coach called Luck "a two becoming a one" -- a comment consistent with the thinking of everyone who placed Luck in the second tier.

16. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (2.58 average rating)

Players with the ability to escape the pocket and run have less incentive to become polished pocket passers, according to some. That is one reason a number of defensive backs I've spoken with think Newton and others with similar skill sets might never move into the top tier.

One GM called Newton "phenomenal" and someone he'd pay to see play. He thought Newton needed continuity on the coaching staff and in the huddle. "He is a little bit like Ben [Roethlisberger] in that he is so physical," one head coach said. "But he is so inconsistent. I would say he is a three. Some days, he's a one. Some days, he's a five."

Newton appears to have no limitations. "I would say Cam Newton has rare stuff," a defensive coordinator said. "You don't worry about him getting hit like you worry about other quarterbacks. He would be at the top of the list for me as a three because he is not a rare thrower, but he has rare stuff. I could see him elevating to a two, and it might just be winning past the regular season."

[L-TownCat]

And they put Andrew Luck in Tier 1 with Manning, Brees, Brady and Rodgers. I can't take these guy seriously.

 

They even put Flacco, Stafford, Foles, Kaepernick and Eli above Cam.

 

 

That's not even worth a snarky post.  In fact there is only one thing this deserves...

 

[TheRed]

Why give this guy the web hits?

[PandaPancake]

Maybe its a conspiracy involving 31 other teams to get the Panthers fan base in an uproar to get rid of Newton so one of these other teams can scoop him up?

 

I also believe its orchestrated by Elway. I saw his giant teeth in the shadows.

[joemac]

I think Luck is a Helluva QB.....but 5th overall?!?!? No fuging way. He has way too many turnovers at this point in his career for all that. I think he and Cam are pretty much even with each other, and IMO would put them both in the 8-12 range.

[saints4life25]

There's not 15 QBs in the NFL I would take before Newton. He's definitely teir 2 worthy.

Although, for full disclosure, Andrew Luck would be one QB I would take before him. I know Panthers fans hate the guy though. Can't say I blame you.

[Oudaman90]

Same broken record. Luck is as good as 10 to 15 year HOF worthy vets and Cam is an inconsistent great runner. Stats and playing style similaries be damned. Rinse and repeat.

It won't change unless Cam has a irrefutably historical season. I for one would love to see a Colts vs Panthers super bowl just to settle this...