Next Gen Stats - Cam is the most aggressive QB in the NFL

[GoobyPls]

1) Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (24.9 percent of his passes)

 

No starting quarterback threw into tight windows more than Cam Newton in 2016, as 24.9 percent of his pass attempts went to a receiver who had less than one yard of separation. Perhaps this stat can help explain what thwarted any attempt at an encore from the PanthersPro Bowl quarterback. After an MVP season in 2015 where his Panthers team went to the Super Bowl, Newton came crashing back to earth to have the worst statistical season of his career. His 7.1 NFL-high touchdown rate from 2015 regressed to a career-worst 3.7 mark. The reigning MVP went through a ghastly stretch from Weeks 11 to 16 where he completed just 45.3 percent of his passes, which was the third-lowest by any quarterback in a six-game span since 1991. Newton's yards per attempt came under 7.0 for the first time in his career and the offense itself scored just 369 points compared to their league-leading 500 from the 2015 season. Newton completed just 30.9 percent of his passes into tight coverage, which was the second-worst mark in the NFL.

What this stat provides us is a reminder that few quarterbacks operate in an environment that creates a higher degree of difficulty. The Panthers offensive design requires Newton to hit high-degree of difficulty passes both deep and outside the numbers. Even his 20.3 tight window percentage on passes that traveled fewer than 10 yards in the air trailed only the Rams' quarterbacks. Additionally, Newton has had issues with bouts of inaccuracy, although as Eric Stoner of Big Cat Country asserts, there's a big difference between being an inaccurate passer (which Newton is not) and not being consistently accurate.

 

In recent years we've seen the Carolina front office almost overcorrect in an attempt to rectify this issue by drafting behemoth receivers like Kelvin Benjaminand Devin Funchess. The trouble with that approach is that they only serve to extrapolate the high-degree of difficulty for their quarterback. Benjamin checked in with the lowest average separation on his targets (1.8 yards) and Funchess, who barely got on the field anyway, came in with the fourth lowest (2.0) among receivers who saw 20 or more targets. Again, some of that comes back to the scheme Carolina runs and Benjamin has shown some prowess winning at the catch point. Still, the Panthers would be wise to alter their approach with Newton in the same way the Steelers once did with Ben Roethlisberger, as Around the NFL's Chris Wesseling suggests. This also suggests that the Panthers need to explore acquiring another receiver who can quickly separate in their routes to provide Newton an easier target for easier completions, rather than constantly asking him to rifle passes into the tight windows provided by his current mammoth wideouts.

[GoobyPls]

So for those saying we don't need wide receivers just read the tidbit which points out KB gets the least separation of any WR in the league and Funchess is 3 slots behind him as the 4th worst WR when it comes to separation.

[Bartin]

5 minutes ago, GoobyPls said:

So for those saying we don't need wide receivers just read the tidbit which points out KB gets the least separation of any WR in the league and Funchess is 3 slots behind him as the 4th worst WR when it comes to separation.

But but catch radius

[t96]

1 hour ago, GoobyPls said:

So for those saying we don't need wide receivers just read the tidbit which points out KB gets the least separation of any WR in the league and Funchess is 3 slots behind him as the 4th worst WR when it comes to separation.

I'm not saying WR can't be improved, but I will say we won't know what we really have in our wideouts until we change to a system that can actually utilize the players. 

[iamhubby1]

1 hour ago, GoobyPls said:

So for those saying we don't need wide receivers just read the tidbit which points out KB gets the least separation of any WR in the league and Funchess is 3 slots behind him as the 4th worst WR when it comes to separation.

 

I do believe there are far more folks on here who agree with the assertion that we do indeed need WR help. Specifically, one who can get separation right off the line.

 

The debate comes on where do we get that talent? Some folks say a Vet, and we do have some money. Some say in the draft, and we do have some good draft position. And others, like me, think we need to do both.

 

KB, and Funch, are both pretty good for what they do. And there really is a chance for growth in both. But we need speed on this team. I know you agree with that.

[iamhubby1]

7 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

I'm not saying WR can't be improved, but I will say we won't know what we really have in our wideouts until we change to a system that can actually utilize the players. 

 

I think it is even more simple than that. Teach our WRs to quit rounding off their routes. Clean, and crisp, cuts. Maybe throw in a head fake every so often. I know we use the whole route tree. Maybe teach your guys how to run them well enough to get open?

 

Who ran that sloppy double move on Grimes late in the game? Grimes played it like he knew it was coming. I want to sayTeddy, but I ain't too positive. Anyway, it only underscores how bad the route running is. How Grimes abused us in about 4 different plays. All after barely testing him all game?

 

To my eye test, our WRs improved their pass catching. I mean, even Teddy used his hands well this year. KB, and Funch have better hands than route running. Anyway, I am alarmingly proud of how our guys catch the ball. I mean, am I the only one who saw less body catching this year?

 

But what good does improved pass catching do, if you can't get open?

 

Or, we could just add more speed. That would probably help as well. 

 

 

[GoobyPls]

25 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

I'm not saying WR can't be improved, but I will say we won't know what we really have in our wideouts until we change to a system that can actually utilize the players. 

A change is scheme can only do so much, opposing defenses are going straight up man to man against our receivers cause they know they can't separate.

 

I don't mind having one big body guy on the field, mainly KB since I've seen him make difficult catches time and time again. But Funchess and KB together makes it just way to easy on a defense.

[Jangler]

We need speed. 

[CarolinaPride90]

i'm in 1000% agreement of this article, we have to get some WR's who can get separation. KB & Funch are towers and can be tracked and located easily.

[uncfan888]

1 hour ago, Jangler said:

We need speed. 

If only we had someone on the team that could fly like a Byrd.... 

[kent]

as far as I've watched games, Ginn is still capable of our ace receiver like in '15 season.

Stop playing KB as #1WR. That's the first priority.

[SOJA]

This is why I say we need to draft someone who can stretch the field or is an excellent route runner. 

I truly don't know if Mike Williams is either of those- need to do more research.

[Ace_Aladdin]

This not new , I have said it for while size doesn't help you win if canny create separation. 

 

Funchess brings nothing to the game that Kb & Olsen doesn't provide. 

 

We need a  #2 with speed and quickness 

[CRA]

A more detailed way of saying when Ted Ginn is your best WR you got issues

Probably would have been better off running Ginn and Philly as primary targets more all year.  Philly sucks too... but Cam has more room to make bad WRs good with them.  

i agree about the over correction of size. We were running almost 3 TE looks. Talent wise it wouldn't be much different if NE split Gronk and Bennett out wide and had another TE working the normal role.