The burden on Cam Newton

[lightsout]

Cam Newton threw or ran the football against the Eagles a total of 63 times out of 79 total offensive snaps. This is ~80% of all offensive snaps where we're asking ONE player to generate offense for this team.

Comparison from week 5 games. Numbers will be plays passing/running out of total offensive snaps and the percentage of that number (rounded to nearest).

Tom Brady: 42/66  64%
Jameis Winston: 49/68  72%
Aaron Rodgers: 33/58  57%
Dak Prescott: 40/72  56%
Russel Wilson: 42/66  64%
Alex Smith: 42/73  58%
Deshaun Watson: 34/57  60%


So, I picked out some "elite" QBs as well as QBs that are generally revered as good or effective. Now, this is but one game and Cam hasn't been relied on THIS heavily as an individual all season. However, Cam was asked to simply do too much tonight. And we STILL were in a position to win this game at two separate points late in the fourth quarter. As much as we are all down about the loss, that is encouraging. That being said, this cannot happen again. One man cannot be 80% of your offense unless that one man is scoring every drive, which is simply an unrealistic expectation. If Cam is having to be more than 65-70% of our offensive production and we're not blowing teams away, that is a problem. OL, RBs, Shula, Rivera. All need to step up and ensure that this does not happen again.

 

[Eazy-E]

Mike Shula eats paste.

[Dragoon11]

I agree.....I for one am guilty of "knee jerking" and putting blame on Newton......Newton has his faults, but being asked to carry an offense is too much for sure. And not having production AT ALL from RB position puts Cam in situations he shouldn't be in.......O-line has to get running game fixed immediately. Teams blueprint against us is STILL load the box and make Cam beat you with his arm. Can't expect him to carry this team.

[iamhubby1]

    I am sorry. But, asking your MVP type QB to carry you, is too much? Ok then.

 

    The last two weeks, both teams sold out to stop our run. And it back fired. Big time. Today? Not so much. If we are going to count on Cam being an MVP candidate. Shouldn't we be able to count on him in games like today?

 

    And yes, we had other problems. Catches that went for INTs. Muffs that were not recovered. But at the end of the day. Cam had two drives to win...

 

    I hate saying this. But this is one of those loses that is going to sting. We are still 4-2, so we are still in this. But man, this one stung.

[lightsout]

2 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

    I am sorry. But, asking your MVP type QB to carry you, is too much? Ok then.

 

    The last two weeks, both teams sold out to stop our run. And it back fired. Big time. Today? Not so much. If we are going to count on Cam being an MVP candidate. Shouldn't we be able to count on him in games like today?

 

    And yes, we had other problems. Catches that went for INTs. Muffs that were not recovered. But at the end of the day. Cam had two drives to win...

 

    I hate saying this. But this is one of those loses that is going to sting. We are still 4-2, so we are still in this. But man, this one stung.

It's one thing to look to him to do something to spark your team. Some of the other QBs listed are looked to as "getting wins for their teams" type of QBs as well. However, NONE of them are asked to either run or pass 80% of all snaps in the game.

Today was about situational awareness, playcalling, and lack of offensive support for Cam. Simple as that. You cannot expect any QB in this league to run 11 times for 70+ yards and throw 52 times for 225+ yards and get you a win. If that is what you're doing, your team needs to come together and beg that QB for his forgiveness, because it is simply too much.

[GoobyPls]

A lot people don’t grasp how hard it is for Cam to run and the next play he’s asked to stand in the pocket and dissect a defense. Cam was visibly exhausted going into halftime.

[Dragoon11]

12 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

    I am sorry. But, asking your MVP type QB to carry you, is too much? Ok then.

 

    The last two weeks, both teams sold out to stop our run. And it back fired. Big time. Today? Not so much. If we are going to count on Cam being an MVP candidate. Shouldn't we be able to count on him in games like today?

 

    And yes, we had other problems. Catches that went for INTs. Muffs that were not recovered. But at the end of the day. Cam had two drives to win...

 

    I hate saying this. But this is one of those loses that is going to sting. We are still 4-2, so we are still in this. But man, this one stung.

Guess it depends on what we mean by "carry". Needing an occasional drive to win a game is one thing, being the leading RB and passer every game is another.......Terrible play calling, all the things you mentioned and poor clock management exacerbates it.....Stings for sure, but still time to right the ship.

[iamhubby1]

13 minutes ago, GoobyPls said:

A lot people don’t grasp how hard it is for Cam to run and the next play he’s asked to stand in the pocket and dissect a defense. Cam was visibly exhausted going into halftime.

 

    You seem to sum up the thought process for most folks, so I'll answer you. Yes, this was a funky game. Cam gets his arm hit, INT. Stewy misses a pass, INT. Both in the Red Zone. Both lead to points. 

 

    With all that said. We had the ball twice in the 4th quarter, down by 4, and we did not come back. That is what I am talking about. 

 

    After all the crap that happened.  All we needed was a TD to win. We had 2 shots at it, and we failed both times. Doesn't our MVP type QB deserve some of the blame?

[GoobyPls]

8 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

 

    You seem to sum up the thought process for most folks, so I'll answer you. Yes, this was a funky game. Cam gets his arm hit, INT. Stewy misses a pass, INT. Both in the Red Zone. Both lead to points. 

 

    With all that said. We had the ball twice in the 4th quarter, down by 4, and we did not come back. That is what I am talking about. 

 

    After all the crap that happened.  All we needed was a TD to win. We had 2 shots at it, and we failed both times. Doesn't our MVP type QB deserve some of the blame?

I guess you missed the part where he dove into the pile on and tweaked his shoulder. He was throwing ducks after that, you think it was a coincidence? 

[iamhubby1]

2 minutes ago, GoobyPls said:

I guess you missed the part where he dove into the pile on and tweaked his shoulder. He was throwing ducks after that, you think it was a coincidence? 

 

    And there you have it. Cam threw himself around the whole game. But yeah, that one play made the difference? C'mon man.

 

    So, what you are saying is, Cam is hurt again. So, our season is lost. Cuz, without Cam, we are sunk.

[lightsout]

46 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

 

    And there you have it. Cam threw himself around the whole game. But yeah, that one play made the difference? C'mon man.

 

    So, what you are saying is, Cam is hurt again. So, our season is lost. Cuz, without Cam, we are sunk.

I'd say absolutely that one play made all the difference. He stayed on the ground for a bit after that dive, then seemed to realize that he was showing he was hurt and popped up. Then when we reviewed it, he jogged to the sideline and immediately started favoring that shoulder/arm/hand. Something happened to him that play, and some of his passes came out wonky after that play happened for the rest of the game, including the final incomplete to CMC. I'd say something happened where the ball just wasn't as comfortable in his hand and it effected his ability to throw as tightly as he had throughout the game to that point. Still did well from there though, just a throw here or there that didn't look entirely natural. Couple that with the times where his arm/hand/shoulder is being hit as he is throwing, it's understandable. 

I will say you were right. Two drives to win it, the first failed. Fine, defense bailed you out, got 2 minutes to drive the field and get the game winner. 3rd and 1, a stupid play call. 4th and 1, a stupid play call. Both cost us, simple as that. One of those, if not both, should have been runs with at least one being a Cam keeper. It's 1 yard. But oh well. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

[iamhubby1]

13 minutes ago, lightsout said:

I'd say absolutely that one play made all the difference. He stayed on the ground for a bit after that dive, then seemed to realize that he was showing he was hurt and popped up. Then when we reviewed it, he jogged to the sideline and immediately started favoring that shoulder/arm/hand. Something happened to him that play, and some of his passes came out wonky after that play happened for the rest of the game, including the final incomplete to CMC. I'd say something happened where the ball just wasn't as comfortable in his hand and it effected his ability to throw as tightly as he had throughout the game to that point. Still did well from there though, just a throw here or there that didn't look entirely natural. Couple that with the times where his arm/hand/shoulder is being hit as he is throwing, it's understandable. 

I will say you were right. Two drives to win it, the first failed. Fine, defense bailed you out, got 2 minutes to drive the field and get the game winner. 3rd and 1, a stupid play call. 4th and 1, a stupid play call. Both cost us, simple as that. One of those, if not both, should have been runs with at least one being a Cam keeper. It's 1 yard. But oh well. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

 

    Cam lays on the ground a bunch. Not every time mind you, but a whole lot. How many times have you seen him down on the ground. Only to pop up, smiling, and ready to go. That play may, or may not have hurt. But he was not down for long.

 

    And even if he was. We called time out, to let him get his bearings. He was playing possum.

[lightsout]

5 minutes ago, iamhubby1 said:

 

    Cam lays on the ground a bunch. Not every time mind you, but a whole lot. How many times have you seen him down on the ground. Only to pop up, smiling, and ready to go. That play may, or may not have hurt. But he was not down for long.

 

    And even if he was. We called time out, to let him get his bearings. He was playing possum.

You misread what I said. I am aware he lays a lot to play possum. This was different. The second they went to review whether or not he got in, he went to the sideline and as soon as he got there, dropped favoring his throwing arm. Something did happen.

[iamhubby1]

1 minute ago, lightsout said:

You misread what I said. I am aware he lays a lot to play possum. This was different. The second they went to review whether or not he got in, he went to the sideline and as soon as he got there, dropped favoring his throwing arm. Something did happen.

 

    As I am at home, I don't get to see all that other stuff. All I saw was as he rolled over, he was ready to be helped up. And he was headed to the huddle. Once Time Out was called, he strolled over to the side lines. He never, IMO, looked shaken.