Cam Newton Public Workout

[rayzor]

David Carr and Joey Harrington were deemed to be #1 worthy by most of the scouts in that draft, so what's your point?

meh...not really true at all. there were huge question marks about both. both were considered far from being a sure thing and were ranked highly with the understanding that it was a weak QB class. the teams that drafted them took them because they were desperate for a QB. texans were a brand new team and wanted to get the best QB in the draft to build around. lions were just horrible across the board and were trying to rebuild their offense. both teams made huge reaches out of desperation and regretted it for years.

[koolkatluke]

that was actually one of the huge knocks on The Golden Calf of Bristol. he had the misfortune of playing on a team that didn't do much of anything to prepare him for playing in the pros. that didn't mean that he wouldn't be able to do well, just that it would take a good bit of work to get him there. same with newton. i think newton is more pro ready than The Golden Calf of Bristol was, fwiw.

Pretty much the same problem but worst becuase The Golden Calf of Bristol was in that system for 4 years.

[TheRealDeal]

I'm not sure Luck is either. Anyway, how long do you think it will be before another QB with Cam Newton's potential comes along? If he can shore up his mechanics and learn how to run an NFL offense, he actually has a much higher ceiling than Luck does.

I don't know if it's higher but it will be pretty high. The thing is those things aren't easy to do. If they were, anyone could be a pro QB. Lots of guys have physical tools, some better than others, not many guys can read an NFL defense.

So what you are saying is all he has to do is learn to throw better, take better drops, and learn to read a defense and he'll be fine right?

You don't take that player in the first round let alone the first pick when you need that person to play right now. You take that person if you can afford to let him sit.

[teeray]

You can believe whatever you want that comes out of the FO. I don't fault you for that.

I understand QB is a priority, but not just any QB. I see you have trouble with reading comprehension and so forth because you still haven't fully understood the difference between Cam's workout and other college players workouts (Pro days) so I'm going to say it to you this way.

They didn't make getting a project a priority. They want someone to compete right away. That doesn't exist in this draft and if it did Newton isn't the top candidate for that.

This is ignoring the fact that this release is one of the oldest tricks in the book and shouldn't even be considered when making a point.

Jimmy Clausen had a workout that wasn't Pro Day just last year.

Who says these guys are projects?? People said the same stuff about Josh Freeman and Big Ben and both of them played really well as rookies.

[rayzor]

I'm not sure Luck is either. Anyway, how long do you think it will be before another QB with Cam Newton's potential comes along? If he can shore up his mechanics and learn how to run an NFL offense, he actually has a much higher ceiling than Luck does.

i think that newton has a very high ceiling, but he has nowhere near the ceiling that luck has. anyways, luck was ready to go out of the gate. easy day one starter with no reservations. newton isn't that. he has to have a lot of things fall into place before he can come close to reaching that potential.

[TheRealDeal]

The only once in a decade talent to come out at QB as of late was Russell.

If there was a once in a decade like talent I would say draft him no matter what position but there isn't so lets sure up our largest deficiency with our high pick.

Wrong. Russell was not a talent, let alone a once in a decade talent. He was a big arm that people fell in love with. Don't let that happen here.

As for the second part, why fill a position of need with a project when you can fill another position of need with a contributor?

[blackcatgrowl]

He didn't say he was blown away by his footwork. He said he was blown away with the results, the improvement. Meaning that his footwork was an issue but in the limited time, the results blew him away.

"He has really made some giant strides in getting this routine from under center down."

That mostly has to deal with taking a snap and footwork. Someone who doesn't have an issue with something doesn't need to take giant strides. Cam took giant strides with his footwork. If you can't see that it was an issue before then I'm sorry, you are being very stubborn.

Really? Is that what he said TRD?

First off, lets see who Mr. George Whitfield Jr. is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Whitfield_Jr.

While at the University of Iowa, George coached future NFL standouts Bob Sanders (Colts), Dallas Clark (Colts), Nate Kaeding (Chargers), Ladell Betts (Redskins), Robert Gallery (Raiders), Eric Steinbach (Browns) and Aaron Kampman (Packers). After a successful season with the Hawkeyes George moved to San Diego to continue his training. As a result of his training and hard work he began to garner interest from some Arena League teams. During a four year period from 2003-2007 George had short stints with four different teams, the Chicago Rush, Bossier - Shreveport Battle Wings, Louisville Fire, and the now defunct Memphis Xplorers. After the 2007 season George made what he has called "one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make," and hung up his cleats for good. During the summer of 2007 he was an intern under Cam Cameron, who at the time was the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. George worked with all the quarterbacks at camp including a young standout named Philip Rivers.

Whitfield Athletix

In 2004 he established Whitfield Athletix, a specialized quarterback training firm based out of San Diego, CA. George works mostly with high school students based primarily in the Southern California region training them in the ways of the quarterback position helping them to enhance and developed their skills from the very basic levels to the complex levels often using training methods used by NFL quarterbacks. Thus far George has trained quarterbacks from 20 different states.

Besides training Whitfield also has also hosted two Whitfield Quarterback Showcases in which athletes all over the nation have gone to San Diego to display their abilities in front of college scouts.

Whitfields credentials include working with the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise quarterback, 'Big Ben' Roethlisberger, during his NFL Mandated 4 game suspension at the beginning of the 2010 NFL season. Roethlisberger was not permitted to practice with his teammates or any member of the Steelers staff, so he sought out training help from Whitfield.

Wow. Impressive resume. He's worked with some real talent. I wonder if he knows Coach Rivera because of the San Diego ties? I'd have to look at the timeline... but I bet they are at least familiar with each other.

Now, lets see what George Whitfield Jr. is really saying:

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/01/auburns_heisman_winner_working.html

George Whitfield Jr. says there's a lot to like about Cam Newton, from his playfulness to his willingness to learn, from his aptitude for football to his love for his family.

But in the world of big-time sports, Whitfield finds something even more intriguing about the former Auburn quarterback.

"No quarterback in the NFL has his physical attributes," he said.

That's high praise from Whitfield, who runs a private quarterback school in San Diego, where his 6-foot-6, 250-pound prized pupil arrived last Monday and will be there at least another month as he prepares for the NFL Combine and the NFL Draft.

Few college players have received as much publicity and as much scrutiny in a single season as Newton did on the way to his Heisman Trophy, but Team Newton and Whitfield have devised a plan to keep the quarterback in the public's consciousness. Newton will be in front of the media again on Feb. 10 in San Diego for an unusual exhibition of his skills. NFL scouts can't attend, by rule, but Newton's performance will certainly be analyzed pubilcly.

Drop-back passer

Cam Newton reports to Whitfield each day with football and notebook in hand. One is as important as the other, says Whitfield, whose pupils have included Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger.

A typical day consists of Newton learning how to be a drop-back passer after spending his college career in the shotgun, mixed with film study and other classes.

Whitfield Jr. is Cam Newton's private coach

"The public really won't see it in his public exhibition, but the NFLcoaches will get to see how much he understands the game when they interview him," Whitfield said. "That will be the part I think people will really be blown away by -- just how well versed he is in the defense's coverages."

On the field, Whitfield said, "we're doing some polishing and refinement of footwork and we're tinkering with his gun barrel a little bit on how he's shooting different throws out."

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projects Newton as the 10th overall pick. Whitfield says the NFL will be impressed with Newton leading up to the draft.

"He genuinely wants to get things right. ... He can watch, study, get it and apply it. He's got it down."

Whitfield remarked on the togetherness of the Newton clan, which came under the microscope during the season when Cecil Newton Sr. was accused of seeking money from Mississippi State boosters for his son to play in Starkville. Later, Auburn limited Cecil's access to the program.

"It's a very tight family. It's like watching three best friends paling around the city," Whitfield said. "I feel sorry for their poor dad. They get on him with jokes and headlocks. It's such a dynamic to see, knowing how much they've gone through. You always feel like you should say, 'Don't you know all of this is going on around you?' But they are happy as a group. They're here to support Cam and me. I call it Team Newton. They've really been great to work with."

Cecil Newton Sr. was involved in an unintended headline when his son's media exhibition was first announced.

"I hated that his dad's name got stuck to that (as Cecil's idea)," Whitfield said. "His dad bounced it off of me, but the genesis behind that (was Whitfield's). I think Cam is ready. It will be a unique experience. The whole essence of this media workout is to unveil his progress midway through. We're not even halfway through his process.

"No one in this camp wants to sit and wait until Cam's Pro Day (at Auburn) to show how clean he is in his drops, how well he's adjusted, how well he's doing. We're committed to have a big test live and in public."

The test will drill him on all aspects, Whitfield said.

"I'm going to push him to show not only his aptitude for the drop-back game, but his conditioning, his arm conditioning, his power, his touch. I don't know a whole lot of other quarterbacks who would do this."

Looks like he is planning on going to the Combine.

So TRD... I'll take Mr. Whitfield's evaluation on what he sees over your's and Mr. Scot's take.

[carolinanimal]

We didn't see getting a QB of the future as a need. We didn't see getting a project QB as a need. We saw getting a very advanced, polished player that could contribute right away at the QB position as a need.

No one fits that need anymore. Time to move on to another need.

so what your saying is the fo was willing to draft a qb, but was expecting him to start right away and be awesome? even for almighty andrew luck that would be tough. he would have to still adjust to the nfl. agian, if they were going to take a qb with the 1st pick , why wouldnt they now? is qb no longer a need? it must still be since they said it in the article in the observer. even if the top prospect in years in not there isnt qb still the biggest need on this team? if they all of a sudden just dropped the need for that, it would be like saying because you cant buy a mclaren f1 you wont buy a car at all!:eek6:

If they thought they had there qb of the future, there wouldnt be much talk about us taking luck, they wouldnt have articles talking about qb is the biggest need of the team. what would have happened to clausen if luck got drafted? probably 3rd string. so now how come he is our future all of a sudden? did he get better by default?'

[rayzor]

Pretty much the same problem but worst becuase The Golden Calf of Bristol was in that system for 4 years.

true, but i don't know that it makes him worse. newton was in 3 systems that were very similar.

[koolkatluke]

Neither was Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, or Ben Roethlisberger when they came out but two of those guys are SB champs and the other a perennial Pro Bowler.

The only once in a decade talent to come out at QB as of late was Russell.

And there are NO prospects being described as a once in a decade talent in this draft. All of them have strengths and weaknesses.

If there was a once in a decade like talent I would say draft him no matter what position but there isn't so lets sure up our largest deficiency with our high pick.

No scout's were questioning his work habit and mental capacity. So no you would be wrong Russell was not a Once in a decade type player. He was a athlete but not a all around prospect.

[TheRealDeal]

Jimmy Clausen had a workout that wasn't Pro Day just last year.

Who says these guys are projects?? People said the same stuff about Josh Freeman and Big Ben and both of them played really well as rookies.

Was it only open to media? Was it for a specific team? I don't remember this please fill me in.

We've been over big ben and freeman. Neither of them had the concerns newton has, next argument please.

[MadHatter]

Not interested in drafting a QB that is just now learning how to be a drop back passer and take snaps under center with the #1 pick.

As simple as that.

[teeray]

I don't know if it's higher but it will be pretty high. The thing is those things aren't easy to do. If they were, anyone could be a pro QB. Lots of guys have physical tools, some better than others, not many guys can read an NFL defense.

So what you are saying is all he has to do is learn to throw better, take better drops, and learn to read a defense and he'll be fine right?

You don't take that player in the first round let alone the first pick when you need that person to play right now. You take that person if you can afford to let him sit.

That is funny you just described EVERY QB that has ever been drafted in the history of the NFL.

All QB's have to throw better, take better drops, learn to read the defenses. By that logic you can NEVER draft a QB. LOL.

You should be a scout. To be an NFL QB you have to play better than you did in college. Your a genius.

Peyton Manning had to improve his footwork, read defenses better, and throw better before he became Peyton Manning.

[TheRealDeal]

If they all of a sudden just dropped the need for that, it would be like saying because you cant buy a mclaren f1 you wont buy a car at all!:eek6:

No, it's like saying I have to haul 2 tons of dirt from one location to the other so I'm going to buy the biggest, baddest truck I can (Luck) because that can help me get the job done right away.

You get to the dealership and they are all sold out of trucks. You don't by a ford focus (Newton) and say it'll still get the job done but it's just going to take longer. All we have to do is cut the roof off, fix the shocks and suspension, seal the back, basically redesign it.

Luck wasn't perfect but he was as close as it gets. Newton isn't that close. There are better players that fill similar positions of need.