What is this UPSIDE that makes Cam better than Gabbert?

[benchedpunter]

Pretty good breakdown on Newton's game and upside.

http://www.southernpigskin.com/SEC/view/number-one-for-number-two

[rippadonn]

if you don't have good footwork then you cannot throw the ball in the NFL so what he said did make sense.

He would be better than what we got. Football is football. His career and credentials are stellar. Nobody would think we were crazy if we drafted him, they probably would too, if they could.

[MHS831]

. Football is football.

That assumption has caused many teams to pick busts. The NCAA and NFL are different animals.

[Sam Mills Fan]

Tony Pike had 29 TDs his senior year. He threw for 2500+ yards in a spread offense.

Take a look at Ryan Leaf vs Peyton Manning:

QB rating:

Leaf 107

Manning 101

Passing Yards:

Manning 3800 (more attempted passes)

Leaf 3600

TD passes:

Manning 36

Leaf 33

Interceptions:

Leaf 10

Manning 11

How much can it matter?

So, in-game stats mean very little. In college you can succeed by going on pre-snap reads, staring down WRs, running every time the first read is covered, having a slow release, etc. These characterstics relate to failure in the NFL.

The combine and pro days look at these fundamentals. Along with the interviews and background checks, they are more important than what happened in college.

Dumb argument because Peyton Manning was in Heisman contention in college and was known as a winner. Always regarded as one of the tops in CF.

[raleigh-panther]

Try again (from the longer post).

And again, tell my why I shouldn't be concerned about a 50% completion rate with no defense on the field?

When they play actual games, I'm pretty sure there will be a defense.

I seem to recall many stories about many pro QBs who sucked in practice and turned it on during the game...Montana, among them.

The fact is, you don't like Newton, you don't like Gabbert, you want the Panthers to go get someone who is safe and can contribute right away, or trade down, everyone gets that.

Seems to me, they have done that for years, and where are they. Those win/losses can be measured almost hand in hand with totally abysmal QB play. Sure, let's go another DT or another CB or another LB and we will be right were we have always been.

You are trying to present your logical argument to dissaude emotion and that isn't going to happen.

You can be right, you can be wrong and none of it matters.

The joy here is the Panthers are relevant, for losing and having the #1 pick but relevant they are.

The Bucs took a chance on Freeman. The Steelers took a chance on Ben. The Packers took a chance on Rogers. The Ravens took a chance on Flacco. . What would you have advised those teams to do? ...trade down?

The Jets traded up to get a QB as well.

The Panthers had a shot at each of those. They didn't take it. They chose to trade up for a DL that will never amount to the trade price and a OT that can't stay on the field. They can be bold with DL and OT but they could not be bold with the most important position in the game.

Sometimes, a chance has to be taken. Look at the bright side, if the Panthers are horrible again next year, well, there is Andrew Luck to save them.

[Mr. Scot]

I can't recall a player who gets SO much negativity in recent memory. The media really has changed how we talk about players.

You must not read many QB threads on this board then.

Pretty much all the angriest arguments that have occurred on this board have been about QBs. Delhomme, Peete, Moore, Clausen, Pike, Weinke, Carr...and that's guys on the team.

Everything I've read here is par for the course.

[Mr. Scot]

I seem to recall many stories about many pro QBs who sucked in practice and turned it on during the game...Montana, among them.

The fact is, you don't like Newton, you don't like Gabbert, you want the Panthers to go get someone who is safe and can contribute right away, or trade down, everyone gets that.

Seems to me, they have done that for years, and where are they. Those win/losses can be measured almost hand in hand with totally abysmal QB play. Sure, let's go another DT or another CB or another LB and we will be right were we have always been.

You are trying to present your logical argument to dissaude emotion and that isn't going to happen.

You can be right, you can be wrong and none of it matters.

The joy here is the Panthers are relevant, for losing and having the #1 pick but relevant they are.

The Bucs took a chance on Freeman. The Steelers took a chance on Ben. The Packers took a chance on Rogers. The Ravens took a chance on Flacco. . What would you have advised those teams to do? ...trade down?

The Jets traded up to get a QB as well.

The Panthers had a shot at each of those. They didn't take it. They chose to trade up for a DL that will never amount to the trade price and a OT that can't stay on the field. They can be bold with DL and OT but they could not be bold with the most important position in the game.

Sometimes, a chance has to be taken. Look at the bright side, if the Panthers are horrible again next year, well, there is Andrew Luck to save them.

I'd have no problem with drafting Newton or Gabbert if our situation were different, but it's not.

The fallacy in what you've posted here is thinking that drafting A QB high this year is the only way to address the QB situation, and that's just not true.

I'd much rather get a veteran this year, bring Moore to camp, see whether Clausen or Pike can be worth anything with new coaches and a new system, and draft next year if needed.

Mind you, I don't have a lot of faith in Clausen or Pike at this point, but I'd agree with what Rivera's said (more than once) that last year wasn't a fair test.

[Catalyst]

There's a Blaine Gabbert in every draft. Cam Newton has a skillset that comes along very rarely, if there's ever been anyone quite like him. Vince Young is close physically, but Newton is a better passer right now and smarter/less of a head case.

[Marguide]

I'd have no problem with drafting Newton or Gabbert if our situation were different, but it's not.

The fallacy in what you've posted here is thinking that drafting A QB high this year is the only way to address the QB situation, and that's just not true.

I'd much rather get a veteran this year, bring Moore to camp, see whether Clausen or Pike can be worth anything with new coaches and a new system, and draft next year if needed.

Mind you, I don't have a lot of faith in Clausen or Pike at this point, but I'd agree with what Rivera's said (more than once) that last year wasn't a fair test.

Everybody talks about and acknowledges the risks with drafting Newton, Gabbert or Mallet. However, IMO, your plan is the one that carries the most risk.

We don't know if we will have the opportunity to trade for players. We don't know if we can score anything decent in free agency. A lot depends on when the CBA gets done.

We certainly don't know where we will be drafting next year, assuming there is one, nor do we know whether the QB's that seem promising based on this year, i.e. Luck, Barkley, will crash and burn next year.

This year, we have control of the situation. It is not likely to occur again anytime soon. It's time to stop dicking around with the most important position on the field, make an educated decision, and roll with it.

[BBQ&Beer]

I'll say this...

I'm a gambler. Only with things I have some real part in, but there you go. What I've seen from Newton is that he's gonna strive to be that "one".

Of course, I could be wrong.... but if I am I have to eat crow. BFD. I've done it before, but my shots have paid off more than not, thus I'd pull the trigger on Newton.

Having said that, I see why many wouldn't. He's a reach. Hell, I just entered contract negotiations that would mean I'd live on the west coast but be able to have season tickets to every Panthers game, but I could easily lose the whole shebang.

If I fail in this, I won't cry.... but i won't sneer at one who takes the safe route either.