So, about that pick...

[PantherBrew]

"If we were to make you the No. 1 overall pick, what's the first thing you would do?"

Their answers have become part of NFL legend. It's been said that Peyton Manning mulled over the question before responding that he'd request a playbook so he could immediately begin learning the Colts' offense. Ryan Leaf mentioned something about taking his friends to Las Vegas for one last fling.

So Cam did both. So he is between Manning and Leaf?

Sounds about right.

[monstercat]

Why are there good students and bad students? What I saw on those Gruden shows made me think Cam could be in over his head very soon. Like Gruden said, you're moving to France and you have to learn French.

If I was the Panthers I would let Newton sit on the sideline and watch, ala the Titans did with McNair and the Packers did with Rogers.

So because he ran a simplified offense at Auburn, that means he will refuse to learn? Good grief.

I agree that he has a steep learning curve, but that has absolutely nothing to do with whether he's willing to learn or not. It just means he has a lot to learn, which is common knowledge.

[Matt Foley]

So because he ran a simplified offense at Auburn, that means he will refuse to learn? Good grief.

I agree that he has a steep learning curve, but that has absolutely nothing to do with whether he's willing to learn or not. It just means he has a lot to learn, which is common knowledge.

True, but I just wonder why Auburn simplified their offense.

[Captain Obvious]

who cares, until the lockout is dealt with nothing matters. nfl defenses are not rocket science. he'll learn them.

I want him to continue working on his accuracy. So while he's on vacation he better find an old tire and hang it on a tree and throw like a million times.

[cookinbrak]

Pretty sure most of us if we cashed in would do the same thing

What would you do if you had a million dollars?

I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man.

That's it? If you had a million dollars, you'd do two chicks at the same time?

Damn straight. I always wanted to do that, man. And I think if I were a millionaire I could hook that up, too; 'cause chicks dig dudes with money.

Well, not all chicks.

Well, the type of chicks that'd double up on a dude like me do.

[frash.exe]

There are a few differences here between Malzahn's offense and what Franklin and Tuberville tried to do (or said they were trying to do). The biggest, I'd say, is that Malzahn's spread is not exactly like other spreads, whether pass-first ones like the Airraid or run-heavy spreads like Urban Meyer's or Rich Rodriguez's. That's because the schemes are simple - very, very simple - and the core of the offense is not even about schemes: it's about tempo. . . .

http://smartfootball.blogspot.com/2009/06/gus-malzahnauburn-tigers-run-game.html

jesus, the temerity of Newton to run the offense his coach and OC asks of him

also check out http://smartfootball.com/uncategorized/a-page-from-gus-malzahns-passing-playbook-literally

[monstercat]

True, but I just wonder why Auburn simplified their offense.

It's just a simple offense. Like Cam said, simple is fast in college. Oregon's offense is not rocket science either.

[lightsout]

True, but I just wonder why Auburn simplified their offense.

Its simple. You get a freak athlete transferring in. You know, physically, that he can dominate and is better in every facet of being a football player than your other options at QB. You simplify an already very simple offense so this QB can run the plays, and you introduce more in small increments. This is to ensure your offense is effective and to ensure that your QB, who you spend next to no time with, knows enough to execute.

Malzahn's spread was simple BEFORE Cam got there (always has been). Like Cam said, simple is fast. He made it even more simple by running basic plays more than complex plays (notice that as the season went on, the plays got more creative). He started out with a basic read-option and dives to the RBs, with the occasional jet sweep as the run game. Passes were either a fade or a slant. Play action and double fakes in the backfield didn't come until a few games into the season. And eventually, Cam gets split out wide as a receiver.

Moral of the story, when your best player comes in right as you start the 2 weeks you have before the start of the school year and maybe a month or so before the start of the season, you have to get him on the field. You can't throw the whole playbook at him and really develop all the skills needed for the WHOLE playbook, because that is just too much too soon. If you think the offense at Auburn was due to a lack in Cam's knowledge of football, you're mistaken.

[SmootsDaddy89]

We should have drafted Ponder!!111!!

[therealmjl]

Ponder for best of teh quarterbackzzzz! !!!1111!!!!11

[Kevin Greene]

True, but I just wonder why Auburn simplified their offense.

To win a BCS title silly.

[Marguide]

So, let me get this straight.

We have one moderator on here that finds it inappropriate that Cam wants to take his mom on vacation, and we have another that's a fan club member of someone on another team.

Wow. Way to support our team guys.

[Matt Foley]

Its simple. You get a freak athlete transferring in. You know, physically, that he can dominate and is better in every facet of being a football player than your other options at QB. You simplify an already very simple offense so this QB can run the plays, and you introduce more in small increments. This is to ensure your offense is effective and to ensure that your QB, who you spend next to no time with, knows enough to execute.

I agree with all of that. I just have never seen it work long term on the NFL level. Cam Newton will win a lot of games with his athleticism. But he won't be an elite quarterback, the kind who wins playoff games, until he shows us not only that he can learn, but that he's eager to learn. Because the Panthers can't do what Auburn did and win playoff games. NFL coordinators and most players are too smart. They adjust. I think that's why the vacation comment irked the OP, though I won't speak for him.

[DaCityKats]

well him putting in work and learning since the NC game and even after being drafted he spent 5 hours at BOA doing work. sounds like he is eager to learn to me.