WFNZ: Warren Moon talks about Cam's debut, etc...

[Ted Stryker]

so you punch him in the mouth, take your lumps, and still get fuged in the ass... thats the analogy you want to use? :lol:

Ummm, no, more like if I lose so what at least I'm not a Beyotch, so did he fug you and this dredges up painful memories?

[mav1234]

here's the basic transcript, may have missed some stuff but the gist of it all is there...

The Drive: introduction of moon, all his accomplishments etc

Warren Moon: Great to be on your show, thanks for having me.

TD: How'd you get to know Cam Newton?

WM: First met Cam in highschool... At a football camp near Disney World, when he was a Junior in high school... Saw he had a lot of potential and if he kept at it thought he could be great, and saw how strong his work ethic was then. Pretty soon he went to University of Florida, then to Blinn, then won championship at Auburn. His dad called me and asked me to help him get ready for the NFL combine as far as going through his fundamentals change and his footwork and all that stuff (guess he wasn't perfect, go figure ;)) and so I decided to go along with that, got him Whitfield for a QB coach, worked with him for a few months and got him ready. Quite a young man, quite a physical specimen, and he is really dedicated to being great, will do anything to be great.

TD: Read's Moon quote about criticism of Cam during draft process as being racially bias including bit about being phony. (If you want to read it go google it)

WM: ALl these kids go through the recruiting and drafting and scouting process and they should be judged on what they did in college and whether they have the ability to make it to the NFL and what their strengths and weaknesses you have and when you start judging them on if they have a phony smile when you haven't met them this goes beyond that and becomes character assassination because I had a chance to meet the young man and spend a lot of time with him and I know exactly what kind of person he was and for someone to come out and say that kind of stuff, I had to say something

TD: I can understand why you did, because anyone that has been around this guy especially his teammates, they are really impressed with his humility, work ethic, focus. Alabama fan, watched him break my teams heart. That's when I realized he was unphased. All the scrutiny that he faced, especially last Oct./Nov., how was he able to endure all that?

WM: First he was raised right, comes from a strong family background, spend a lot of time around him and his family, not only him but his family, and his older and younger brother have that same makeup. I know dad has gotten a lot of scrutiny because of that pay for play thing that came out when he went to Auburn but he really has done a great job raising these three young men that he has. Cam is a reflection of that. But the kid just really has a great sense of what it takes to get through adversity, and if anyone ever judges a QB on how he gets through adversity, Cam is a great example of that, how he can go through negative stuff and get his job done at the highest level of where he was playing, winning championships in two levels of college, with all that stuff swirling around him. That had to open the eyes of a lot of NFL people that this was a special young man, plus his toughness and competitiveness and this is a guy you just have to have on your football team.

TD: So many intricacies that goes into being a great qb... Learning personnel, etc... having to acclimate under center... tell us why you think Cam is going to be consistently accurate over the course of his career?

WM: He's going to work at it... You listen to these analysts that say you can't get better at accuracy and that's bullcrap... Lots of different drills and types of things in the passing game that can help you with your passing game... Stupid for someone to say that who hasn't played the position before (Hodge?). Cam knows where the inconsistencies are in his game and he is going to continue to work with that. A lot of the accuracy comes with footwork, if you have the right proper footwork and you are delivering the football with fundamentals you will become more accurate right there. He's doing something right, but every guy can improve on their skills. They said the same thing about Locker but he worked on his accuracy with Ken Obrien and he is flinging it around pretty well now.

TD: Did you watch him play?

WM: I did, and he was impressed, a couple balls he missed on he won't miss. Speed is totally different than what you see in practice. He's playing with guys only a couple weeks now. Working with guys he'll only get better at as he works with these guys. I think he'll get better and better each start out.

TD: If you're in a film room right now with Cam Newton, what will you work with him now? Throwing off his backfoot? He did that a couple things. walk us through.

WM: Can't throw your ball off the backfoot and have velocity and accuracy. He's not going to get rid of all of his old habits over night, but as long as he continues to work at them those things will go away. I would also tell him about anticipating in the red zone more, didn't anticipate earlier but if he had done that earlier and had worked with those guys in game time he'd get better there. Can't critique him too much because this is his first time out. If you keep seeing the same things happen week in and week out for a couple weeks you really have to get on top of it.

TD: Moon played 23 years of pro football, threw for 70k+ yards... If it was me, and I was asked to be what Cam Newton was at HS/College level with bowling people over, and I had to really learn to be a passer, that would be a dramatic passer for me personally, especially considering pro calls... Give us a sense of how big a transition that is for him.

WM: It is big for every college guy, but every college guy and it is simpler to call and simpler with what they are asked to do but what Cam was asked to do, he was asked to do more at the line of scrimmage than most QBs at the line of scrimmage. Seeing what front/defensive backs were doing. In the NFL, it's a little bit different, no question about it, but all these guys can learn this offense that they are asked to be a part of. All Cam was asked to do was run the spread and he did it... If he has the skills and the work ethic he will be great in that as well.

TD: If you were Ron Rivera, would you start him week 1 vs Arizona?

WM: I'm not sure. You know, a lot of it has to do with how far he comes along in the next few weeks and what he has around him, like having Smith around. Being able to run the football consistently will help ANY qb that starts, and an improved defense will too. If you are really not sold on the other guy, why not start him day 1? He can handle it, showed he can handle it in college and I think he can in pro football.

TD: Could you still throw a football at the professional level?

WM: I can throw the football, but my legs won't move the way they used to.

TD: Did you ever think of what would have happened if you had gone right to the NFL instead of winning 5 grey cups in CFL?

WM: Coulda been different in a positive or negative way... I look at it as having a great experience in Canada, played with great guys, then got to play in the NFL... feel great about the career I had. Never know what would have happened if I had gone right in to the NFL... may have held a clip board my entire career, never know... and my career was pretty good.

TD: Crescent Moon Foundation - what is it?

WM: Started it in 1989, got involved in community in Houston Texas, made it almost a mission to wherever I play, give back to that community, and it has continued even after I finished. Funds scholarships for underprivileged college kids and they've all become very successful in their lives. Everybody can't be Cam or Jordan, but EVERYONE can be educated and if you're educated you have a chance to be successful.

Observations:

-I really like Warren Moon, especially now that he doesn't feel he needs to publicly defend Cam.

-He's spot on with his analysis of Cam's game. Interestingly, some of what he says about his footwork and accuracy sounds strangely like one of the more disliked posters around here :P

-So far he has been 100% right about Cam's work ethic, and man, I just hope it continues. Interesting to hear he was like that in high school - it makes me wonder if when he got to college the first time he, like many kids, kinda went a bit crazy and it cost him big, and it wasn't until he saw what happens when you take things for granted that he found his way back to how he was raised... sometimes does happen with kids and does explain a lot of the Florida stuff. Immaturity, go figure :P

-He still sounds pissed at Nawrocki... sounds like he was specifically pissed about *that* comment, and not so much all the others.

Does anyone know what Moon's connection to Cecil was? Interesting that he called him up.

[rayzor]

still trying to find out who says/said cam's footwork was perfect or anything about his QB play was perfect for that matter or said he didn't have things to work on anymore.

i'd love to see quotes from multiple people because apparently, according to the one(s) that keep on running their mouths about it act like it was most of the guys who like cam. if they can be found...great. if not, shut it or keep on doing it so we can keep pointing and laughing.

[TheRealDeal]

BlackCatGrowl is one.

Not worth it searching for it through the rest of his posts but it's there.

[mav1234]

I think most everyone at this point realizes Cam has footwork and some accuracy issues to work on (I mean he is a rookie), but hell, wasn't there just a post last week with people convinced Cam had no accuracy issues?

[rayzor]

TD: Did you watch him play?

WM: I did, and he was impressed, a couple balls he missed on he won't miss. Speed is totally different than what you see in practice. He's playing with guys only a couple weeks now. Working with guys he'll only get better at as he works with these guys. I think he'll get better and better each start out.

totally agreed and this is somehting to remember when you see him make mistakes or timing seems to be off early in the year. it will get better as they all work together.

TD: If you're in a film room right now with Cam Newton, what will you work with him now? Throwing off his backfoot? He did that a couple things. walk us through.

WM: Can't throw your ball off the backfoot and have velocity and accuracy. He's not going to get rid of all of his old habits over night, but as long as he continues to work at them those things will go away. I would also tell him about anticipating in the red zone more, didn't anticipate earlier but if he had done that earlier and had worked with those guys in game time he'd get better there. Can't critique him too much because this is his first time out. If you keep seeing the same things happen week in and week out for a couple weeks you really have to get on top of it.

one thing that i have seen and heard about cam is that he is constantly working on correcting mistakes so that they don't happen again. many times things you see him do in one practice/game that is ugly, you won't see the next time. we see it one week, i wouldn't get worried. see it a few weeks in a row...then we might have some have somehting to be concerned about, but then we have to know that he's got good teaching coaches and a desire to be great and to put the work in that is needed to be that.

TD: Moon played 23 years of pro football, threw for 70k+ yards... If it was me, and I was asked to be what Cam Newton was at HS/College level with bowling people over, and I had to really learn to be a passer, that would be a dramatic passer for me personally, especially considering pro calls... Give us a sense of how big a transition that is for him.

WM: It is big for every college guy, but every college guy and it is simpler to call and simpler with what they are asked to do but what Cam was asked to do, he was asked to do more at the line of scrimmage than most QBs at the line of scrimmage. Seeing what front/defensive backs were doing. In the NFL, it's a little bit different, no question about it, but all these guys can learn this offense that they are asked to be a part of. All Cam was asked to do was run the spread and he did it... If he has the skills and the work ethic he will be great in that as well.

i've seen this from other people who studied what auburn did or from coaches there. cam did a lot of pre-snap reads and had a good idea of what coverage was going to be like before the snap and combined with the knowledge of where each receiver was supposed to be at any point in the play was able to get the ball out quickly. that skill is going to be huge for running a hurry up offense. sure, he'll have to know what defenses are doing, but fortunately his head coach is one of the best defenses in the game and the defense he faces in practice every week is going to be one of the most aggressive and creative in the league. i'm sure they will help him learn how to read other defenses.

[rayzor]

I think most everyone at this point realizes Cam has footwork and some accuracy issues to work on (I mean he is a rookie), but hell, wasn't there just a post last week with people convinced Cam had no accuracy issues?

i didn't see it. not saying that someone didn't say it, just that i didn't see it. just because one person says something like that, though, doesn't mean it's conventional wisdom or the majority opinion. too much is being made of a few people's exaggeration...but if your whole shtick is to say that the forum is full of unrealistic cam nuthuggers and you want to be seen as the "voice of reason" or you just want to troll then you've got to say stuff like that.

[mav1234]

it wasn't just one person, there have been threads made about the topic all week, especially after the preseason game when people decided "Oh, hey, I know why Cam missed some passes! It's because his receiver DROPPED them! :DDD" and stuff. it's a combination of things, and some of it Cam can improve on his end and he is doing so. I do agree though that most people are pretty reasonable about what Cam is doing and how he needs to improve, as well as the progress he has shown.

though yes I do think it was only one person who was convinced Cam was the best thing ever coming out and better than anyone else and had NO footwork issues at all. Even Tee realized he had things to work on.

[King Taharqa]

though yes I do think it was only one person who was convinced Cam was the best thing ever coming out and better than anyone else and had NO footwork issues at all. Even Tee realized he had things to work on.

So does Andrew Luck but that didnt stop many here (including yourself) from being convinced dude was perfect and Peyton Manning's twin who has nothing to work on. If a few of our fans have unrealistic optimism about our QB why does that bother you so much? Its not like we didnt see it with Jake, Moore, Clausen, etc.

[Mr ocho nueve]

Well, when there was a segment of Sportscenter directly for Cam's accuracy and footwork, I'd say there's work to be done.

[mav1234]

So does Andrew Luck but that didnt stop many here (including yourself) from being convinced dude was perfect and Peyton Manning's twin who has nothing to work on. If a few of our fans have unrealistic optimism about our QB why does that bother you so much? Its not like we didnt see it with Jake, Moore, Clausen, etc.

Obviously no prospect is perfect coming out of college, but most people would accept that Cam Newton likely had more ground to cover than Andrew Luck. But hey, Cam is a Panther now, and he has my support and I hope he proves me and everyone else who wanted a defensive player wrong.

It doesn't bother me much if fans have unreal optimism, but this is a message board, and since some of them go crazy at people who are being realistic (or at people who are being extremely negative), I think it's only fair to offer a balanced perspective ;P Hell, I don't even have a problem with the optimism when it's tempered with the reality that he is still working on stuff... Even I'm hopeful that the work he's done this offseason is only the beginning, because he has been impressive at times so far.

[Jangler]

Got it.

If you love success, you are a hater

Oh man, if this was in the tinderbox.

[MWCarolina]

First off, i will NOT bash Hoge, he proved me wrong when he was right about Vince Young, BUT i am sure he will or can be wrong one day and it is his job to say this or that about QBs, he also has trashed The Golden Calf of Bristol too.

As for Moon, honestly, his opinion is more of a loving for Newton, like he sees himself in Newton and honestly, i dont care, say what you want to say, but i am glad he isnt on Fox, CBS or any station as an NFL analyst because he seems a tad biased, but oh well.

So does Andrew Luck but that didnt stop many here (including yourself) from being convinced dude was perfect and Peyton Manning's twin who has nothing to work on.

he has things to work on, BUT people love Luck's mind and something that really irks me is when they say that he's not mobile, honestly, i loved Luck better as a prospect than Newton, but oh well, Newton is the guy here and Luck is hopefully a Redskin in the near future (when they stink it up).

Obviously no prospect is perfect coming out of college, but most people would accept that Cam Newton likely had more ground to cover than Andrew Luck. But hey, Cam is a Panther now, and he has my support and I hope he proves me and everyone else who wanted a defensive player wrong.

this is the way i feel pretty much. i like Luck better, but Newton is the guy here now and i accept that and hope he turns out to be great and better than McNabb.

[ncmonzta]

First off, i will NOT bash Hoge, he proved me wrong when he was right about Vince Young, BUT i am sure he will or can be wrong one day and it is his job to say this or that about QBs, he also has trashed The Golden Calf of Bristol too.

As for Moon, honestly, his opinion is more of a loving for Newton, like he sees himself in Newton and honestly, i dont care, say what you want to say, but i am glad he isnt on Fox, CBS or any station as an NFL analyst because he seems a tad biased, but oh well.

he has things to work on, BUT people love Luck's mind and something that really irks me is when they say that he's not mobile, honestly, i loved Luck better as a prospect than Newton, but oh well, Newton is the guy here and Luck is hopefully a Redskin in the near future (when they stink it up).

this is the way i feel pretty much. i like Luck better, but Newton is the guy here now and i accept that and hope he turns out to be great and better than McNabb.

I didn't know we used to have McNabb.