Inside the Numbers - Cam vs Clausen - Plus a guest appearance

[pantherj]

So tell us what the other 2 are, throwing short and being white?

Really what are the three things?

If that were the case then I think I could make the team.

[footballisasport]

I agree. You can say that Cam should start because he's the future, but I don't understand how anyone could say that Cam's the better QB right now. Jimmy makes better decisions and is more accurate. Most importantly, the offence actually moved the chains and scored some points when Jimmy's on the field. I'm honestly wondering if we're watching the same game half the time.

I honestly believe that when people are either threatened or have personal biases towards someone they are quick to accept every negative thing they hear and repeat it at nauseum.

If splitting hairs between Cam and Jimmy and looking for any little thing to give Jimmy the advantage in your mind, that doesn't bode well for Clausen.

Do I feel Jimmy should start the season? Yes, but not for the anal reasons many of u are trying to push. I personally just feel he is due that respect. Cam is still very much learning on the job and Clausen isn't so bad that he cannot hold down the fort until Cam has sharpen his new skills more.

But to go out of one's way to nitpick on such things as Cam's footworks or so called accuracy issues, as if with someone of u, those issue will ever be resolved in your minds, shows not only desparation but a willingness to undermine Cam simply because u don't want to place him ahead of your own. And that is discrimination.

If Clausen, who is supposed to be tenchincally way more advance than Cam because he came from a Pro Style offense and has at least a year of Pro football experience, while Cam is pressured by the to master a style of offense that is somewhat new to his body and mind and he's neck-to-neck with Clausen in this race for the starting job, than that again doesn't bode well for Clausen.

Also, playing it safe the majority of the time isn't "better decision" making. It's just playing it safe.

Keep in mind that not only is Cam learning a new style of play but like Clausen, he too is learning the new playbook for the Panthers. Which do u feel should be lagging much further behind?

[footballisasport]

taking 50 sacks from nfl caliber talent in one year is pretty much enough to turn almost anyone into jelly physically and mentally

unless you're just a masochist, then you want to get sacked

do we want this kid to be long term, or do we just want to burn his athleticism out in 5 years?

he's got some serious issues to work on if he wants to be in the league 10 years from now

that goes the same for clausen

fug u i'll edit as much as i want

becoming a starting QB in the nfl is more difficult and less likely to be achieved than becoming a surgeon if the same amount of work is put into either goal

who the fug wants a surgeon learning on the fly?

let the kid go to school in the NFL before he gets his patellas busted

That's a bit of an exaggeration. Sadly way to many are willing to swallow it simply because of who ur talking about. The whole idea that Cam has to be the "perfect QB" before he can play is saying exactly what many are whispering about the NFL and minorities in the QB position.

Anyway, comparing a surgeon to a QB, like really? Since when did QBs become so smart? I remembered when they were the ones being preceived as the dumb jocks, just knowing enough to lead the team but not much more. All of a sudden, they now have to be geniuses. And sorry to disappoint u but many surgeons do learn on the job.

As far as I'm concerned, there isn't any real blue-print to being the perfect QB. There may be certain tendencies but no concrete facts as to what really makes the perfect QB.

[Urrymonster]

I love how people assume Cam can't learn on the fly. If by starting now he's destroyed, he was never meant to be. Too much Fox logic. Hoping Clausen will get better is fools gold. He just ain't got it. Quit letting the fear of Cam failing delude you. Honestly, if Cam couldnt go DA would be a better choice.

It's different when it's technique, because when you are under pressure it's easy to revert back to your instincts. Learning new technique and footwork needs to br drilled in so that it becomes second nature before being put in pressure situations.

[Achilles]

All I can say is...

what sticks out to me the most in those vids is how much the pocket breaks down. It must have been more than a dozen times. Most of the throws made on the run by both QBs were from avoiding the rush and not designed plays.

This is the #1 reason why our 3rd down efficiency is so terrible. Our O-line can't hold off pass rushers for even 3 seconds!

[Spaceballs83]

Clausen lost the starting job when the panthers selected a QB at #1

[Urrymonster]

I am actually amazed that people genuinely think Newton played the same as Clausen. Clausen had one wildly off throw, which was clearly him throwing to a different route than the WR, rather than just a completely inaccurate throw. He also felt pressure pretty well in this game and moved in the pocket to buy himself some time. The sack was a botched shotgun snap, which meant he had to catch it off the ground, to stand up and be sacked immediately. He had a couple of really nice accurate throws and never seemed to be getting frustrated.

Cam on the other hand looked frustrated and rarely set himself in the pocket, constantly throwing off the back foot or worse. Some really badly thrown passes too. It was no surprise that as soon as the passing lanes weren't there, he started looking to run for no real reason. Once again, I am yet to see that bulldozer ability that everyone was convinced would translate. The guy is not an elusive runner and powered through arm tackles in college, that won't fly int he NFL.

To me, it's pretty clear Clausen should start.

[d-dave]

Even though both put up similar numbers throwing the ball, it comes down to two things, points and 3rd down conversions. If my numbers are wrong, its because I'm going off memory, so feel free to correct if I'm incorrect!

Newton - 0 points, 0 3rd downs

Clausen - 10 points, some 3rd downs.

Now Newton didn't have especially great field position, or any turn overs to give him uber field position like Clausen got. Then again, it comes down to taking advantages of opportunity, which Clausen did. Was he amazing? No. But he was steady, which is a STARK improvement over last year.

So where does this leave us regarding judging both Cam and Jimmay? Not much, as the preseason isn't game planned really well. Lets see what happens this week in practice (thanks to those who post!). Lets see what the coaches decide, as it's their job on the line. For me, I give Jimmy the edge by a small amount, on a scale of 1-10 where 1 is Jimmy 2010 and 10 is Philip Rivers, I say Cam was a 4, and Jimmy a 5. Those 3rd down conversions were key to me at least.

[Raleighcat83]

So, do we think the announcement that Cam's the starter comes today or tomorrow?

[footballisasport]

Wow...we're still splitting hairs...Okay..

Here is Sam Bradford's situation last year during his rookie preseason outting and tell me what's the difference between Cam and him...No one harping or intentionally over analyzing how perfectly set his feet were or how inaccurate he was with his throws..

The No. 1 overall pick had an early case of the jitters, short-arming a pitch and bobbling a snap the first two plays, looked poised while hitting four of his first five passes, then ended with an extended rough patch in the Minnesota Vikings’ 28-7 preseason-opening victory Saturday night.

and

Bradford completed only two of his last eight passes against Vikings second-teamers, finishing 6 of 13 for 57 yards while getting sacked four times

.

After reading those reviews on Sam and realized that not only were his numbers not that off from Cam's but in certain cases, Cam handled his pressure better than him I wonder would any of u been saying the same thing about Sam as u are Cam.

[Ted Stryker]

Sure they would, and like Bradford there is no strong incumbent starter which is why I think he should play

[MHS831]

Cam's problems have always been about technique. Why? Athletic QBs got where they are through superior arm strength or their legs, sometimes both. However, the best QBs were not great athletes because they had to be accurate and smart. When your legs will not bail you out or your arm strength cannot compensate for poor decisions, then intelligence and self-dicipline come into focus.

Look at The Golden Calf of Bristol. All that stuff he was doing before the draft to prove he can play QB in the NFL. But when the heat is on, he instinctively resorts back to the things that he has always used-running ability. His mechanics slip back to what they were like at UF.

Bronco Depth chart: Orton>Quinn>The Golden Calf of Bristol.

Athletically, The Golden Calf of Bristol>Quinn>Orton.

Fixing the problems is no small task. I did not want Cam because he needed too much work and we would not have the summer to fix them/learn the playbook. People called me racist. I see his awesome talent. I think he can be the real deal with Shula and I am very impressed with Cam vs. Clausen. However, not yet with Cam vs. NFL.

Go Shula--But starting Cam now does not mean wins, as we saw Friday. Nor did Cam do much to help us win vs. the Giants. So, why does everyone want him to start game one again?

[CarolinaKat]

Newton - 0 points, 0 3rd downs

Clausen - 10 points, some 3rd downs.

Newton played against starters for a half. Jimmy played backups. After watching both videos Newton still to me needs to be the one starting game 1.

In the MIA game I'd have to say it was the defense that was the biggest let down

[Lumps]

Actually, I was being facetious

But I do wonder though if there isn't a camp here that deep down feels that way.

People who often wonder things like this about others, are usually feeling this deep down themselves.

Phychology 101

I don't think anyone here would discredit video footage of a QB for the Panthers that is making plays just because of their race, and to bring it up tells us all more about you than it does any of 'us'.

Wake the hell up people, people don't watch football for all the different races. A football player is a football player.