If the OLine is so bad...

[jarhead]

I think you guys are missing the point here. 'Learning from the sidelines' is outdated IF there isn't signifcant work being done on technique. For Cam there is.

If it's adjusting to the speed of the game, or decision making, it makes no difference as they have to learn it sooner or later.

Cam is different to a lot of QBs because technically, he needs work. Let him have 6 months-12 months of work in practice bedding it in so it's instinctive. If you throw him in now, there is the danger that he relies on his instincts and then never really gets the footwork down to be a consistent passer.

I would rather see us sure up the line so we can run the ball some.Cam will improve with the offesive infrastructure in place if not he won't.

[CRA]

...why would you potentially damage your #1 pick? Much like Clausen, Carr and a whole host of high potential QBs before him, Newton is in danger of getting hit so frequently that it's going to affect his development. We have already seen him start to rush throws and decisions, this is NOt what he needs due to needing work on his footwork. If it continues, you are going to see a lot more running and a lot less progress as a QB.

If you had the choice of letting him sit and bed in genuine technique, but having lesser QB play, would you do it?

From my point of view he needs significant time on the sideline, allowing him to practice over and over proper footwork and technique, making it become instinctive. At least then he does have that AND decision making flying around in his head whilst trying to do his job.

Personally I believe we have the luxury of having another QB on the roster who can chuck the pigskin somewhat more consistently, so having Cam in really won't have a benefit beyond his running ability.

b/c unlike Clausen or DA.....when the OL turns to crap Cam can break off a 40 yard run.

Cam is trying to pass.....Cam could of ran over the Bengals if he wanted to. He pulled back when he had lines. If the OL doesn't improve I think Cam or Chud will eventually just let him start running over teams instead of being ineffective in a pressured pocket.

That could also make teams change the pressure they send. Let Cam be a young Vick for now IMO......while he slowly works on his pass game.

[panthers55]

I don't buy the whole notion that we should sit Newton to avoid him getting hurt. If he gets hurts he doesn't play this year but would next year. If we don't play him he sits this year and plays next next year. Really playing him even if he gets hurt results in no worse outcome than if he sits all year. But it does retard his development from an expereince point of view. Newton watches film, he works very hard. Playing him gives him something to correct and work on. Sitting him doesn't really help him all that much unless you have a really good guy in front of him to learn from. Lets be honest here. What exactly is he going to learn watching Clausen and Anderson? What not to do???

Newton is not exactly injury prone and has taken hits all his career with no negative effects. Other than D tackles, he is bigger and stronger than just about everyone on the field. Injuries happen and sometimes you can't predict them. But to not play him to protect him is actually a pretty stupid idea. Football is a contact sport and injuries are part of the game. I really haven't seen any situations so far where he was in big danger or really got racked up. He needs to play, learn from his mistakes, and go out there every week. From what I can see his confidence will survive a poor rookie campaign just like numerous other guys and he will be better off for it down the road.

[BizEagle]

If the coaches are going to leave Cam in the game, then they should allow him to run more not less. It was obvious that he is being told to stand in the pocket and wait for an open receiver instead of running when a hole opens. This waiting is getting him creamed by the pass rush. Last night Cam had several very good opportunities to run and didn't. He stood there and took some ferocious hits. In college, he would have taken off running and burned the defense for 15~20 yards. He could have rushed for 100+ if he wasn't trying to stand in the pocket so long. If he runs more, then defenses will have to shift to a containment strategy which will give Cam more time to throw, when he has to throw. BTW, this offensive line can't run block either. They were freakin awful last night.

Also, except for the TEs the receivers are not getting open. Don't know what the deal is but the coverage was eating them up.

[King Taharqa]

So I guess Cam has to be perfect while jimmy just as to be accurate.

Jimmy just needs to show up. Cam needs to look like Brady.

[Bj-Monster23]

Everybody wants cam to sit why.?? Who is he going to learn from Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen. Yeah I hear you guys loud and clear. The best expierence is game expierence.

[Smithers]

Everybody wants cam to sit why.?? Who is he going to learn from Derek Anderson and Jimmy Clausen. Yeah I hear you guys loud and clear. The best expierence is game expierence.

exactly...why let him sit and watch Jimmy throw interceptions all day. Cam brings a dimension to the game that this team has never had - a mobile QB. After he breaks off a few long runs, teams will not blitz him. He will have more time to throw from the pocket and start completing more passes.

[Sloth]

When I thought our OLine was going to be decent-to-good, I was all for starting Cam and letting him learn on the fly.

Complete 180 at this point. Unless the line starts playing a lot better, what is Newton going to learn? To run around and throw off his back foot because Bernadeau is in his lap 2 seconds after the ball is snapped?

Throw one of the expendable guys out there, cruise to 4-6 wins and let Newton develop.

[Urrymonster]

Dear lord, some people just do not undertand.

'Sitting' does not mean having to learn from the guy in front of you. It allows you time to focus on practicing the things you need to, without being thrust into live action. For Cam, what separates him from almost all first round draft picks, is that his footwork and technique are really letting him down in live games. 'Sitting' him allows him to drill good footwork/technique in practice over and over again without being forced into pressure situations that will bring out his instincts, which is to throw off his back foot and make erratic throws.

If Cam didn't have these issues, then I would be all for him starting - but he does. If he just needed to adjust to the speed of the game and learn the usual rookie issues (pre-snap reads and decision making) then there is no benefit from him sitting. However technique issues are paramount to getting it 'right' before putting yourself int he firing line.

As it is, people have already alluded to 'letting him run over teams'. That is not going to teach him how to be successful in the league league. He also will not be able to run over teams if he can't complete a pass. Even worse, is that he might starting getting 'twitchy' due to expecting pressure and start to take off before he even really needs to and start forcing throws even more than he already is.

Clausen can do everything Cam can currently do in the pasing game AND his technique is miles ahead, believe it or not, for a team wanting to pass the ball Clausen will be better.

[Swarly]

Just a little note, Aaron Rodgers looked terrible in practice/etc in his early years riding the bench.

I know you folks hate the idea of another awful season, because I do too. But it's best for the franchise if Cam sits and works on his issues.

[rayzor]

this is a great way to find out how tough of a person he is. if he's got a fragile psyche like carr, it will be exposed. if he's tough as nails, that will come through.

we only have 4 years to find out what he is made of. i'd rather find out now. i'd rather let him go through this really tough patch and fight through the trenches with the teammates he's going to have for years than let him sit coddled on the sidelines while his teammates do all the hard work in getting the team ready for him.

if he takes his knocks and comes through...awesome. if he doesn't make it through it, he just didn't have the toughness it took.

your either tough and an overcomer or your not. you either fight or you let someone fight for you. if he's weak minded and the season is tough, he'll get weaker. if he's tough and the season is rough, then he'll come out tougher.

is it the most ideal situation for him? nope. doesn't matter. thats what we've got to deal with.

[Urrymonster]

this is a great way to find out how tough of a person he is. if he's got a fragile psyche like carr, it will be exposed. if he's tough as nails, that will come through.

we only have 4 years to find out what he is made of. i'd rather find out now. i'd rather let him go through this really tough patch and fight through the trenches with the teammates he's going to have for years than let him sit coddled on the sidelines while his teammates do all the hard work in getting the team ready for him.

if he takes his knocks and comes through...awesome. if he doesn't make it through it, he just didn't have the toughness it took.

your either tough and an overcomer or your not. you either fight or you let someone fight for you. if he's weak minded and the season is tough, he'll get weaker. if he's tough and the season is rough, then he'll come out tougher.

is it the most ideal situation for him? nope. doesn't matter. thats what we've got to deal with.

So you would rather force the issue now, than give him a year to bed in what he needs to and possibly turn him into an elite QB? That still gives us 2-3 years to know what we have.

Insane logic

[panthers55]

Dear lord, some people just do not undertand.

'Sitting' does not mean having to learn from the guy in front of you. It allows you time to focus on practicing the things you need to, without being thrust into live action. For Cam, what separates him from almost all first round draft picks, is that his footwork and technique are really letting him down in live games. 'Sitting' him allows him to drill good footwork/technique in practice over and over again without being forced into pressure situations that will bring out his instincts, which is to throw off his back foot and make erratic throws.

If Cam didn't have these issues, then I would be all for him starting - but he does. If he just needed to adjust to the speed of the game and learn the usual rookie issues (pre-snap reads and decision making) then there is no benefit from him sitting. However technique issues are paramount to getting it 'right' before putting yourself int he firing line.

As it is, people have already alluded to 'letting him run over teams'. That is not going to teach him how to be successful in the league league. He also will not be able to run over teams if he can't complete a pass. Even worse, is that he might starting getting 'twitchy' due to expecting pressure and start to take off before he even really needs to and start forcing throws even more than he already is.

Clausen can do everything Cam can currently do in the pasing game AND his technique is miles ahead, believe it or not, for a team wanting to pass the ball Clausen will be better.

Your'e the one that apparently doesn't understand.

Backups don't get many reps with the starters during the week. At best they work with the practice team ( they run the other team's plays). How does that help learning the playbook or develop timing with the receivers and starters. Starters get the majority of work during the week. Backups don't get lots of work on footwork and fundamentals. They carry the clipboard and watch.

He needs live work on the field to perfect his footwork and technique. It is very likely that the problem isn't his footwork in practice but in games when the live bullets fly and the O line is collapsing into him. That is when he is throwing off his back foot. That won't change leading the practice squad.

Learning the offense and reading defenses is more of what he needs than footwork help. Once he can get the playbook down and read defenses easily he will be able to work on the smaller stuff like footwork. yeah in the blur of what he is learning, the footwork is actually secondary to learning the playbook and reading defenses. Most quarterbacks have to throw the ball off their rear foot and at weird angles at times to make completions when people are all over you or rushing you hard. Most of those rear foot throws where when he was under pressure from the defense.

Anyone who thinks Clausen can do anything Newton can is really a lost cause and hardly worth arguing with. I suggest you get back on your haldol and then we both can have a discussion rooted in reality.

[CatMan72]

...on the other hand, Cam is the only QB on our roster that can take a scramble under pressure and turn it into a 30+ yard TD run.