Cam Newton vs Andrew Luck - Now who would you choose?

[DRubi15]

Cam has shown unreal ability getting away from and evading pressure. I'll take a guy that can make big plays with his feet and arm. How about the play where he rolled to his left...threw it from an awkward position...and it was on the $ to Smith 50 yards down field. Luck doesnt have that mobility. No way. I just think Cam can make bigger plays and is more athletic which allows him to do so.

[Match.com]

don't know which will end up being the better pro but i do know that once the brady's & manning's of the world are gone, cam newton will be in the conversation about who is the best qb in the nfl & that's a good thing for us

This will be a topic next year....we are going to the playoffs...starting by whipping the saints...you think this kids going to lay down this season. I don't think so..legadu is going to start next game and will pro form or he is out.

[footballisasport]

I'm kinda playing devil advocate.

I actually I think Luck is a good QB prospect.

He's a sneaky good athlete that has great pocket presence and has the poise to make a play after the design of the play ends.

In short he's a playmaker.

But, when someone tells me that Luck is better prospect then Locker and Newton I want to know why?

But no one seems to have an answer based on skillset comparison.

The thing many people seem to miss about the NFL is the making or breaking of a QB's confidence when he ends up on a team that is the number one team cause they suck so badly...Week in and out, Cam's self-esteem and confidence is being tested when he goes out and puts up such great numbers and the team still lose. That is what Luck might have to face.

Right now, there are excuses being made continuously for the the fact that the QB who was always being compared to Cam during the draft, isn't playing as well as expected. And last year's "Andrew Luck" is struggling big time with the Rams.

It seems in the NFL, it's going to take way more than accuracy and intelligence to make as an elite QB..

[mav1234]

seems unfair to ask if you'd rather have a guy who hasn't taken an NFL snap or one that has taken some and looked pretty good in doing it...

[edromeo]

It seems in the NFL, it's going to take way more than accuracy and intelligence to make as an elite QB.

I think accuracy and intelligence are baseline prerequistes for being an NFL QB.

I alway cringe a little when people questions the net accuracy of top level draft prospect.

All of these guys can hit what they're aiming from a clean pocket, all of them.

If you ask a Div I college QB to hit spot X from 20 yards away I bet every single one will hit whatever you ask them to throw at and place the ball wherever you ask them.

But for some reason certain prospects get labeled as inaccurate or super accurate when its usually their circumstances the convey this perception.

People used to question the accuracy of Rodgers, Brees, Josh Freeman and Matt Ryan when they were prospects.

But the same people will tell you that you can't improve accuracy but of course they never have to own up to being wrong about their original assessments.

Back on topic: accuracy I think Luck and Bradford both have plus accuracy but its imo partially scheme based.

A lot of accuracy is about knowing where to go with the ball against a coverage X, its also about knowing where to place the ball against coverage X i.e. backshoulder high/low, lead them? or put it 'on' them etc. but part of that knowledge of ball placement comes with experience in the system and with coaching.

So although they were more accurate I wonder how much of there 'plus' accuracy carries over?

For me at the end of the day being a QB is about throwing the ball and avoiding being sacked.

All the top QBs are gifted throwers: Rodgers, Vick, Brady, Brees even the young guys: Flacco, Stafford, Freeman all those guys can chuck the ball.

80% of drives where the QB is sacked don't result in a TD.

The ability to turn a sack into a non-sack imo is the second most valueable skill a QB can have.

Imo Luck has the later which I call playamaking but doesn't have the elite arm strength 'off the backfoot 60 yard bomb' that Cam and Jake have.

[bleys]

this is the NFL... mark my words, you NEVER take a positive looking prospect over an unproven one..

[Cat'sGrowl]

Why do threads like these get so much traction while the good ones get ignored?

[teeray]

Luck is good and has a chance to be really good in the NFL. I'm just not convinced he is the best prospect in 25 years.

I think the media has taken a guy that is a very good QB prospect and converted him to the greatest prospect ever. Just like they did Reggie Bush.

Again I like Luck's game a lot but he still has issues throwing accurately on intermediate routes. He looked very average on certain throws recently when he was in Durham. His numbers looked great (one of his best games statistically actually) but many of his throws were not very good at all.

How his game transitions to the NFL is a mystery to me. He is clearly the best QB eligible for next year's draft so my criticism is being very nitpicky, but him being a slam dunk star in the NFL is not true.

And college offenses is the single most overrated attribute these days. It is a myth and Cam Newton is further dispelling that myth as we speak.

[KillerKat]

Really if any "Panthers fan" still wants Luck over Newton, it's because they don't want a black QB. Plain and simple.

[NCstoner420]

I'm pretty sure those votes for Luck are coming from fans of other NFC South teams.

[the butch]

cam is carrying the football team, which is what clausen couldn't do. andrew luck would not have anywhere near the success cam has had. i take cam any day. now, if he can just work on his accuracy, and avoid the sanchez effect.

[mav1234]

Imo Luck has the later which I call playamaking but doesn't have the elite arm strength 'off the backfoot 60 yard bomb' that Cam and Jake have.

not that I am saying Luck has the same strength as Cam, and while he might not be able to throw the ball 60 yards off his back foot, but there are a bunch of occurrences of him throwing it 40 or so while off balance or other weird poo. His arm is very strong, even if it isn't "cam strong."

I'm glad we have Cam and I think he's exceeding expectations of most everyone (outside his personal expectations, where he clearly feels like he's falling short from what we're hearing), but I think too much of this forum feels the need to tear down Luck because they feel slighted he didn't come out.

I can understand that, and I certainly hope he always lives in Cam's shadow ;) but I also realize the guy is a great prospect.

as to the 25 years thing, I usually hear the best prospect in the last 10 or so, I haven't really heard 25 much, but then again, I kinda tuned out to the luck hype after he went back so no doubt his legend grew with his neckbeard.

[David Duke Is a Bad Person]

I remember last year a lot people were clamoring for Luck. Not me. Infact, I stated Newton would be the better choice. Even though I thought Newton would be better than Luck, I was not high on him. I never imagined he would be this great. I think Luck will be a good QB in the NFL, but it is hard to believe that he will be better than Newton.

[mav1234]

Ryan Leaf's first 4 games...

16 for 31 with a 54.8 rating

13 for 24 with a 78.3 rating

1 for 15 with a 0.0 rating

15 for 34 with a 22.9 rating

In those 4 games, Leaf threw 1 TD and 8 INT's

For the season, Leaf threw for 1289 yds, with 2 TD's and 15 INT's

Cam has already thrown for more yards in 4 games than Leaf did in 10.

Please don't mention these 2 in the same breath.

actually that poster was right - people were saying early (it may have actually been after week 2 though, not 4, can't recall) that Indy made the wrong choice - not solely because of stats, but because of wins...