KC Joyner: Cam 3rd Best Player Under 25

[fieryprophet]

It's an Insider piece, but here's Cam's snippet (LeSean McCoy and Matt Stafford were 1 and 2)

3. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers, 23

Pros: Newton earned a Pro Bowl nomination in 2011 by becoming the first player in league history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in a single season. His 14 rushing touchdowns were the second most in the NFL behind McCoy. Despite these achievements, Newton is fired up to move his game to the next level and prove his remaining doubters wrong.

Cons: How much of Newton's success last season can be attributed to the effects of the lockout? His passing numbers were great early in the year when defenses were hamstrung play calling-wise -- he posted at least 374 passing yards in three of his first four games -- but fell off dramatically as the season progressed, tallying 208 or fewer passing yards in five of his final six games. Newton also had major issues in the bad decision rate department, as his 4.2 percent mark in that category was the fifth highest in the league. (BDR measures a quarterback's propensity for making mental errors that lead to turnover chances for the opponent.)

[Udogg]

K.C Joyner ......

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I can agree with that, but not after this year. :cam:

[Marguide]

I can buy Stafford.

McCoy, not so much.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

McCoy is a top five running back, if Newton was a top five quarterback; I could see your agrument... but he's not, YET!

[Chaos]

Geez, more of this "the lockout helped his numbers" poo? Rookie, no offseason programs, less TC practices due to CBA, etc.

[Argus Plexus]

Get the fu*k out of here Joyner

[mav1234]

his reasoning may be questionable for his cons, but I think in many ways he is right on with him being the 3rd best player under 25 based on pro careers so far but I expect him to zoom past those guys.

Also, while I agree with the ranking, if you had a ranking of "player you'd choose to build your franchise around under 25," he would be ahead of Stafford imo (not by much, but yeah) because of the injury history Stafford has. N I'd build around Cam every time, because even a little bit can make a big difference in those kind of decisions.

Stafford also looks to have a very bright future now and I think has proven he's a good QB over more than one season, so I get him being a bit ahead of Cam for now - not meant as a knock on Cam here, just recognition that Stafford has been here a little bit longer. I expect Cam will pass him this coming year though if he improves like I expect.

As others have mentioned, McCoy is a great player, easily one of the best in the league at his position and as such I understand his placement on that list... but you wouldn't build a team around a RB, hence why Cam would come ahead of him for me if I was looking at a young player to build around.

[Beast_3000]

his reasoning may be questionable for his cons, but I think in many ways he is right on with him being the 3rd best player under 25 based on pro careers so far but I expect him to zoom past those guys.

Also, while I agree with the ranking, if you had a ranking of "player you'd choose to build your franchise around under 25," he would be ahead of Stafford imo (not by much, but yeah) because of the injury history Stafford has. N I'd build around Cam every time, because even a little bit can make a big difference in those kind of decisions.

Stafford also looks to have a very bright future now and I think has proven he's a good QB over more than one season, so I get him being a bit ahead of Cam for now - not meant as a knock on Cam here, just recognition that Stafford has been here a little bit longer. I expect Cam will pass him this coming year though if he improves like I expect.

As others have mentioned, McCoy is a great player, easily one of the best in the league at his position and as such I understand his placement on that list... but you wouldn't build a team around a RB, hence why Cam would come ahead of him for me if I was looking at a young player to build around.

I agree with everything in your argument. The key point being Cam would be the best player under 25 to build your team around even before Stafford. I can go with Joyner's list for now, gives our boy a little extra motivation. Let’s check back after this season.

Why does every analyst try to say defenses had a huge learning curve without OTA's? HELLO.....so did the Panthers including a new offense and defense being installed. It is ludicrous to say the least. A rookie quarterback has a bigger learning curve, not the 3 to 7 year veteran playing in the same defense.

[Brokenbad]

McCoy is flash in the pan.

Everyone knows that Philly's offense is ran off of high percentage pass plays and anyone who plays on that offense is made to look like a superstar.

[panthers55]

Running back is much easier to learn than quarterback so having McCoy there is no big issue. As for Cam versus Stafford, you would hope that Stafford would be ahead given Cam was a rookie and Stafford has been a league a while. Now if the question were who has a bigger upside or will have a bigger future between Cam and Matthew, most folks would take Cam. I know that Stafford would not have been on this list as a rookie.

[Mage]

McCoy is flash in the pan.

Everyone knows that Philly's offense is ran off of high percentage pass plays and anyone who plays on that offense is made to look like a superstar.

Right.

Seriously, the things that people type on this forum really make me question some things. Anyone who watches McCoy play and thinks he is a "product of the system" is either a fool or just saying it in this case because he was ranked above a player on their team. McCoy is the most elusive back in football right now and as far as being a "flash in the pan," he has two straight seasons with 1600+ yards from scrimmage and 29 touchdowns the past two seasons.

But yeah, flash in the pan. :rolleyes:

[Marguide]

I don't think anyone is doubting that McCoy is a great player. But 29 TD's in two years does not compare with 35 in one year.

In a league where teams give up just about anything to get a franchise QB (see RG3 in Washington), and where RB's are being de-valued (see MJD in Jax), it's hard to justify McCoy over Cam.

[rayzor]

i'm not going to complain about our QB just being listed as the 3rd best under 25 NFL player.

imo, he's got an asterisk beside this season in the same way others are having to qualify his success. people say it was in part because of the shortened offseason being hard on defenses as well as the lack of game tape.

cam's asterisk is deserved because:

1) he was a rookie

2) shortened offseason

1. very limited time with coaches
   
2. very limited time with fellow players
   
3. very little time to learn the playbook
   

3) new coaching staff to the team

4) new system to the team

5) lack of game tape on opposing defenses