Steve Smith "Cam has gone from playing checkers to playing chess"

[mcdougal]

I will say this for the 1 millionth time. This season is NOT ABOUT OUR OFFENSE. It is about our defense carrying our team to a post-season birth. It is about our defensive genius head coach fielding a top 6 defense and that unit setting up our offense with great field position and occasionally scoring as well.

 

This organization has not provided Newton with the necessary parts for him to be anymore than a more athletic Alex Smith. Newton has an OC that most top 25 college football teams would not hire in the same position. He has an undersized 34 year old WR as his go-to option, and the offensive personnel that he is working with is practically the same as in 2010 when they were one of the worst offensive units in the league that year. Only thing that changed is everyone got older.

 

Newton just needs to not turn the ball over and not get too many three and outs or otherwise place the defense in bad positions. This offense should be about running the ball with our million dollar RBs, short check downs, and once or twice a game chucking it deep to Smith or Ginn.

 

Other than that, just stay out of the way of the defense.

[MadHatter]

I will say this for the 1 millionth time. This season is NOT ABOUT OUR OFFENSE. It is about our defense carrying our team to a post-season birth. It is about our defensive genius head coach fielding a top 6 defense and that unit setting up our offense with great field position and occasionally scoring as well.

 

This organization has not provided Newton with the necessary parts for him to be anymore than a more athletic Alex Smith. Newton has an OC that most top 25 college football teams would not hire in the same position. He has an undersized 34 year old WR as his go-to option, and the offensive personnel that he is working with is practically the same as in 2010 when they were one of the worst offensive units in the league that year. Only thing that changed is everyone got older.

 

Newton just needs to not turn the ball over and not get too many three and outs or otherwise place the defense in bad positions. This offense should be about running the ball with our million dollar RBs, short check downs, and once or twice a game chucking it deep to Smith or Ginn.

 

Other than that, just stay out of the way of the defense.

 

I think there is a lot of truth to your statements.  In the past, our defense struggled and Cam believed (knew) that he had to air it out and deliver a shootout for us to have a chance to win. 

 

He now knows that the defense is going to allow him to manage the offense efficiently and win games with a balanced attack.  The most important thing for him to do right now is not turn the ball over....and he isn't.  The offense is talented enough to score 20+ points every Sunday....and the defense is making that easily enough to win with.

 

A great defense is an offenses best friend.

[Johnny Rockets]

Interesting....Steve Smith was on the radio yesterday talking about the upcoming game and how his own game has evolved when facing a guy like Revis. Said this exact thing....he used to play checkers, now he is playing chess.

[Matthias]

[Your Creeper Cabbie]

he will be unstoppable when he learns 3d chess

 

[iamhubby1]

I think there is a lot of truth to your statements.  In the past, our defense struggled and Cam believed (knew) that he had to air it out and deliver a shootout for us to have a chance to win. 

 

He now knows that the defense is going to allow him to manage the offense efficiently and win games with a balanced attack.  The most important thing for him to do right now is not turn the ball over....and he isn't.  The offense is talented enough to score 20+ points every Sunday....and the defense is making that easily enough to win with.

 

A great defense is an offenses best friend.

I agree. Our Defense is definitely in a good place. All our Offense, and hellz, Special Teams, have to do is not turn the ball over, and limit the self inflicted wounds. Everything else is gravy.

Let Cam and Shula figure this thing out, teamed with our D. Yeah, no reason not to be giddy over the future. My, how wins seem to change the atmosphere.

And forgot to even mention how overall depth has improved Special Teams. No one cringes on every return. We cover very well, and Ginn Jr.'s reputation has altered how teams kick and punt to us.

Oh and speaking of things never spoken of. Gano...Every...Fugin'...Kick...Is...Dead Center. He is a machine. Or a Kasay, with KO powers. Dude missed what? One of his first kicks? Last year? That's it right? Can you say Weapon. Once playoff football starts. The Gano's of the world, all of sudden become important.

Ginn Jr. gets more attempts than our enemy does. By the way, our enemy avg. 1 KO return a game. We avg. 2. Some think with the leg Gano possesses, he should kick it higher and shorter, giving us a chance to cover the kick and pin them deep. Me, that all sounds cool and all. But I like how kicking it out of the end zone just adds to our new found big brother type attitude we now play with.

Speaking of Ginn Jr., is this the same guy that was widely considered a bust as a WR? The guy that has worked his butt off to earn everything he has gotten. Routes used to be a problem. Not so much anymore. Drops? 1 I believe. Shies away from contact. May be true to a point, but I have seen him at least attempt to gain yards after contact. Especially that late catch and run against the Rams. Way too bad he didn't get that TD. That play and effort very well could have been a defining moment in his resurgence as a WR.

Man, I am so glad our play has matched my giddy. It was getting crazy there for a few weeks. Winning...the miracle cure all.

[Bronn]

My biggest criticism of Cam at this point is that he still needs to learn to throw the ball away instead of taking some of the sacks he takes. Other than that, he has definitely stepped up the past few weeks.

[CelticCat]

I will say this for the 1 millionth time. This season is NOT ABOUT OUR OFFENSE. It is about our defense carrying our team to a post-season birth. It is about our defensive genius head coach fielding a top 6 defense and that unit setting up our offense with great field position and occasionally scoring as well.

 

This organization has not provided Newton with the necessary parts for him to be anymore than a more athletic Alex Smith. Newton has an OC that most top 25 college football teams would not hire in the same position. He has an undersized 34 year old WR as his go-to option, and the offensive personnel that he is working with is practically the same as in 2010 when they were one of the worst offensive units in the league that year. Only thing that changed is everyone got older.

 

Newton just needs to not turn the ball over and not get too many three and outs or otherwise place the defense in bad positions. This offense should be about running the ball with our million dollar RBs, short check downs, and once or twice a game chucking it deep to Smith or Ginn.

 

Other than that, just stay out of the way of the defense.

 

I have to disagree im afraid. While this year has certaintly seen the emergence of our D (well, the O and D were both ranked about 12 last year) its about them both working together. Hell, even the kicking game is much improved from last year.

 

The O has put together quite a few long drives and deserve some credit for retaining a positive TOP so the D can rest.

 

I also think Shula deserves a little more credit by now than this perception he's the same guy calling the same plays while he was down in Tampa. And yet you suggest that's exactly what we should be doing, playing conservatively while favoring a strong running game.

[csx]

This is pretty much the Cam everyone envisioned coming into the year. A more refined version of last half of the year Cam.

Cam's epiphany last year happened during and after the Colts debacle. He took the checkdowns, flats, intermediates, and learned to throw a mean screen. We went 5-2 and we just knew Cam had just broken out.

Cam's epiphany this year was late in the 1st quarter against the Giants. Since then, he has had 1 bad quarter.

If as I fear, Cam does indeed gots this. Our Offense, as good as its been, is only going to improve. Teamed with our Defense, this team has it going on.

You guys know I like to keep it real, and try to stay within reason in regards to my giddy. But I tell ya what. My giddy is itching to get out and spread its wings.

I still claim the future started last year when Cam turned the corner. We are 8-5 since then. Maybe not great, but respectable to say the least. If we finish 11-5 as I suspect, we would be 16-8 in the last 24. Not bad if you ask me.

Ah hellz, what do I know. I am just a damm yankee, with Hillbilly inlaws that still scare him after 20+ years.

We didnt play the Colts last year. Did you mean the Chiefs?

[bigskypanthersguy]

My biggest criticism of Cam at this point is that he still needs to learn to throw the ball away instead of taking some of the sacks he takes. Other than that, he has definitely stepped up the past few weeks.

 

I distinctly remember one of the sacks he took against the Rams.  The entire time I saw the play break down I kept ranting for him to throw it away, but he simply doesn't seem to want to for whatever reason.  Loving the checkdowns and progressions though.  Very very pleased with his progress to this point, and the Cardinals game seems to have been an aberration.  I just hope we don't see a similar aberration against Tampa tomorrow.

[beastson]

I distinctly remember one of the sacks he took against the Rams.  The entire time I saw the play break down I kept ranting for him to throw it away, but he simply doesn't seem to want to for whatever reason.  Loving the checkdowns and progressions though.  Very very pleased with his progress to this point, and the Cardinals game seems to have been an aberration.  I just hope we don't see a similar aberration against Tampa tomorrow.

 

Gotta get out of the pocket first to throw it away. Some of yall should be happy cause Brady, Manning, and all of them there is  no get out of pocket and throw it away. They take the sacks cause they're not mobile at all lol