I wrote my column today on why the Panthers should make rookie quarterback Cam Newton their starter in the season opener.
Coach Ron Rivera edged in that direction Sunday afternoon without going all the way, saying Newton will start and play the first three quarters in the Panthers' third exhibition -- Thursday night at Cincinnati. Jimmy Clausen will likely play all or most of the fourth quarter.
In other words, if Newton doesn't mess things up too badly, he's the starter from here on out. But Rivera isn't saying that yet -- he's hedging a little, which is probably smart given that he doesn't have to make this decision yet. The Panthers will use this week as a dress rehearsal for a real game -- actually game-planning for Cincinnati, which they haven't done in the first two preseason games.
Rivera said Sunday that Newton was making good decisions and that his mechanics had improved greatly from the first day of practice but that he needed more "consistency." Very true. In about 4 quarters of play over two preseason games, Newton has yet to lead the offense to a touchdown or convert on a single third down.
Newton wasn't available after the practice to talk to reporters about Rivera's decision.
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9 years ago
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41 comments:
So far Cam has done and said everything you could hope for. He's a rookie quarterback playing in only his second game ever, on a bad team, with a lot of key offensive weapons not playing.
Against Miami he had no chance to shine. The defense got totally dominated from the very beginning and could not get off the field, and offensive line absolutely sucked.
So far, so good. Time will tell.
"He's a rookie quarterback playing in only his second game ever, on a bad team, with a lot of key offensive weapons not playing".
Sounds like last season with Clauson....
Read more: http://scottfowlerobs.blogspot.com/2011/08/newton-to-start-vs-cincy-and-maybe.html#ixzz1VhGEQ0dG
Would really like to see what we got with DA, I'm glad Cam is getting some reps but Anderson should be in the mix as the starter.
Let the flaming begin but I'm not sure AE isn't the best QB on the team.
Derek Anderson? Please. Anybody advocating for him to start seems to know very little about football. Anderson wasn't good enough for Cleveland and for Arizona but he is good enough for Charlotte?
Forget it. Let Cam develop and let's all be patient rather than knee jerk critics.
I agree with this decision...Cam gives the Panthers the best chance to win. Check out my blog post regarding this topic at www.sportsunderreview.com and leave a comment.
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How Fowler has a job I do not know. Panthers have been in town long enough for him to learn something about Pro football, but he knows nothing as far as I can see.
Starting Newton this year really would be a mistake. Very few rookie QB's can make the jump to the NFL and start on a bad team from the get go without damage to their heads/confidence.
Newton played 2 years in college and has major character issues IMO. He's never faced adversity cause he's been the best player on the field. He is not the best on the field in the NFL.
Clauson is the same in many respects, but he had plenty of college reps and should be playing better. Can you beleive some people had him as a 1st rounder?
Start Anderson give Newton time to learn the game, or he wil get killed this year.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeDe00.htm
I think the team is better than it was when Clausen had to play and take over when Moore got hurt. It was frustrating to watch as the receivers kept dropping the ball. It was a lost season with too many rookies and too many seasoned players out injured.
I am for putting Newton out there to sink or swim.
I don't like Newton. He knew about the pay for play and lied. He has no character and we don't need that on our team. That said, he has not produced anything for this team so far. Case in point - Miami game. He and Clausen had almost the same numbers, with one exception. Clausen led the team to ten points. Points win games. Number one draft pick hype over a a dishonest one hit wonder from college does not.
YES !!!!
ONE STEP CLOSER TO NEXT YEARS #1 PICK AND MR ANDREW LUCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://shoutitfromtheroof.blogspot.com/
Trade Clausen for Tebow...don't have anything to lose IMO.
(written 10:30 am - Charlotte Observer)
What Cam Newton needs outside of an intact team, is REPs. He cannot get reps on the bench. He has to play - period. That's right - PLAY! Play through mistakes and successes. He needs continuity. The vets waiting for regular season don't help, but who can blame them? But that along with missing camp time, means that Cam has to play now to make up for missing REPs in camp.
We should play Cam and suffer any growing pain associated with that. Barring a total meltdown, like fumbles and INTs, Cam should continue to play. If it becomes clear that he can't do it yet, then and only then should we consider Clausen or Anderson.
Friday we had the ball all of 2 series in the 1st quarter. We were beaten in the trenches. That cannot continue. We have paid our OL too much for that to happen. Right now Cam is OK. He has not given the ball to the other team and has shown flashes of what's to come. I expect coach to name him tonight so he gets all the reps this week.
Obviously, neither Fig Newton or Clausin Pickle have the slightest chance of winning an NFL game. So why not start the one guy we have on the team who is? Derek Anderson is a former all-pro. Unless he's forgotten how to throw, he needs to be starting. Duh.
Last year was the rebuilding year. Time to win. Get Anderson on the field.
Where is Jake Delhomme when you need him?
If the arguement is that Clausen "should be" better with his pro-style college offense, and that the stats between Clausen and Newton are "the same", does that not demonstrate that Cam has gotten to the same place Jimmy is in a few weeks, even though Jimmy has a year of experience under his belt?
I think the coach is doing a good job of trying to set deadlines for naming the starter, but the bottom line is they're both too inconsistent now to make a final decision.
Meanwhile, John Fox seems to have all the quarterbacks he needs to do OK in Denver - how's all this working out for us?
Derek,
Can you please stop posting on the comment board? You blew your chance in Arizona and Cleveland. You are probably much more frentic than Clausen. Keep quiet and do your job. If both Clausen and Newton get hurt then we may consider you. But stop posting on these boards already. Only an idiot would advocate you starting!
@ Anon. 6:15: What the heck does "FRENTIC" mean? Why don't you shut up if you can't make a coherent sentence?
to name CN a starter for cincinati game is the smart move by coach , this way we will see how CN play
the game. If CN ready then he will be a starter if CN not ready then coach will start DA,
HELLO PEOPLE !!!!!! Did the Panthers bring in Derek Anderson just to teach Fig Newton and Clauson Pickle(love those nicknames)( I thought they had quarterback coaches for that !) DA is the man to start the season and give us a chance to put some W's up. Don't worry about the rest of the team, they will come together with the W's.
Neither QB put anything together anything in the last contest...I'm a die-hard Camelot believer...But I don't want to threw Cam out there to early...I like the way coach is platooning Cam and Clausen...Bottom line...Cam's talent is far superior...I want Cam to succeed and the Panthers to succeed...So whatever coach deems necessary so be it...Cam shake them haters off...You know some people are just not ready...And plus you kno you have these perfect people who have never made a mistake in life...Peace and God's Blessings to you...Lead your team...That's right I said your team to victory...
How many footballs will Newton throw at Steve Smiths feet before the little fella get pissed again ?
I don't care if Bozo the clown plays qb. I hope Cam wows me, if not it's Clausen's turn. If not him, give DA a shot. Losing just sucks.
I loved Joe Persons column on Byron Bell. Hey Byron, ever thought maybe you would like to play nose tackle ?? We really could use one !!
The Miami game is a preview of what Cam would be like if started before mid-season. If you can stomach an 0-8 start, and being blown out in most of those games.. go for it. It would just be like last season. Cam will get the Clausen treatment from the fickle fan base... and back to square one in the 2012 draft.
Does being black have anything to do with starting this criminal poser QB?
Oh no ...
Used to work at as a prison guard for years and you can spot a his kind a mile away. They are all alike with their big grins and wide smiles but deep inside they are very sick.
They all have very low self esteem and lack mental skills to cope so they resort to crime and cheating. they never change and never stop committing crimes. Its a sad situation.
Let the thief play, that will give us the no.1 pick in 2012 and we can get a real QB in Andrew Luck and get rid of this stupid pick in 2011 the thief, lier and cheater
We Believe in you Cam. You are the most exciting thing to happen to the city since we went to the superbowl in 03! PANTHeRS AND CAM 012..GeT DOWN WITH IT OR GeT OUT OF OUR CITY!
"Meanwhile, John Fox seems to have all the quarterbacks he needs to do OK in Denver".......but his stick in the mud, refuse to change game plans on the fly when it clearly isn't working attitude will run them in the ground as he did here in Carolina. "Run" being the operative word as the man never saw a run play he didn't like on first or third down. I tuned in the other night to watch Denver just to see Fox on the sideline clapping for his Bronco players even after poor play. I wasn't disappointed. I welcome Rivera and his decisions.
Good news! The sooner Cam Newton starts the sooner it becomes evident he is a bust and the Panthers won't waste anymore time on this project.
Scott- Is it possible to screen posts before they make it on your blog? The small minority of posters on this thread that are embarrassingly ignorant ruin it for everyone.
August 21, 2011 9:57 PM
Like you?
Some of these babified wusheads cant stomach the real truth can they? I want my mommy ...
Not only can't he play but he don't appear to have any leadership qualities. His very deportment and behavior appears silly and pre-adolescent. Someone needs to tell him he is in a mans game now. Its not the size its, the qualities of leadership and maturity are what the other players are going to be able to accept.
But he needs to start and play and show what he has. Let him play the entire game. In the meantime we need to look to Clausen and Anderson. At least they appear more mature.
The best thing that could happen to the Panthers is for Cam to have a career ending injury so they'll forget about trying to make an NFL QB out of an athlete.
Gabbert was spot on his second game, even announcers saying his receivers were totally at fault on all the incompletions. Gabbert didnt throw it at feet, 5 yds away etc. That kids already got Garrard on the ropes.
We on the other hand have no choice. We are stuck with a goofy grinned dummy who will sell tickets.
And when we DO have the #1 pick next year, we wont pick Luck. Why? Because they wont want to look like they made a mistake, and they waont want to endure the wrath of all the racist accusations
We are STUCK with this clown, ... UNLESS he goes down with a tremedous hit, once and for all ending his career.
His daddy can go buy a bigger money-makin church somewheres and teach Cam how to play the organ.
Then everyone will like his dumassed grin
Cam Newton is nowhere near ready to start. Throwing him to the wolves on day one has the potential to do much more harm than good.
In the first place, there is a new offensive scheme being installed and from the looks of the last game, nobody is even close to having a handle on it.
Why would you put your new prize quarterback in a position to get hurt through lack of experience because of a line that isn't on the same page yet?
Clausen has experience, reads the defense better and deserves a chance to redeem himself after last year's debacle. The upside is tremendous. If Clausen suceeds, the Panthers will be in the same position Philly was this year with two starting quality quarterbacks.
Rivera is a great organizer, his military background gave him that. I suspect that by mid season he will have the team performing like a well oiled marine, Clausen will be able to fulfill whatever potential he has. Newton will get the chance to learn and become the starter he was envisioned to be when they drafted him. I remind everyone that David Carr had that kind of potential when the Texans drafted him. After years of being beaten to death because his offensive line let him down, he was like a deer in the headlights. Newton doesn't deserve to be put into the same position Clausen was a year ago. Clausen gained his experience the hard way last year and from the looks of things, it will be a while before the team gets it's act together enough to give him the protection he needs. Furthermore, he deserves that chance.
Look at what standing on the sideline looking for a couple of years did for Aaron Rogers! It's not a bad idea to sit Newton!
August 22, 2011 10:05 AM
BWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWAWA ...
keep on whining ... that will make it all better .... yo boy sux bigtime ... its real baddddddddd...
embarrasing after all that hype bs
and stop breathing. its fowlering up the oxygen that other decent people have to breathe on this planet
Clausen has all the tools to be a NFL pocket passer. Go ahead and give up on him if you want, but he will be around this league for a long time. Newton is a great athlete...so were Cordell Stewart and Vince Young. Where are they now? They are not NFL QB material. Clausen is. Invest the time in a SECOND YEAR PLAYER and let him develop.
Pro Bowler Anderson needs to get the start with Clausen in the wings.
Like they've been saying, switch Newton to WR to begin teaching him how to run routes and catch passes. Othwerwise its a waste of time.
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