I've been entertained this week with the sniping going on between the Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.
It began with 49ers quarterback Alex Smith saying this:
"I could absolutely care less on yards per game. I think that is a totally overblown stat because if you're losing games in the second half, guess what, you're like the Carolina Panthers and you're going no-huddle the entire second half. Yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games. That's great. You're not winning, though."
OK, we'll take that point by point in a minute. But Smith's quote inspired this from Panther linebacker Jon Beason as he defended his quarterback on Twitter:
"Alex smith, don't hate on Cam (because) your stats would've gotten u cut if Peyton decided to come 2 San Fran. Truth b told. That's after a 13-3 yr.”
And then this from San Francisco LB Patrick Willis, also via Twitter: "Wins are Wins I stand with My Qb Alex Smith and all my teammates. I can't wait for the season.”
All right, back to Smith. He had a fine 2011 season as the 49ers went 13-3 and beat New Orleans in the playoffs before losing. He threw an NFL-low five interceptions. He accounted for a total of 19 TDs (17 pass, two rush).
Newton, meanwhile, accounted for 35 TDs (21 pass, 14 rush). He also threw 17 interceptions -- that's the one stat he really must improve in 2012.
The obvious: Smith didn't have to throw much, especially in the second half, because the 49ers' defense was fearsome. Newton did. But it wasn't like he was in the "no-huddle" in the second half every game -- with a few exceptions, most Panther losses were close and the Panthers were running their regular offense until late in the fourth quarter. Newton, in fact, only threw for about 55 yards per game more than Smith on average in 2011.
Smith, 28, obviously is sensitive about his reputation as a "game manager" type quarterback, but that's what he is. He did a nice job of it in 2011. But if you polled 30 GMS (outside of SF's and Carolina's) which player they'd want to build a team right now, I bet at least 90 percent of them would go with Newton.
Newton does so many more things than Smith. He only had three 300-yard passing games last season, actually, not a "lot," as Smith proclaimed, but he also makes so many more plays with his feet. Give Cam the 49ers defense and he would go 13-3, too -- or better.
The only thing I believe Smith does better than Newton right now is avoid the interception. But that hasn't been the case throughout his career -- in the six years he has played, he has a modest TD/interception ratio of 68/58. (Here are Smith's stats).
As for Beason's Peyton Manning reference, he's right on (although Smith wouldn't have been cut, as he was a free agent at the time -- he just wouldn't have been a 49er anymore). It's not close which one of those guys is better. And Manning is better than Newton, too, assuming he's healthy again. Manning is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer tonight; Newton has many more productive years to go before he gets to that point.
So pity the oversensitive Smith, who unnecessarily brought Newton into this fray to bolster his own argument.
To paraphrase that old quote from a political debate: We know Cam Newton in the Carolinas, Alex. And you're no Cam Newton.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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40 comments:
Alex Smith certainly wouldn't have been cut if Peyton Manning was brought in. It is impossible to cut someone that is already a free agent.
90% of GMs would pick Newton over Smith? Ha, no, 100% would pick Newton over Smith.
Ok so Alex Smith is mediocre. Another fact: Cam Newton is overrated. Smith only told the truth. Why berate him for this.
Maybe the right thing to say is that S.F. was the better team last year, but Cam Newton is the more promising QB. It remains to see how things will sort themselves out for both teams over the next few years....
Beason rocks. GET SOME SF fans. If your qb could play, you would've rolled right through the superbowl. An average qb on a team with a world-class defense...won't always win. If Beason and his injured colleagues can stay on the field this year, we will become a team with a GREAT qb, and a wolrd-class defense. You guessed it folks.....that = SUPERBOWL!!!...something Smith can sit and dream about, while he bounces around to 10 different teams as a backup, and comes full circle back to the bay area and retires as 3rd string for the Raiders, in their UMPTEENTH season with no playoffs.
Alex Smith has played on many bad teams that trailed the entire second half. How were his stats then?
Good article Scott, I agree with everything you said.
What a joke Alex Smith.....I like it though, Cam seems to play better when people seem to doubt him. I'm sure the Alex Smith interview will be posted in his locker this year.
Cam and company put up the points. Seven games were decided by a touchdown or less. The defense just couldn't hold 'em plus 2 were lost by Mare. Cam cannot help that situation. Cam has more talent in his little finger than Alex Smith does in his entire body. Smith needs to pick on someone more his caliber...like Rex Grossman perhaps?
How many pro-bowl caliber starters on SF's defense were on IR last year? I bet none. Alex Smith would do well to keep improving and quit whining in the media. He's this decade's Donovan McNabb, but without the talent.
To paraphrase that old quote from the street: (Alex Smith) Keep Cam Newton's name out your mouth!!!
Good objective assessment Will. The only thing I really disagree with is regarding some of Cam's rushing TDs. They were drop back pass plays that broke down and he ran in, not necessarily Xth and Goal plays from the 2 that he took away from D-Will or Stewart. But Cam certainly has a lot of room to grow, especially with the turnovers.
August can't get here fast enough!
The 49ers went 13-3 because they play in a weak division with Arizona, Seattle and St. Louis.
Alex Smith was right, so what's the problem?
I didn't see where he dissed Cam, just saying that stats are for losers. He's right that wins are more important, but the poster who suggested that Alex's stats when he was on losing teams could be compared with Cam's stats, was also right.
Again.. Keep Cam's name out your mouth
leave it on the field, keep his name outcha mouth!
I love it. A Saints fan with the final comments of "Cheaters never win". I find that ironic.
The saints do it "right". "Right" in front of everyone! I would tell you to post on your own articles, but I wouldn't want to read about not having a coach, players suspended, QB unhappy and the team that is pretty much everything you said about Cam. I aint mad at you just pity you. NOT!!!
I am 49er fan and live in Charlotte and I seen both teams play every game. Cam is hype and needs to be proven. He had better WR(Steve Smith)..Alex has a RB and no WR's. Yea 49ers defense was stacked but we are comparing two different teams style of offense. Panthers are pass first and SF is run first. When Alex need to make plays he did...Cam had to throw because the run tandem was average and yes, they were behind and had to throw a lot. I remember some games they were still throwing when down by 10 points with under a minute or Cam was still in the game and the Panthers had no chance of winning. Stats are good to compare but the result is winning. Ask Drew Brees...he broke records last season and hit a wall in SF and Alex Rodgers hit a wall versus the Giants. Alex Smith is not wrong, just Panther fans need to shut up - inlcuding Beason. Beason is too much hype too and if the Panthers had the chance to bring in Patrick Willis(SF) or heck, Ray Lewis over Beason..they would consider it too. SO BEASON KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT....we all remember what happen to Jake he was the next best thing in Charlotte and then he got ran out of here too.
All I know is the one person that should be upset has said absolutely nothing cause all he cares about is winning, just wait til September if y'all think you saw something special last just wait you have not seen anything yet. GO GET EM CAM!!!!
IF THEY SWITCHED TEAMS LAST YEAR -SMITH TO CAROLINA NEWTON TO NINERS TEAMS RECORDS WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN THE SAME -MAYBE CAROLINA WINS ONE OR TWO MORE OF THE CLOSE GAMES BECAUSE OF VETERAN SMITH
Unimaginable how badly the San Francico 49ers would have ripped and eaten the flesh off CPs had they played in 2011. Laughable.
Alex Smith would have obliterated Newton like Drew Brees & his clinics among others others like Matt Stafford etc.
The 5 time world champ SF 49ers even beat the mighty world champ NO Saints in the 'offs and the Saints gobbled Panthers/Newton for a easy light snack twice.
Washed up injury prone bounty Beason better get off the crackpipe or pain pills if he thinks AS would not have burned CN a new mudhole. Such lunacy. Beason's Miami Canes even were suckazz all 4 yrs he was there.
Well, Smith is somewhat accurate but his comments are out of context of the game itself. Passing yards by a QB is an overrated stat unless you win the game. You play to win the game, heard that before? A team is judged on wins/losses. Having said that if Smith were anywhere close to Cam in ability and skill, SF would be Super Bowl Champs. Give Cam half the defense Smith had and you know the rest of the story! Smith, let me ask you this, shut up.
Some of y'all are acting it's like Cam and Alex lining up on the opposite side of the field. The argument here isn't QB's. Alex Smith can't "tear CN a new one" because Cam is on the sideline when Alex is out there. Smith can and probably would rip the Panthers defense a big gaping new one. I'm sure Cam would've had some nice highlight too. Ultimately the 49'ers would win bc DEFENSE wins games....
The next time Alex Smith outplays any quarterback it will be the first time. He didn't carry his team they carried him. His career completion percentage is 58%. His career rating 76.4 percent. And that is with last year. If you took that out well it makes you wonder what he was getting paid for. And given his 7 year career he has averaged less than 2000 yards a season. His career screams journeyman. He knows it and so does anyone paying attention.
all those saying he racked up yards late in games. . . he passed for more yards in the first half of games than the second half. Now, he did throw for more yards while playing from behind but that's also a symptom of how much the panthers were playing from behind.
Alex Smith is a Forty Whiner.
Newton is a complete toad though. I think Smith doubled his score on the Wonderlic. Stupid quarterbacks find a way to screw up. Vince Young was OROTY and a Pro Bowl alternate five years before Newton was. No one thought it was close between he and Alex Smith at that time as to who was the better QB, either.
from what i remember it took alex smith 8 years to have a winning season. newton was a rookie last year with a half-defense; don't be jealous bro
charlotte not a prob
pro sports here ? forget it
x da beastmaster
From ESPN:
First, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith pumped up his biceps.
When you pump up your biceps, you develop some swagger.
When you develop some swagger, you go 13-3 as a starter and advance to the NFC Championship Game.
When you go 13-3 and reach the NFC Championship Game, you get a little cocky.
When you get a little cocky, you suggest you could beat out Peyton Manning in an open QB competition.
When you suggest you could beat out Peyton Manning, you suddenly realize Pro Bowl voters robbed you.
When you think Pro Bowl voters robbed you, you resent a rookie from a 6-10 team going to Hawaii instead.
When you resent a rookie going instead of you, you take unsolicited shots at Cam Newton's credentials.
When you take unsolicited shots at Cam Newton's credentials, stud linebacker Jon Beason rips you on Twitter.
When stud linebacker Jon Beason rips you on Twitter, your friend Patrick Willis, who is even studlier, rallies to your defense.
When someone as studly as Patrick Willis rallies to your defense, you start to feel invincible.
When you start to feel invincible, you contemplate a career in the UFC.
When you opt for a career in the UFC, Brazilian mixed-martial artist Junior dos Santos pummels you into oblivion.
Don't get pummeled into oblivion.
Embrace the low-keyed style that worked so well for you in the past.
all of you are dumb... both are "good" QBs that can be great. one thing to remember, Cam was a rookie last year.....
These comments crack me up. Cams a flop? Yea id hate those stats out of my 1st round QB. cam kept the panthers in many games last year and wasnt the reason they lost 10 games. if the negative people wouldve watched them im sure they wouldnt sound so idiotic. I watched maybe 3 SF games and havent watched enough to pass judgement. But as a fan, i cant imagine there are many who would want Alex Smith over Cam Newton.
after years of arguing on these pages over UNC-State-Duke, I'm glad I can finally post on one that we ALL agree on.
Cam Newton is one bad Mofo!!!!
I like how all the 49ers fans are ripping Cam Newton. They must be still mad they're front office drafted Alex Smith ahead of Aaron Rodgers!
wow anon5:10 is an idiot
The shotgun offense doesn't equal "the spread offense"
I guess Tom Brady spent 95% of his snaps in the "spread offense" according to your football expertise
And if Cam just threw it up and Smith caught it every passing play (not to Lafell, Olsen, Shockey, etc), I guess Alex Smith just threw a 3 yard check down to Vernon Davis every play and he broke it open
The only way they hash it out is in the playoffs. Motivation, motivation, motivation! And somebody fill A. Smith in on the 49ers vs Panthers history. We owned them in the old NFC West.
alex smith is/was/and aways will be a bust. cam newton is a monster
our 7 year old is a better writer than fowler and fowler has to know it
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