Writer claims Cam Newton is a better pocket-passer than Andrew Luck and more mobile than Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, and Russell Wilson
ESPN is at it again with another awful article, this one written by Pat Yasinskas. It revolves around 2011 #1 draft pick Cam Newton - quarterback of the Carolina Panthers.
In the article, Yasinskas writes the following gems:
"...Yeah, I'll even step out on a limb and say he (Newton) has a better 2013 season than Wilson, Kaepernick, Luck and RG III.
Why?
Several reasons pop to mind, but let's start with this -- Newton has more all-around talent than any of those guys.
Luck can pass nicely, but opposing defenses don't have to game plan for his running ability. Wilson, RG III and Kaepernick each have some throwing ability, but they aren't pure pocket passers, and their big 2012 seasons came largely because of their mobility.
Newton is capable of more than any of those guys, because he's as mobile as RG III, Kaepernick and Wilson. At the same time, he's as good a pocket passer as Luck."
and
"But you can't overlook Newton and the Panthers headed into the 2013 season, and that takes us back to Newton's rare ability. He is so talented, I don't think Carolina's coaching staff really knew how to maximize his ability in his first two seasons.
For reasons that never have been explained and I sure as heck can't figure it out, the Carolina coaching staff didn't take advantage fully of what Newton brings or what else was on the roster at the start of last season."
and
"In other words, they turned their quarterback (Newton) into a running back.
Opposing defenses didn't have to worry much about Newton's passing, and that was one of the major reasons the Panthers got off to a 2-8 start."
and
"But, first and foremost, let Newton be a passer.
There aren't many quarterbacks in the league with Newton's arm strength. The Panthers need to play to that strength.
If they do, Newton won't be overlooked anymore, and this team could be in the playoffs."
What is Mr. Yasinkas smoking? While Cam Newton is undoubtedly very talented, the guy is not a pocket-passing quarterback like Andrew Luck. He's not as quick as Robert Griffin III or Colin Kaepernick. He's actually a worse passer than Luck, Kaepernick, Griffin, and Russell Wilson. What Newton has on all four of those quarterbacks is experience. If he gets outperformed by any of them this year, it will be seen as a disappointment, since this will be Newton's 3rd season in the league and just the 2nd for the other four quarterbacks. However, in saying that, I think the writer is going to be in for a disappointing season if he seriously believes Newton will exceed the likes of Andrew Luck, Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson this year. The playoffs aren't a likely destination for the Panthers at season's end either. Atlanta seems to have an even stronger team going into this coming season than they had last year when they won the NFC South. New Orleans will likely improve with there being greater structure and stability on the sidelines following last year's coaching scandal. Tampa Bay has made some key off-season moves. At this point in time, I'm hard-pressed to see Carolina as anything but the probable cellar dweller of the division.
Yasinskas claims that Griffin, Wilson, and Kaepernick rely more on their mobility for success through the air than Newton. Has this guy seen any of these quarterbacks play? Newton's mobility is a huge factor for success he has through the air. The guy has a very strong arm, but isn't incredibly accurate. Even when taking into account his mobility freeing up receivers at times, Newton has only completed 58.9% of his passes through his first two seasons, and has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 40 : 29. Newton has been very effective on the ground, in rushing for 22 touchdowns, while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He's also lost 6 fumbles.
Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson were ranked 3rd and 4th in all the NFL in pass efficiency last year, at 102.4 and 100.0, respectively. RG III completed 65.6% of his passes, threw 20 touchdowns, compared to only 5 interceptions, rushed for 7 more scores, and averaged 6.8 yards per carry, while losing 2 fumbles. Russell Wilson completed 64.1% of his passes, threw 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, rushed for 4 scores, and averaged 5.2 yards per carry, while losing 1 fumble. Colin Kaepernick also had a great rating in limited playing time, at 98.3. He completed 62.4% of his passes and threw 10 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions. He also rushed for an additional 5 scores and averaged 6.6 yards per carry, while losing 2 fumbles. Statistically speaking, Andrew Luck had the worst year of any of these quarterbacks, but he was also given the most responsibility. He completed just 54.1% of his passes, threw 23 touchdowns, was picked off 18 times, rushed for 5 additional scores, and averaged 4.1 yards per carry, while not losing a fumble.
Yeah, I'm not sure what Pat Yasinskas is smoking, but especially with it being Friday and all, I'd like some of that as well.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/47843/cam-newton-poised-for-breakout-year
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13994/cam-newton
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14875/robert-griffin-iii
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14881/russell-wilson
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14001/colin-kaepernick
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14874/andrew-luck
In the article, Yasinskas writes the following gems:
"...Yeah, I'll even step out on a limb and say he (Newton) has a better 2013 season than Wilson, Kaepernick, Luck and RG III.
Why?
Several reasons pop to mind, but let's start with this -- Newton has more all-around talent than any of those guys.
Luck can pass nicely, but opposing defenses don't have to game plan for his running ability. Wilson, RG III and Kaepernick each have some throwing ability, but they aren't pure pocket passers, and their big 2012 seasons came largely because of their mobility.
Newton is capable of more than any of those guys, because he's as mobile as RG III, Kaepernick and Wilson. At the same time, he's as good a pocket passer as Luck."
and
"But you can't overlook Newton and the Panthers headed into the 2013 season, and that takes us back to Newton's rare ability. He is so talented, I don't think Carolina's coaching staff really knew how to maximize his ability in his first two seasons.
For reasons that never have been explained and I sure as heck can't figure it out, the Carolina coaching staff didn't take advantage fully of what Newton brings or what else was on the roster at the start of last season."
and
"In other words, they turned their quarterback (Newton) into a running back.
Opposing defenses didn't have to worry much about Newton's passing, and that was one of the major reasons the Panthers got off to a 2-8 start."
and
"But, first and foremost, let Newton be a passer.
There aren't many quarterbacks in the league with Newton's arm strength. The Panthers need to play to that strength.
If they do, Newton won't be overlooked anymore, and this team could be in the playoffs."
What is Mr. Yasinkas smoking? While Cam Newton is undoubtedly very talented, the guy is not a pocket-passing quarterback like Andrew Luck. He's not as quick as Robert Griffin III or Colin Kaepernick. He's actually a worse passer than Luck, Kaepernick, Griffin, and Russell Wilson. What Newton has on all four of those quarterbacks is experience. If he gets outperformed by any of them this year, it will be seen as a disappointment, since this will be Newton's 3rd season in the league and just the 2nd for the other four quarterbacks. However, in saying that, I think the writer is going to be in for a disappointing season if he seriously believes Newton will exceed the likes of Andrew Luck, Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson this year. The playoffs aren't a likely destination for the Panthers at season's end either. Atlanta seems to have an even stronger team going into this coming season than they had last year when they won the NFC South. New Orleans will likely improve with there being greater structure and stability on the sidelines following last year's coaching scandal. Tampa Bay has made some key off-season moves. At this point in time, I'm hard-pressed to see Carolina as anything but the probable cellar dweller of the division.
Yasinskas claims that Griffin, Wilson, and Kaepernick rely more on their mobility for success through the air than Newton. Has this guy seen any of these quarterbacks play? Newton's mobility is a huge factor for success he has through the air. The guy has a very strong arm, but isn't incredibly accurate. Even when taking into account his mobility freeing up receivers at times, Newton has only completed 58.9% of his passes through his first two seasons, and has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 40 : 29. Newton has been very effective on the ground, in rushing for 22 touchdowns, while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He's also lost 6 fumbles.
Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson were ranked 3rd and 4th in all the NFL in pass efficiency last year, at 102.4 and 100.0, respectively. RG III completed 65.6% of his passes, threw 20 touchdowns, compared to only 5 interceptions, rushed for 7 more scores, and averaged 6.8 yards per carry, while losing 2 fumbles. Russell Wilson completed 64.1% of his passes, threw 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, rushed for 4 scores, and averaged 5.2 yards per carry, while losing 1 fumble. Colin Kaepernick also had a great rating in limited playing time, at 98.3. He completed 62.4% of his passes and threw 10 touchdowns to only 3 interceptions. He also rushed for an additional 5 scores and averaged 6.6 yards per carry, while losing 2 fumbles. Statistically speaking, Andrew Luck had the worst year of any of these quarterbacks, but he was also given the most responsibility. He completed just 54.1% of his passes, threw 23 touchdowns, was picked off 18 times, rushed for 5 additional scores, and averaged 4.1 yards per carry, while not losing a fumble.
Yeah, I'm not sure what Pat Yasinskas is smoking, but especially with it being Friday and all, I'd like some of that as well.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/47843/cam-newton-poised-for-breakout-year
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/13994/cam-newton
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14875/robert-griffin-iii
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14881/russell-wilson
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/14001/colin-kaepernick
http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14874/andrew-luck
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