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Rookie Positional Race: Panthersâ?? QB Cam Newton
Rookie Positional Race: Panthersâ?? QB Cam Newton
When you're selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, or any NFL Draft for that matter, there are some rather high expectations that come along with it. Clearly, former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton (notes) knows what the Panthers are hoping to get out of him and is ready to do whatever he can to prove that his team is no longer the worst in the NFL.
Newton took college football by storm in 2010 and led his Auburn Tigers to a National Championship while earning himself some hardware in the process. He hauled in the numerous awards, including the 2010 Heisman Trophy, and proved that he was one of the most dynamic NFL prospects heading into the draft. Since the Panthers used the first pick on him, he's been tagged as a huge boom-bust type prospect. Whether he turns out to be the Panthers' savior or the draft pick that puts the franchise back five years, all we can do is sit back and watch as the story of one of the most speculated-on players in recent football history begins to unfold.
In the way of quarterbacks, the Panthers have five other players besides Newton currently on the roster pending any free agency or trade departures. Those five quarterbacks are: Jimmy Clausen (notes) (2 nd year), [Matt Moore]e|/nfl/players/8544 (notes) (5 th year), Tony Pike (notes) (2 nd year), Brian St. Pierre (notes) (9 th year) and Keith Null (notes) (3 rd year). Both Moore and Null were tendered contracts during the off-season, but their futures with the team still seem to be up in the air. Especially with the addition of Newton, don't except more than three of these other guys to still be on the roster by the beginning of the 2011 NFL regular season.
The 2010 NFL season was a nightmare for the NFL-worst 2-14 Panthers, especially at the quarterback position. Moore started the year but didn't look comfortable and eventually fell to a season-ending labrum tear. Clausen took over the signal-calling duties, but didn't do much better. Despite attempting almost 300 passes, he only managed to connect for three touchdowns while tossing nine interceptions. Although he clearly wasn't ready to handle the starting spot, a poor offensive line didn't help as the season quickly went down the drain. Even after St. Pierre and Pike got their chances, none of their quarterbacks could prove themselves worry of the starting spot. Hence, Newton was taken No. 1 overall.
Whether he starts right off the bat or not, Newton will be the future for the Panthers at the quarterback position. Considering the fact that the NFL lockout has forced Newton to keep his distance from [Carolina]e|Panthers coaches, he may not be ready to take control of the Panthers' offense when their Week 1 game against the Arizona Cardinals rolls around. Even if Clausen is holding the reins when they head to [Arizona]e|place to start the season off, Newton won't be roaming the sidelines for too long. He'll undoubtedly get his chance to earn his pay sooner rather than later.
There's no denying the fact that Newton has the rare athleticism and play-making abilities to be a tremendous NFL quarterback. His throwing motion, footwork and accuracy still need some refinement, but his ability to make plays with his feet make up for his current deficiencies in the throwing department. No matter what the defense shows him, he always seems to find a way to make something positive out of it. New head coach Ron Rivera will definitely be hard at work trying to burn away some of the rawness that still lingers in his game. During the time leading up to the draft, Newton even displayed mental toughness as he fielded and responded to criticism in stride. Regardless of all of the question marks, the Panthers have to be encouraged knowing that Newton will have given them 110 percent when all is said and done.
Even with all of the uncertainty that his future holds, it's hard to say that the Panthers made a poor choice in drafting him. If he turns out to be the dynamic player that they were hoping for, they could be vying for a playoff spot in the next couple of years. I wouldn't be saying that if Clausen was the best quarterback they had to offer.
The future of this franchise depends in large part on how successful Newton is. When he gets his chance to shine, we'll see if he can handle the heat or if he shrivels under the spotlight.
My prediction:
Chances of starting by Week 1: 70 percent
Chances of starting by Week 8: 95 percent
Gil Alcaraz IV has been a diehard NFL fan since the age of nine. From the NFL Draft to the Super Bowl, and everything in between, he never misses a beat when it comes to the NFL. Make sure to follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV as he keeps you up to date on everything inside the world of football. Don't be afraid to drop him a line while you're at it!
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