I really wanted this guy to be a bust (no I'm not an Oregon fan, I just hate his "entertainer and icon" bullshit comments) but after watching him against my Packers last week I'm convinced he's going to be great, he can drive the hell out of the ball, he's elusive, decisive and completely unafraid. He's going to be Ben Rothlesberger Mk II, I'm almost sure of it.
I know this is the a thread about Newton but why is Steve Smith getting so much hate? The guy has had a bad last two years but he is only 31 still fast and hard to cover hasn't looked washed up the last two games and I doubt he will look washed up this year. I wouldn't be surprised if smith ended up with 12 TD and 1700 yards this year.
How weird is this? He showed none of that pocket presence at Auburn. It's like he got a brand new skill set. He's been great so far this year. I'm with Nikolokolus, he's Roethlisberger 2.0.
So far this week, Cam Newton sit's 20th with two QB's to play in total QB ranking stats. Better than last week, but still in the lower half of starting QB's around the league. At this point he has been slightly below average, which is pretty good for a rookie QB, but certainly not great by any means
I'm a h8ter (and probably b/c I'm racist), but I'm willing to give him a pass for yesterday. In a monsoon, he didn't fumble or toss a pick. I think it was a better game than heaving to Stevie Smith (whether he's double-covered or not), tossing a few picks and racking up yardage in a loss. AND they won.
Did you watch any of the game? It was some of the hardest rain I've even seen in my life, and they had to play in it. Newton got his first 4th-quarter comeback win in only his 3rd NFL game, and he didn't turn the ball over while playing in a swamp.
I only watched part of the game, but watching water cascading down the steps of the stadium was a sight to behold. Anyway, back to Newton, the weather certainly played a part in his struggles, but I think all his mediocre performance demonstrated is that rookie QBs are by their very nature inconsistent and he's not immune. Regardless (as much as it pains me to say it) I think he's going to end up one of the great ones if stays focused on football and being great and doesn't get sidetracked by all of the bullshit that comes with the pro-athlete lifestyle.
I saw the game. I thought he did ok. I think he has done ok all season. Not God like, not future great one like, not crappy like either. He is ok.
I don't think anyone saying he is "great" right now, which is why I find it odd that you repeatedly use current statistics when his future is unknown. I could probably post John Elway's and Peyton Manning's stats from their first 3 career starts, go back in time, and say how neither them are special, either, and how they'll be average QBs.
You went from saying anyone could do what he did in the first game, comparing him to Vince Young and laughing out loud at his quarterback rating to now saying he is OK. At this pace, a few more good games and you too will be calling him god.
I think he is doing ok. I get frustrated when people throw out terms like God like and Great when describing a QB that has been below average so far this season.
Actually, I decided to post Elway's stats from his first three games. Game 1 - 1/8 14yds 1 INT Game 2 - 9/21 106 yds 1rush/2yds Game 3 - 18/33 193yds 1TD 2INT 4rush/29yds Elway's rookie stats (23 years old as a rookie) 11 games/10 starts 1663 yds 47.5% 7 TD 14 INT 54.9 QB rtg
I'm interested in what Peyton Manning's stats are for that, and then the same drill for Todd Marinovich, Andre Ware and Duante Culpepper (who I think is a better comparison than Roethlisberger, down to the inflated stats from throwing bombs to Randy Moss/Steve Smith). Gut feel is that it's tough to project greatness after 3 games.
