Don't Like Running The QB..

[OldSchool]

I watched the Carolina Denver came last night and saw how even a guy as big and mobile as Cam Newton will get hammered. There were a couple of times I thought Newton was going to have to leave the game, the very first game of a very long season. I just don't like running the QB.

Sure it works for awhile but even with a guy as big and strong as Newton a running QB is going to take a lot punishment and evenly comparatively mild injuries like sprained thumbs, wrists and jammed fingers can seriously degrade a QB. Can you imagine how it would've sucked for Carolina if they had actually lost Newton during the first game of the year? I'm glad Gruden is committed to the WCO and a traditional pocket passer, running a QB is a suckers bet.

[DarthMonk]

I watched the Carolina Denver came last night and saw how even a guy as big and mobile as Cam Newton will get hammered. There were a couple of times I thought Newton was going to have to leave the game, the very first game of a very long season. I just don't like running the QB.

Sure it works for awhile but even with a guy as big and strong as Newton a running QB is going to take a lot punishment and evenly comparatively mild injuries like sprained thumbs, wrists and jammed fingers can seriously degrade a QB. Can you imagine how it would've sucked for Carolina if they had actually lost Newton during the first game of the year? I'm glad Gruden is committed to the WCO and a traditional pocket passer, running a QB is a suckers bet.

Dig it.

Plus he leveled someone in a few blocking situations. So his dabbing and dancing combined with his blocking and running make him, justifiably or not, a target. A defender might say "Yo, he's fair game." Throw in a few ear hole shots and you have a risky situation.

I'd save any running for late game desperation.



Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) lies on the turf after Denver Broncos free safety
Darian Stewart (26) was called for roughing the passer during the second half of an NFL football
game, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in Denver. The Broncos won 21-20. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Still feeling disrespected despite bringing home the Lombardi Trophy, members of Denver's nasty defense pledged to keep serving as the Broncos' vicious vanguard in 2016.

They certainly delivered in the opener.

Only, instead of championship rings, their latest clubbing of Cam Newton will surely come with some hefty fines.

Newton was repeatedly hit in the head in Denver's 21-20 win over Carolina in Thursday night's beguiling but brutal NFL kickoff that left fans cringing along with the league's reigning MVP.

The biggest hit on Newton was delivered by safety Darian Stewart on Carolina's final possession, leaving the QB motionless on the ground for several seconds. But his roughing flag was negated by Newton's intentional grounding infraction a split second before he was hit. Newton stayed in and led the Panthers into field goal range, although Graham Gano missed a 50-yard attempt that would have given Carolina the lead with 4 seconds remaining.

Stewart said after the game he felt like he led with his shoulder, not his head.

There were a couple of helmet-to-helmet hits on Newton by last year's Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and Brandon Marshall that went un-flagged by Gene Stetatore's crew, prompting Newton to declare, ''I don't like getting hit in the head,'' but he added he didn't think the Broncos were head-hunting.

Asked if he thought he'd be penalized for his big hit, either through a fine or a suspension, Stewart said, ''I hope not. I'm definitely going to appeal. I didn't think it was that type of play. I didn't think I hit him in the head. I'm just glad it was offsetting penalties.''

Newton was hit while throwing or rushing 17 times Thursday night, the second-worst beating he's ever taken and the only one where he was hit more came in an overtime game.

''We've got to treat Cam like a quarterback,'' Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said. ''I know he's the biggest guy on the field, but he's still a quarterback.''

Except when he's not, said Marshall.

Newton's running ability puts him in harm's way a lot more often than a pure drop-back passer.

''The guy is a big ... tight end, defensive end playing quarterback. What are we supposed to do?'' said Marshall. ''When he's running the ball - they've got quarterback-designed runs, quarterback keeps, quarterback powers, draws, everything - we're going to treat him like a running back.''

The Broncos walloped several of the game's elite QBs on the way to their title last season, holding Aaron Rodgers to the worst performance of his career and putting the hurt on Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady and Newton in the playoffs.

Kubiak said leading up to the game that he wanted his players to play with emotion.

''I think we have the most fun when we're just being ourselves and that's what coach lets us do on game day, and it's our responsibility to stay within the rules and the boundaries,'' safety T.J. Ward said earlier this week. ''And sometimes we cross them but that's part of the game. If you want a team of personalities attacking, sometimes you've got to take the good with the bad.''

Marshall said he knows he could get fined next week by the NFL.

''On my hit, he starts scrambling and there's a big open field,'' Marshall said. ''Yeah, I have Jonathan Stewart on me, but I'm like, 'Cam's running the ball.'"

''Hit him!'' hollered Shane Ray in the locker next to Marshall's.

''Yeah, exactly, as Shane said, you have to hit him,'' Marshall continued. ''And it's tough, man. I think I heard Ray Lewis say you have guys of all sizes and they're falling to the ground, if Cam's moving, you never know, these angles, it's hard to tell these angles. And then sometimes you're going to hit him in the head. I mean, it is what it is, but I think he should be treated more like a running back most of the time because he runs the ball a lot.''

And Newton, at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, is a super-sized running back much of the time, ducking his head just like any other running back slicing his way through the line.

''Hey man, look, I tackled him three times yesterday and I realized how heavy he was,'' Marshall said. ''I'm like, this is a heavy dude. So, everybody, these safeties, they're going to launch at him because they know they've got to get him down.''

Ward said that every time Newton left the pocket and was a runner, ''we tried to put helmet and shoulder pads on him. If you're not going to slide we're going to put something on you. We saw him limping throughout the game so that running stuff, you can't do that all game.''

[Countertrey]

Bob is not Cam Newton... didn't slide today... didn't run directly for the sideline... no... he angled for the defender, electing to drop his shoulder... and... SURPRIZE!!!... he's hurt.

[SkinsJock]

Bob is not Cam Newton... didn't slide today... didn't run directly for the sideline... no... he angled for the defender, electing to drop his shoulder... and... SURPRIZE!!!... he's hurt.

unreal - Griffin has the talent he just does not have the mentality - he's on a woeful team, could be the worst in the NFL - he has to find a way to stay on the field or ...

I watched some of the game in the first half and the Browns receivers dropped many passes that clearly should have been caught - if this team keeps playing like this and if Griffin does not take better care of himself, it's not going to be very good for Griffin or Hue ...

I noticed that a lot of QBs obviously did not get the memo about not running with the ball yesterday

AND - the Eagles are not winning the NFC East - NO WAY

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Bob is not Cam Newton... didn't slide today... didn't run directly for the sideline... no... he angled for the defender, electing to drop his shoulder... and... SURPRIZE!!!... he's hurt.

unreal - Griffin has the talent he just does not have the mentality - he's on a woeful team, could be the worst in the NFL - he has to find a way to stay on the field or ...

I watched some of the game in the first half and the Browns receivers dropped many passes that clearly should have been caught - if this team keeps playing like this and if Griffin does not take better care of himself, it's not going to be very good for Griffin or Hue ...

I noticed that a lot of QBs obviously did not get the memo about not running with the ball yesterday

AND - the Eagles are not winning the NFC East - NO WAY

Your continual excuses for RGIII make you sound like the least educated football fan in NFL history. It's entirely possible you are but why advertise it?

[SKINS#1]

any of you remember Fran Tarkenton? 6' less than 200lbs, a running QB that lasted 18 seasons. A fun guy to watch!

[Deadskins]

any of you remember Fran Tarkenton? 6' less than 200lbs, a running QB that lasted 18 seasons. A fun guy to watch!

I wouldn't call him a running QB. A scrambler, no doubt, but he didn't have designed running plays, other than a QB sneak or draw.

[OldSchool]

any of you remember Fran Tarkenton? 6' less than 200lbs, a running QB that lasted 18 seasons. A fun guy to watch!

Fran was not a running QB he was a great scrambler who could extend plays and hit his receivers down field. Fran was a smart guy and didn't take any hits, he tossed the ball away, slid or skip out of bounds. Fran went on to have a highly successful business career after football.

[SKINS#1]

Agree, a great scrambler would be a better term. The point is he wasn't boxed in by the pocket as he was scrambling all over the field. I loved to watch him make things happen as he was on the move.

[welch]

any of you remember Fran Tarkenton? 6' less than 200lbs, a running QB that lasted 18 seasons. A fun guy to watch!

I wouldn't call him a running QB. A scrambler, no doubt, but he didn't have designed running plays, other than a QB sneak or draw.

That's what I remember. Tarkenton and Staubach both scrambled to avoid getting clobbered, but hardly ever ran on purpose. The only two "running" QB's I can remember were Bobby Douglas of the early '70s Bears (was that his name?) and Billy Kilmer, who was a shotgun QB/Tailback for the 49ers. Douglas could not throw, and Billy had been a single-wing tailback in college. Billy hurt his leg (car crash?) and then did not run much.

[DarthMonk]

Steve Young.

[Deadskins]

Steve Young.

Maybe, but he was more of scrambler, too, who took advantage of coverages to gain yardage, not just buy time to pass. I would put Randall Cunningham and Mike Vick in the same category. Really, Cam Newton is the first running QB of the modern era. Then Bob and Kap.

[DarthMonk]

Everyone knew it would be tough for the Carolina Panthers to replicate a magical 2015 season, but it has been a lot more challenging than anyone expected.

The Panthers lost Sunday to fall to 1-3, and haven’t been particularly competitive in their last two losses. And they might be without the NFL’s MVP in Week 5.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera told reporters Monday, according to Steve Reed of the Associated Press, that he has no idea if Cam Newton will be able to play next Monday night. Newton took a big hit from Falcons linebacker Deion Jones when he slowed up before crossing the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt, and Newton suffered a concussion. Rivera said Newton met with doctors on Monday but there was no update on his condition. Newton is in the concussion protocol and that can be unpredictable, as far as his availability for next week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Newton took several huge hits against the Denver Broncos in Week 1, and was sacked eight times against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3. Then he was blasted by Jones on Sunday. That play epitomized the Panthers’ start. Newton slowed up because he apparently never saw Jones coming, then a moment later he was flat on his back.

The slow start is frustrating for the defending NFC champions, as you’d expect.

“I think we should be better than we are,” Rivera said, according to Reed.

The Panthers’ issues are multiple, from not having a great running game to a lack of protection for Newton to a secondary that clearly misses cornerback Josh Norman. A tough early schedule hasn’t helped either.

It won’t get easier if the Panthers are without their quarterback next week. And if Newton does play, they better figure out a way to keep him from taking more huge hits.