SIAP: Louisiana sports writer's assessment of Cam

[Ed_ 3]

Got this in an email today and thought I'd pass it along since I couldn't find the article title on a search of this site.  Also I know cutting and pasting articles is not encouraged but I didn't have a link to the original article so I have included all by line information.  If this format is still inappropriate, mods feel free to delete.

Fighting a bonfire with a water pistol

  Phillip Marshall

* Scooter Hobbs from the Lake Charles (La.) American Press is one of my oldest and closest friends. He's also a terrific writer. He agreed to let me share his column from Auburn's 24-17 victory over LSU.

AUBURN, Ala. — Memo to: The Downtown Athletic Club, New York, N.Y.

Re: Heisman Trophy.

Sirs, is it OK if I go ahead and mail my Heisman Trophy ballot in now. Avoid the Christmas card rush. There is really little reason to wait at this point.

So mark me down for Cameron Newton, quarterback, Auburn.

Fill in No. 2 and No. 3 any old way you please. It doesn’t really matter.

It’s Cam Newton’s world, his college football season, and the rest are just living in it.

Newton’s 24-17 victory over LSU was just the latest evidence. LSU should feel fortunate. Newton — well, Auburn, but mostly Newton — hung 65 points on Arkansas last week.

Ole Miss, I’d suggest taking cover in The Grove before this thing ransacks your campus next week.

If the NFL doesn’t find something for him to do next year and get him to come out a year early, the rest of the Southeastern Conference may be in deep trouble.

Maybe even Nick Saban himself.

LSU’s defense, strong and swift, was supposed to be the league’s best shot at stopping this terror.

And it was a mismatch.

I saw four years of Tim Tebow and, to be honest, now I’m beginning to wonder what all the fuss was about with him.

Cam Newton, the pride of Blinn Junior College after he was banished from the Tebow kingdom in Gainesville two years ago, might just lay waste to the entire college landscape

“Plain and simple, he’s the best quarterback in the country,” said LSU linebacker Kelvin Sheppard.

He’s something all right.

I’m not sure it’s a quarterback, but he’s something else.

Like Tebow, Newton is really more of a new-fangled, unique offensive weapon than an honest quarterback.

Tebow pestered you to death. Newton just went nuclear on what used to known as a really good LSU defense.

Newton ran for 217 yards, including bolts of 49 and 29, and the most impressive run of the lot might have been the 6-yard loss LSU finally sacked him with. It came after just about every Tiger in uniform and a few hefty tuba players took a shot at him before finally wrestling him down by a shoestring.

He also threw for 86 yards although, frankly, I don’t remember any of them and I really wonder why Auburn would risk another forward pass as long as he’s on campus.

Contrary to rumor, Auburn is not a one-man team. Far as I know, Newton had little to do with bottling up LSU’s own, more conventional running game.

And the next time LSU blocks Auburn defensive end Nick Fairley will be the first.

Many mortals have managed that, however.

Take a number and be seated.

But this Newton horse is the closest thing to a one-man offense I can recall seeing.

And I saw Tebow — hereafter known as Newton Light — throw the silly little jump pass and all that other cute stuff.

Tebow was a role player compared to this freak show.

It didn’t seem fair, kind of like when an eighth-grader sneaks out to join third-graders’ recess games.

That’s what it looked liked, to be honest.

I’m sure the lads that Auburn gathers around Newton are fine citizens and play their hearts out.

And it surely helps to have the luxury of four seniors on an offensive line.

But let’s be honest. They and the rest of the War Eagles are just tagging along for this wild ride.

They pat him on the rear a lot — those, that is, that can reach a 6-foot-6 caboose.

Yes, even Onterio McCalebb, who scored the winning touchdown on a 70-yard run and finished with 84 yards — nine-tenths of which should be direct-deposited into Newton’s account.

LSU just about ignored him until he was in the end zone, convinced the key had to be Newton.

Hard to blame them.

McCalebb and the rest might all as well sit in the student section, which Newton also attended to with a wide smile after his demolition of LSU was over.

In fact, his most athletic move might have been the leap atop the stadium restraining wall to join his civilian classmates in celebration

He looks to a be pretty fair song-leader as well.

By the way, Jordan Jefferson, also a loosely defined quarterback, was LSU’s leading rusher, and without his legs the Tigers wouldn’t have had an offense either.

He did his best, played hard without a lot of help, certainly not from his wide receivers.

But he’s no Cam Newton.

And once the game turned into single-warrior combat, LSU was fighting a bonfire with a water pistol.

[Blizz5307 0]

I don't really like this. We are not a one man team. No one ever credits the little things done, which... To be honest, are not little at all. Without everyone blocking, Newton wouldn't be able to get all those yards. He wouldn't have all that time in the pocket. Newton credits his blockers every chance he gets, and I think other people need to start recognizing that. I love Cam just as much as every other Auburn fan, but this isn't about him. It is about the Auburn Tigers, Cam included.

[Ed_ 3]

Since it is an article on Newton I don't see any problem with putting the limelight on him.  The author also made it a point to no go the Bammer route by adding "Contrary to rumor, Auburn is not a one-man team. Far as I know, Newton had little to do with bottling up LSU’s own, more conventional running game."  He also gave some props to the O line. 

I'm not one of the fans that thinks Newton is carrying the offense single handed but can you honestly say that there are even two other offensive players that are as integral to the numbers we're putting up on offense right now?  If Newton got hurt we'd still be very competitive but we wouldn't be nearly this dominant. Just like Florida wouldn't have been without Tebow even if Percy was there.

[telling tiger 156]

Fairley was mentioned  as well as the O-line and others. You must admit it was a humorous look at his abilities rather than straight up sports journalism. Take it as a compliment to Cam. See nothing wrong with it at all.

[Blizz5307 0]

I didn't mean to entirely hate on the guy. I can see the humor in it. But a lot of people lately have been getting on my nerves about the whole one man team thing.

[Rickys Rants 0]

There is no doubt that our OL has done a tremendous job this season!  Our WRs have also done a great job blocking downfield.  Last, but not least, I want to give a SHOUT OUT to Eric Smith, and the other RBs, who I saw make a couple of tremendous blocks to spring Cam for big games!!!!  WDE!

[79Aubie 0]

I didn't mean to entirely hate on the guy. I can see the humor in it. But a lot of people lately have been getting on my nerves about the whole one man team thing.

Curious and honest question here: Without Newton, where exactly would you see us at this point in the year?  Seriously, do you think we would be sitting at #1 in the BCS?

[3rdgen 2]

I didn't mean to entirely hate on the guy. I can see the humor in it. But a lot of people lately have been getting on my nerves about the whole one man team thing.

Curious and honest question here: Without Newton, where exactly would you see us at this point in the year?  Seriously, do you think we would be sitting at #1 in the BCS?

I think we would have 600-800 less yards rushing.  But I think we would that much or more passing yards.  We have attempted the fewest passes in the sec.  Our 3rd down conversion percentage would be less than it is.  I think we would be seeing alot more screen passes both to wr, rb, and lutz like in the a-day game with either trotter or caudle.

[79Aubie 0]

I think we would have 600-800 less yards rushing.  But I think we would that much or more passing yards.  We have attempted the fewest passes in the sec.  Our 3rd down conversion percentage would be less than it is.  I think we would be seeing alot more screen passes both to wr, rb, and lutz like in the a-day game with either trotter or caudle.

I don't want to put words in your mouth, so let me repeat what I think you're saying to make sure I have it right.  Our total offensive output would be the same, just with passing yards increasing to make up for reduced rushing.  Which leads me to believe that you think we would be in the exact same spot if Trotter or Caudle were our starting QB?  Is that an accurate summary of what I inferred from your post?

[3rdgen 2]

I think we would have 600-800 less yards rushing.  But I think we would that much or more passing yards.  We have attempted the fewest passes in the sec.  Our 3rd down conversion percentage would be less than it is.  I think we would be seeing alot more screen passes both to wr, rb, and lutz like in the a-day game with either trotter or caudle.

I don't want to put words in your mouth, so let me repeat what I think you're saying to make sure I have it right.  Our total offensive output would be the same, just with passing yards increasing to make up for reduced rushing.  Which leads me to believe that you think we would be in the exact same spot if Trotter or Caudle were our starting QB?  Is that an accurate summary of what I inferred from your post?

Not going to guess wins or losses. Can't tell what the defense would have done.  But just going off of last year  the difference in how many times we passed compared to this year I think our production would be close.  We have passes 148 times this year through 8 games 18.5 attempts\game through 13 games last year we attempted 348 passes or 27attempts\game.  Trotter or caudle are both more athletic than todd was so they would contribute some rushing yards.  I think both would have been about the same passing as todd as far as accuracy.  Plus if you put lutz in the place of trott and look at the number of times he was targeted last year.  I think lutz would have caught more of those passes and advanced for more yardage than trott did.  We have attempted 25 less passes than miss st has this year I have to think with either trotter or caudle that number is higher because we are not calling many designed runs for those guys as cam gets.  Also I don't think we have the 3 game dead period we had last year this year because I think todd had a problem with his arm strength after the tenn game last year thus leading to the arky, uk, and lsu losses. 

[FreeBird 0]

Cam a one man show? Ask Cam and he will smile and give credit to everyone but him. A true TEAM player. 

[milehighfan 1,208]

This not only shows how dominating a player Cam is, but it also speaks volumes for the OL which has proved to be pretty dominating itself.

[JuniorAU 0]

I didn't mean to entirely hate on the guy. I can see the humor in it. But a lot of people lately have been getting on my nerves about the whole one man team thing.

Me too, they are just hating on the team as a whole. They wished their teams were as good as ours but their not.

[Weegle777 63]

I wouldn't worry about the guys on the team getting upset about people saying we are a one man team, our players are very intelligent and they know that we wouldn't be where we are without Cam. He is vital to our success as a team. Our players want that crystal football and if all 10 of the other players on the field had to block for Cam on every play from here on out if that meant that Coach Chizik would be putting on that jacket in Glendale and they all would get to pass that crystal around, I guarantee you that they would do it Monday through Saturday and twice on Sunday and would never complain about it. That's what a true TEAM does. Take note bammers.