Cam Newton offers (weak?) defense of Josh McDaniels

[DropKickFlutie]

Link Below. Cam Newton was asked about the ineffective red zone play-calls, and Newton gave a couple paragraphs of response, but I wouldn't exactly call it a strong defense of Josh McDaniels. Basically Newton said he knows they want to win like he does and he trusts what they want to do. Of course Cam would say this being a team-guy and a locker-room leader.

There are a ton of factors, but here are a couple I see:
- The Rams loss was the worst offensive performance of any game in the entire Belichick era, by multiple measures
- This Patriot offense has been anemic for 2 years now, not just this year
- There has been a total lack of TE/WR development for the last 8 years, ever since Bill O'Brien left after drafting and developing Edelman, Gronk, Hernandez. And trades don't work either, the Sanu trade was disastrous. The current Patriot offensive staff cannot be trusted to evaluate, scout, draft, or develop players at the WR and TE positions. Is it time for a change at offensive coordinator?
- I know there will be excuse-making trying to say Cam is trash, or that the talent level is bad. But this is the same excuse-making that was made when McDaniels was in St Louis before coming back, when St Louis had the 32nd league worst offense, league-low in points scored, and also again zero tight end receiving yards on offense. And same in Denver, when they lost a half dozen straight games and McDaniels was fired.
- Jedd Fisch the QB coach is also another question mark. This guy has no credibility, he worked with busts like Josh Rosen and Blake Gabbart. So, I am not sure he's bringing anything to the table.

Here is Cam Newton's 600-word response to criticisms of Josh McDaniels

“You’re not going to create any type of division between me and Josh McDaniels.”

patriotswire.usatoday.com

 

[Nunchucks]

McDaniels calls plays that Cam can run

 

[DropKickFlutie]

McDaniels calls plays that Cam can run

So when Cam threw for 370 yards twice, it seemed it was only allowed when they were trailing and let him start throwing. Otherwise it seems to be the Jacoby Brisett playbook?

 

[Nunchucks]

So when Cam threw for 370 yards twice, it seemed it was only allowed when they were trailing and let him start throwing. Otherwise it seems to be the Jacoby Brisett playbook?

Against the 2 worst defenses in the league, while down multiple scores.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Against the 2 worst defenses in the league, while down multiple scores.

I hear ya. I mean I don't disagree that Cam has flaws and is not the long term solution. I just think the issues are beyond Cam, to the point where I'd be all for a new offensive coordinator (would Bill O'Brien come back ? )

 

[condon84]

Our offense the past 2 games has been McD/Tebow level bad. It's god awful to watch.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

One plus about this team is they are on the same page. The guys’ loyalty to cam , despite his disappointments, is admirable and vice verca, nobody’s been thrown under the bus. Lawrence guy’s comments after the rams game about continuing to fight was nice too (one of the guys I really hope is back). They are on the right track for next year id say with upgrades in key areas.

 

[TheRainMaker]

There has been a total lack of TE/WR development for the last 8 years, ever since Bill O'Brien left after drafting and developing Edelman, Gronk, Hernandez.

I see you like saying this, but O'Brien really had nothing to do with the development of Gronk and Hernandez as both were standouts in college. Hernandez was raved about the moment training camp opened and balled out week 1 against the Bengals. Gronk just needed time to heal.

Getting back to the redzone play calling with Cam. It was laughable. Seriously. The first rugby style QB sneak at the 5 yard line made me laugh. Then I think they ran two straight Cam Iso plays which was quite insulting to the defense. They looked like a high school offense.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I see you like saying this, but O'Brien really had nothing to do with the development of Gronk and Hernandez as both were standouts in college. Hernandez was raved about the moment training camp opened and balled out week 1 against the Bengals. Gronk just needed time to heal.

Getting back to the redzone play calling with Cam. It was laughable. Seriously. The first rugby style QB sneak at the 5 yard line made me laugh. Then I think they ran two straight Cam Iso plays which was quite insulting to the defense. They looked like a high school offense.

Well Gronk, Hernandez, Edelman were drafted and developed for 3 years while O'Brien was here. Gotta give him a little credit. Just like how Branch and Given were drafted and developed while Weiss/Pioli were here. And a total vacuum of WR/TE development in between with McD from 05-8 and 2012-now.

I hear you though. I don't get why we don't use a lot more play action given that Harris is a major threat too. The play calling is really uninspiring.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Well Gronk, Hernandez, Edelman were drafted and developed for 3 years while O'Brien was here. Gotta give him a little credit.

I'm not going to give him any credit other than him being there and benefitting from the guys that were drafted. Again, Hernandez was a big time college star getting national recognition. He would've easily been a 1st round pick had he been a little taller and had better character. No development was needed as he was raved about since day 1 of training camp. Gronk was also a standout, but his back injury dropped his stock. Once his back healed, the rest was history.

Edelman going from QB to WR is the only exception.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I'm not going to give him any credit other than him being there and benefitting from the guys that were drafted. Again, Hernandez was a big time college star getting national recognition. He would've easily been a 1st round pick had he been a little taller and had better character. No development was needed as he was raved about since day 1 of training camp. Gronk was also a standout, but his back injury dropped his stock. Once his back healed, the rest was history.

Edelman going from QB to WR is the only exception.

Given the desert since O'Brien left, not sure it's such a no brainer to get a college star and make sure they produce in the NFL. We've passed on 'obvious' stars in college for total busts, since then.

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[TheRainMaker]

Given the desert since O'Brien left, not sure it's such a no brainer to get a college star and make sure they produce in the NFL. We've passed on 'obvious' stars in college for total busts, since then.

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As the board has talked about on many occasions, it's brutal the talent they've passed on. And as I've said many times, had they not passed on the obvious player and made better personnel moves, they would've won more than 6 easily.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

As the board has talked about on many occasions, it's brutal the talent they've passed on. And as I've said many times, had they not passed on the obvious player and made better personnel moves, they would've won more than 6 easily.

Absolutely. Wrecking our WR/CB evals in the first 3 rounds has cost the team an even more amazing potential legacy. It's why we need a new OC as this guy would be a disaster to replace Belichick.

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[TheRainMaker]

Absolutely. Wrecking our WR/CB evals in the first 3 rounds has cost the team an even more amazing potential legacy. It's why we need a new OC as this guy would be a disaster to replace Belichick.

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After 2004, the team barely had any holes, but were later created by blunders letting guys walk (Law, McGinest) and replacing them with the legendary Monty Biesel (most known for getting trucked by the former 'now obese' backup QB for the Giants) and awful Duane Starks for a 2nd in 2005.

From 2005-2008 were critical years with the current nucleus, but the drafts got bad and the personnel moves were done without a plan in place. They let Givens walk, but draft Chad Jackson. Okay, fine. But then they trade Branch (Brady's favorite WR)? Jackson was dealing with a hamstring the entire year so then they panic trade for Doug Gabriel in 2006. Even though one of their top picks (who they traded up for) was dealing with hamstring issues all year long, they still send him out to defend a kick in the 2006 AFCCG. He tears his ACL which essentially ruined his career. However, given the rumors about his attitude and seemed like an idiot, he probably wouldn't have done well anyways.

Not addressing the LB depth which started in 2005 haunted them in the 2006 AFCCG and somewhat in 2007 Super Bowl.

Also never liked the Seymour trade in 2008.

 

[condon84]

After 2004, the team barely had any holes, but were later created by blunders letting guys walk (Law, McGinest) and replacing them with the legendary Monty Biesel (most known for getting trucked by the former 'now obese' backup QB for the Giants) and awful Duane Starks for a 2nd in 2005.

From 2005-2008 were critical years with the current nucleus, but the drafts got bad and the personnel moves were done without a plan in place. They let Givens walk, but draft Chad Jackson. Okay, fine. But then they trade Branch (Brady's favorite WR)? Jackson was dealing with a hamstring the entire year so then they panic trade for Doug Gabriel in 2006. Even though one of their top picks (who they traded up for) was dealing with hamstring issues all year long, they still send him out to defend a kick in the 2006 AFCCG. He tears his ACL which essentially ruined his career. However, given the rumors about his attitude and seemed like an idiot, he probably wouldn't have done well anyways.

Not addressing the LB depth which started in 2005 haunted them in the 2006 AFCCG and somewhat in 2007 Super Bowl.

Also never liked the Seymour trade in 2008.

Despite all that Belichick has fielded a team that's been to 5 SBs winning 3 since 2008.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Despite all that Belichick has fielded a team that's been to 5 SBs winning 3 since 2008.

True.

But also only with a 10 year gap. Once we secured Revis or Gilmore via trade. And had Gronk and Edelman developed during Bill O'Brien's tenure

 

[Le Numéro Douze]

What do you expect Cam to say?

"I am a god awful passer. Josh has no choice but to call plays that maximize my strenghts. I can throw short/medium-range passes at 100mph, but I cannot do anything else. I have no touch, no pocket awarneness and I cannot throw it deep with any semblance of accuracy... and I can barely read a defense presnap... so I never adjust. I can run though, that I can do."

That being said, McDaniels should be able to get more creative in the red zone and design plays that use Cam's running ability as a decoy or something. Constantly coming back to the same ****ty option play won't cut it.

The QB and the personnel are a bigger problem than the OC... even if the OC is indeed part of the problem.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

Our offense the past 2 games has been McD/Tebow level bad. It's god awful to watch.

Yea the Rams game became unwatchable with how bad the offense was playing

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Yea the Rams game became unwatchable with how bad the offense was playing

It'd odd how little play action we run. Harris is a serious threat. Play action opens up the middle of the field. Meyers should be getting 6 catches a game just off play action schemes with Harris....

 

[Thelonious]

Cam does Cam, period. At this point, "doing Cam" means spraying balls all over hell and gone like some JUGS gun run amok, or stumbling occasionally a couple feet into the end zone. Nobody, Josh included, can coach up THAT s---t.

Couldn't care less what Cam thinks. Ask Wiggy; he'll know.