Is Cammy Cam Ready?

Much like Tim Tebow was, Newton has been surrounded by questions since the end of his season. Many analysts wondered if Tim Tebow was good enough to be an NFL quarterback. Would he be able to pick up a pro-style offense quickly? Was his release quick enough to become an effective passer at the professional level?

Many of these same types of questions swirled around Cam Newton, until his most recent workout for the media. There wasn't a single person watching his workout that wasn't impressed. Newton's footwork and release in the pocket were much better than most anticipate. He made all but 4 of his throws. Newton's motion is very smooth and his throws are always hard and accurate, a skill that can take a while to teach a young quarterback. Newton could still have a much harder throw if he used his lower body to generate a little more force. I've always been suprised by his ability to throw, especially since his agility and speed are what most fans notice. Not to mention he's 6'5", 250 lbs and able to see right over his line to where he's throwing.

His drop back and movement were also solid. Cam was very mobile in the pocket and was quickly able to assess situations and escape rushers, just like he did at Auburn. And as I mentioned earlier, he looked very comfortable when dropping back. His play-action passes looked smooth. Half the battle of a transitioning quarterback is being able to feel comfortable and confident in your abilities when game time comes around. Cam has all the on-field skills to compete at the NFL level. He has the rare combination of size and agility, an especially infrequent occurrence in quarterbacks.

Now this whole write-up seems like a bunch of hype about how good Cam Newton is, but that's because he was good, and is good. I hope he carries over his agility and ability to scramble onto the next level and doesn't leave it behind because he has to run a different kind of game. That quickness is what gives Michael Vick the edge in games, even when the opposing quarterback could throw him into the next week.

This post is obviously a very quick and brief analysis of Cam Newton. If you would like a better look, I'd definitely find the video of his workout and make your own decisions on Newton. So what draft pick is he looking at? The way I see it, there's no way that Carolina, Buffalo, and Arizona will all pass him up. He will definitely go in the top 5. I'm truthfully expecting him to end up in Buffalo because I don't think Carolina has given up on their hopes for Jimmy Clausen yet. Wherever he ends up, I think he'll quickly be able to compete at the NFL level, and I expect to see him during the next season, whenever that may be.