Cam Versus RG III
Added on Nov 01, 2012 by Scott in
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On most NFL Sundays, a game involving 1-6 and 3-5 teams wouldn’t garner much attention. But when the quarterbacks of said teams are Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III, the spotlight will be brighter than usual. Even though some of the polish has been rubbed off in this matchup due to poor records, a showdown between two of the game’s best young signal-callers makes for must-see TV.
One doesn’t have to be a marketing genius to understand the implications of a Newton-RG III confrontation. Both players are being utilized as faces for the league and likely will be for years to come, similar to the Brady-Manning campaign that has dominated the last decade.
Now, it would help if the Panthers and Redskins were contending for playoff berths, but it takes a lot more than a young gun under center to compete at the professional level. A lack of playmakers, spotty offensive lines and porous defenses have prevented both teams from entering elite status.
On the plus side, there is a potential for fireworks, which is the main reason to tune in at 1pm on Sunday. For all his struggles in 2012, Newton is still a dangerous weapon, and RG III is the most exciting player to watch no matter what the scoreboard reads.
Like Newton did in 2011, Griffin is carrying the ‘Skins on his back despite the dearth of receiving options at his disposal. Fellow rookie Alfred Morris is making strides at running back, but injuries to Pierre Garcon and Fred Davis have depleted the passing attack.
As for the Panthers, very little has gone right this season. Steve Smith is showing his age and no one else has become a reliable target for Newton. The overpaid backfield duo of Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams has yielded minimal results.
What all this means is that the dual threat quarterbacks have to do it all. That’s not a good thing for either team’s playoff prospects, but it can make for some exciting football.
