NFL Draft Comparisons: Is Cam Newton the Next Ben Roethlisberger?
Everyone loves making comparisons between NFL draft prospects and current NFL players at this time of year. It's understandable; an analogy to a guy we've already seen in the pros is a quick and easy way to convey the style and strengths of a prospect's game.
Of course, there are always those college players who are harder to fit into an already-existing NFL mold. Take Tim Tebow before the 2010 Draft, for instance. Tebow drew more comparisons to fullbacks and h-backs than he did to quarterbacks.
Cam Newton is currently drawing a lot of comparisons to Vince Young in draft conversations. Both players are great athletes playing the quarterback position. Both played in college systems that required few reads in the passing game, placing a great deal of emphasis on the quarterback making plays with his feet.
But to me, that seems to be where the comparisons end. In watching Newton play, he reminds me much more of a different current NFL quarterback—Ben Roethlisberger.
Stature
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This is an easy one. At 6'6" and 250 pounds, Newton is almost exactly the same size as Big Ben, who stands at 6'5" and is listed at 240 pounds (although many would support the claim that his playing weight in closer to 250 or 260). Their height allows both quarterbacks to stand tall in the pocket, see over the offensive line, and deliver throws to receivers without worrying much about getting passes batted down.
Vince Young is 6'5" himself, but has a substantially lankier build at 230 lbs. The extra weight allows guys like Roethlisberger and Newton to absorb more blows and hang in games when they're getting knocked around, something that Young has so far proved incapable of doing. And with a three-quarters type of delivery that has bothered scouts since he was run through the draft workout gauntlet, Young doesn't get the same type of benefit from his imposing stature that Newton and Roethlisberger get when throwing the ball down the field.
Strength in the Pocket
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As any Steelers fan can attest, this is one of Roethlisberger's greatest assets. He's virtually impossible to bring down with one man. Referees have learned to wait longer to whistle Roethlisberger down in the pocket than they would for the average quarterback because of his penchant for getting off passes while defenders are hanging all over his back.
This ability to continue looking down field when most quarterbacks would be eating turf is one that Newton shares, and it will be even more evident when he makes it to the next level.
We've all been witnesses to Newton's outstanding strength every time that he's run over a linebacker into the end zone this season. While he won't be encouraged to regularly take on NFL linebackers in the open field, we'll still get to see that strength on display whenever the pocket comes crashing down around him.
Pocket Mobility
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Another thing that Big Ben does much better than the average NFL quarterback is buy time in the pocket for his receivers. While no one would claim that Roethlisberger is a championship sprinter, he does have outstanding mobility in the pocket. He feels pressure well and slides away from trouble, giving Hines Ward and Mike Wallace time to find soft spots in the coverage.
Anyone who's ever watched Newton play a single game already knows that his style in the pocket is strikingly similar to Roethlisberger's in this way. If his read isn't immediately there, he does a great job of identifying pass rushers, moving away from them, and finding a receiver that has come open while he was performing his Houdini-esque escape act.
Newton often also uses these opportunities to take off and pick up the first down himself on the ground; but as his open-field speed will have to be utilized less against NFL defenses, I see his mobility being a much greater asset in the pocket, just as Roethlisberger uses his.
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Improvisation
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How many times have we seen Roethlisberger break the pocket, roll out, point to tell Mike Wallace to go deep, and deliver a strike for a touchdown? Because of all of the points of his game that I've already mentioned, Big Ben keeps plays alive that would normally be over if a different quarterback was running the show. Once the play as-called breaks down, he has a innate ability to extend it himself by orchestrating the receivers' routes and delivering the ball to them.
Being able to take command once the planned routes have been run and create a gain out of nothing more than sheer playmaking ability is an invaluable skill.
Cam Newton is an elite playmaker. That was on display as recently as Saturday's SEC Championship game. There was a play where Newton dropped back to pass, stepped up into the pocket as if he was going to run, and was immediately swarmed by South Carolina defenders. It looked like it would be a sack for sure. Then, all of a sudden, a shovel pass was launched out of the pile of bodies as if it was shot from a cannon, landing in the hands of h-back Eric Smith for a solid gain. It wasn't the way the play was designed to work. It was just a playmaker finding a teammate to make something out of nothing.
Elite quarterbacks have the ability to improvise when things don't go according to plan. Ben Roethlisberger does it on a weekly basis, as does Aaron Rogers. Brett Favre made a career out of it. It's another skill that Newton certainly shares.
Arm Strength
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The reason that Roethlisberger is able to hit Wallace for huge gains while running for his life is that he possesses elite arm strength. With a flick of the wrist, he can get the ball down-field to let his receivers make a play. He has the zip to fit balls in and hit receivers over the middle on slants and crossing routes.
Say what you will about Cam Newton as an NFL prospect. Yes, his mechanics need work and his accuracy has seemed spotty at times. But his arm strength is absolutely unquestioned. He can throw the ball 70 yards in the air as well as fire lasers to his receivers to make sure that only they can make the catch. He has an absolute rocket launcher attached to his shoulder.
Vince Young, Newton's most often-made NFL comparison, has a good arm, but Newton's makes Young's look like a wet noodle. Newton has a great arm, pure and simple. His throwing ability compares much more favorably to Roethlisberger's than Young's.
In Conclusion...
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Newton is a player that it's hard to find a comparison for. He hasn't played in a pro-style system or made pro-style reads, and we've only had one season of major college football games in which to evaluate him. His athletic ability makes Vince Young an easy comparison, but the truth is that Newton's blend of size, speed and arm strength is absolutely unique and has never been seen before.
But if we must find an NFL player comparison for him, I believe that Newton's strength, mobility, improvisational skills and cannon arm make him look a lot like the next Big Ben Roethlisberger.
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