ESPN’s Dan Graziano has ranked all 32 teams’ quarterback depth charts in a what he calls the Quarterback Confidence Index. The Carolina Panthers come in at No. 12 in his ranking.
Before you flip out and start with the ‘everybody hates Cam Newton’ takes, consider that Graziano is ranking teams based on their entire quarterback depth chart, not just their starters.
Before we get to the list, our usual disclaimer that no one reads: This is not merely a ranking of starting quarterbacks. This is a ranking of teams based on how confident those teams are in their quarterback situation as a whole. That means it includes the reliability of the backup situation, the injury history (recent and otherwise) of the starter, the long-term plan at the position ... lots of stuff other than just which starting QB is better. So try to remember that as you peruse, and thanks as always for doing so.
Got it? Good. Let’s see what he had to say about Cam Newton.
12. Carolina Panthers
New year, new offensive coordinator for Cam Newton, who gets to try the Norv Turner experience after blossoming under Mike Shula. Same old questions about Cam: Can he survive if he keeps running the way he does, taking those hits, etc.? But he keeps on ticking, and while it doesn’t always look pretty in the passing game, the Panthers know what they have in Newton, who finds various ways to win games. Backup Taylor Heinicke is a guy Turner had in Minnesota a couple of years ago, and he knows how to operate the system.
My take
I think ranking the Panthers at No. 12 is fair. It could even be argued that it’s generous. Having Newton as the starter probably brings the Panthers up a few notches on the ranking, but if anything catastrophic happens to Newton this season, the Panthers are ... what’s the best way to put this? ... they’re in deep doo-doo. Newton’s backups right now are Heinicke and Garrett Gilbert, and that’s not exactly a duo who strikes fear in opposing defenses.
Basically — please stay healthy, Cam!
What do you think, Panthers fans? How confident are you in the Panthers’ quarterback depth chart? Would you like to see them make some changes to the backups? Tell us your thoughts!