The learning curve for rookie quarterbacks in the National Football League (NFL) is generally very steep. For every franchise quarterback like the Rams' Sam Bradford or the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, there are three times as many quarterbacks — like the Jets' Mark Sanchez, the Buccaneers' Josh Freeman, the 49ers' Alex Smith or the Broncos' Kyle Orton — who struggle immensely during their rookie seasons before developing into solid starters. And that's not to mention the tens of rookie quarterbacks who are forced into action and deliver minimal results.
Given the fact that this summer's training camp did not start until July 27 due to the lockout, the expectation for rookie quarterbacks coming into this season was especially low.
However, the Panthers' Cam Newton and the Bengals' Andy Dalton have shined thus far, outplaying many of their veteran counterparts. While each signal−caller has been asked to perform different tasks for his respective team, both have been stellar.
When the Panthers took Newton No. 1 overall in the 2011 draft, scouts and pundits questioned his character, work ethic and ability to go through his progressions and make reads in a pro−style NFL offense. Newton has silenced all doubters. He has turned an offense that was dead−last in 2010 with a paltry 258.4 total yards per game into an explosive and dynamic force that ranks fifth in the league with 416.6 yards per game. Individually, Newton ranks fourth in both passing yards, with 300 per game, and total touchdowns — eight passing, seven rushing.
The Panthers returned a nearly identical squad from the past season with the biggest difference being their new quarterback. Newton is succeeding in spite of his defense — which lost All−Pro linebacker Jon Beason in Week 1 to injury — that ranks third−to−last in points allowed per game at 26.1.
Part of the Panthers' offensive revival has been due to the rebirth of star wideout Steve Smith. Smith had a disappointing 2010 season while trying to catch the high−sailing or often short−armed passes of Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore, Tony Pike and Brian St. Pierre. Coupled with Newton's cannon arm, however, Smith leads the league with 818 receiving yards. Newton has completed 15 passes of 20−or−more yards so far this season and, unsurprisingly, Smith has caught seven of Newton's 15 big−play throws. The four aforementioned quarterbacks combined for only 13 such passes all of last season.
Even after starting the season by throwing for 422 yards in his first professional game — a rookie record that he would then break the following week — Newton is growing and improving each game. On Sunday, he delivered his most effective pro performance yet, going 18−for−23 for 256 yards passing with 59 yards on the ground, one rushing touchdown and no turnovers in a 33−20 victory over the Redskins.
Then there's Andy Dalton. A four−year starter at Texas Christian University (TCU), Dalton came into the NFL with a much different pedigree and set of expectations than Newton. Newton, standing at 6−foot−5 and 248 pounds, played one year at Auburn University, where he won a national championship, broke countless records, won a Heisman Trophy and set the college football world aflame. Dalton, standing at a slighter 6−foot−2 and 220 pounds, does not boast massive arm strength like Newton's and does not run like the Panthers' QB. However, if there is one thing that Dalton shares with Newton, it's winning. Dalton went 42−7 as a starter at TCU and has the Cincinnati Bengals at 4−2 so far this year.
The Bengals drafted Dalton in the second round as a security blanket in case then−starting quarterback Carson Palmer made good on his plans to retire rather than continue playing for Cincy. Once it became clear Palmer would not return to the Bengals, Dalton stepped in and has performed admirably.
Dalton, much like Sanchez in 2009 and Roethlisberger in 2004 before him, has not been asked to shoulder the offensive load as his team relies on a stingy defense to win games. The Bengals rank fifth in both rushing yards per game and passing yards per game this season. Dalton's stats are not flashy — he is 23rd in the league with 219 passing yards per game — but his QB rating sits at 84.3, good for 14th overall and five spots ahead of Newton.
With a soft schedule outside of the division, and a bevy of young weapons including receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham, Dalton has the Bengals looking like a dark−horse for an AFC Wild Card bid.
