Moving target in sight
Newton will test Patriots’ ability to halt mobile QB
FOXBORO — Without the benefit of joint practices, the Patriots defense hasn’t been tested by a mobile quarterback all summer.
It has been all Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer and Danny Etling. And despite Etling’s impressive 40-yard dash of 4.76 seconds at the 2018 NFL combine, he doesn’t exactly mimic Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson on the practice field.
The Pats finally get a change of pace in Carolina for a Friday night preseason game, a matchup that should serve as a dress rehearsal for both teams. With it being the third preseason game, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton could play significant snaps. This means the Patriots firstteam defense, which was shredded by Newton and the Panthers in Week 4 a year ago, will see extended action against a unique and high-powered offense.
“They’re a lot like us — physical team, want to run the ball, want to have a good defense,” said Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower. “I think this will definitely help us down the road, having Deshaun (Watson) in the first game.”
The Pats struggled against mobile quarterbacks in 2017. Watson was practically playing backyard football at Gillette Stadium in Week 3, evading defenders in the backfield and looking downfield to generate big plays.
The Patriots acknowledge that Newton and Watson aren’t identical. Newton is one-of-akind at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds. He burned the Patriots with his legs in Week 4 last season, but did so on designed runs and quarterback draws. Watson tends to improvise, although his degree of mobility remains a question as he returns from a season-ending ACL tear.
Still, the two quarterbacks offer one special skill: The ability to shake free of tackles, either by sheer force (Newton) or agility (Watson), and extend the play.
That’s why the Patriots are viewing Friday as a tune-up for Watson and the Texans in Week 1.
“(Newton) has gotten a lot better with not only scrambling, but scrambling to throw,” said Patriots safety Duron Harmon. “Not only do we have to respect his running, but we have to respect him finding receivers down the field, as well. He’s really progressed over the years doing that, from the first time (we played them) my rookie year to where he’s at right now.”
Harmon said the Patriots revisited the film from the Carolina game a year ago. It was one of the uglier defensive performances, as the Pats let up 33 points and experienced a handful of breakdowns in the secondary. Newton’s mobility wasn’t the deciding factor, but it made a difference when the Panthers faced third downs late in the game.
“He’s able to make quarterback throws, but he’s also able to run like a running back,” Hightower said. “I think Carolina does a good job of using those elements, whether it’s a read-zone type of deal or even if it’s a quarterback run on those short yardages. But I think it’ll be a good test for us, having him and (running back Christian) McCaffrey and (tight end) Greg Olsen. It’s not just one guy.”
Added linebacker Marquis Flowers, who assumed quarterback-spy duties late last season: “Obviously, I’ve shared my thoughts about Cam. He’s a great quarterback, probably the best quarterback I’ve played against. He’s mobile, he can run to throw, he’s hard to tackle. He’s a problem.”
After Watson in Week 1, the Patriots don’t have many running quarterbacks on the schedule. They will, however, face several pocket passers capable of extending the play — Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck in Week 5, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes in Week 6, Chicago’s Mitch Trubisky in Week 7, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers in Week 9 and Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota in Week 10.
“We know what we have coming up,” Harmon said, “and we know this will be a great test for us, not only for Game 1 of the season, but just for right now to see where we’re at, to see if we can force a mobile quarterback to stay in the pocket and not let him beat us with his feet.”
‘It’ll be a good test for us, having him and (Christian) McCaffrey and Greg Olsen. It’s not just one guy.’ — PATS’ DONT’A HIGHTOWNER On facing Cam Newton, Panthers