Panthers’ Newton reins in recklessness
Carolina QB not running as much, thriving in pocket
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It is tempting in some ways to declare that quarterback Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers are back. Newton has spent the past couple of weeks playing at an MVP level again, and his quarterbacking prowess has the Panthers looking like a possible Super Bowl contender once more.
The problem with that is that Newton is not playing as he did in 2015, when he was the league’s MVP while leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl before they lost to the Denver Broncos in Peyton Manning’s final NFL game.
This is a different version of Newton. This Newton, whether out of necessity or simply via the on-field maturation process, is playing a less daring, less reckless style, and it is his downfield passing from the pocket that is becoming the centerpiece of the Carolina offense.
“I think Cam has become a better pocket passer,” former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said Tuesday. “And in doing so, it’s expanded their offense.”
Newton was in the news last week for the wrong reasons, being dropped by a sponsor and issuing an apology after saying at his weekly news conference it was “funny” to him to hear a female reporter ask him about a receiver’s route-running.
His recent on-field performances have been far less problematic. In his past two games, road victories
over the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions, Newton completed a combined 48 of 63 passes for 671 yards with six touchdowns and one interception.
It’s not that Newton hasn’t passed effectively in the past. He has. The former top overall selection in the NFL draft began his rookie year in 2011 with consecutive 400-yard passing games. He threw for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in his MVP season in 2015.
But even then, Newton was known for the abandon with which he played, setting aside caution with a willingness to run right over defenders in a physical style that sometimes resembled that of a linebacker. This season’s Newton is not that Newton. He has a modest 90 rushing yards on 29 attempts through five games.
He was asked during his meeting with media members this week about his proficiency in sliding to avoid hits when he does run with the ball these days.
“Just to get my tail out of harm’s way,” he said. “I’m just trying to take the hits off as much as possible. And I guess that’s the result of it.”
But Newton mostly deflected questions Tuesday about his recent downfield passing, and he said he doesn’t want to participate in making comparisons between how he is playing now and how he played in 2015.
“To be honest, 2015 is 2015,” Newton said. “I’m just so focused on trying to find a way to be 1-0 by the end of Thursday night. I understand you guys have got a job to do and try to compare and contrast. That’s what this society is all about or this is what you guys are all about. But I’m just trying to find ways to do anything for this team to win a football game — running, passing, blocking, catching, cheering. It don’t matter. My job on this team is … to be a leader of men, to bring a lot of guys together and win football games. That’s what we’re all here for.”