Black and Blue Review
After each week and every loss, 2014 looks more like a lost season for the Panthers. But emerging from it without finally learning how to best use quarterback Cam Newton would be their biggest mistake in a year full of them.
General manager Dave Gettleman did not find an answer on the roster at offensive tackle. Coach Ron Rivera failed to live up to his ‘Riverboat’ nickname at the end of games against the Bengals and Falcons. The playoffs are a faded dream. None of that is as vital to the franchise as Newton’s future.
His contract situation will be the biggest story this offseason, but how does anyone properly evaluate what he is worth considering the faulty parts surrounding him this season?
“It’s all about the moving parts. I could sit here and name names, but I’m not gonna. We’re going to look at what we do and who’s doing it and try to get those things corrected,” Rivera said Monday. “There are a lot of things that have happened this year that have made things different and difficult.”
Few could argue the top of Carolina’s list of changes this coming offseason should be topped by at least one offensive tackle and more weapons for Newton. It may also be tough for offensive coordinator Mike Shula to survive the dreadful numbers his unit has produced. But none of that will matter much if the Panthers head into Newton’s fifth season without understanding who he should be going forward. And what he should be is more of a pocket passer.
That is not a term he likes, and it is something that has been debated for years inside the organization. But plenty of evidence can be culled from his two-seasons-in-one this year.
This chart shows the stark contrast between Newton’s first five games this year versus his last six:
Cam Newton: 2014
| TD passes | INTs | Completions | Attempts | Completion % | Sacks | Avg. Passer Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st 5 games | 7 | 2 | 108 | 175 | 62% | 11 | 92.84 |
| Last 6 games | 6 | 9 | 105 | 193 | 54% | 25 | 65.4 |
After starting the season 2-2-1, Newton is 0-6. His touchdowns are down; his interceptions are up. His completion percentage and passer rating nosedived. He has taken a staggering amount of sacks.
For those more visually inclined, here is an infographic with the differences:
When trying to figure out what went wrong so quickly, the sacks jump out as an obvious reason. It is no coincidence the troubles started after injuries turned the offensive line into a game of musical chairs after Week 6. No quarterback in the league would be able to withstand the type of pressure Newton has faced since then.
But something else happened in Week 6. That is when the Panthers ‘took the chains’ off their quarterback.
During the first half that day in Cincinnati, Newton rushed twice for six yards. That upped his total to 16 carries and 48 yards through four and a half games. Then in the second half and overtime, Newton ran 15 times for 101 yards.
Despite the eventual tie, it was a performance that excited not just the Panthers’ fanbase, but media around the country started falling for Newton:
- “Cam Newton is playing like a top-five quarterback.” — NFL.com
- “Newton is currently our top-graded QB with a +14.6 overall grade.” — Pro Football Focus
- “You know who might represent a pretty good competitor for [Aaron] Rodgers? Cam Newton.” — Grantland
- “Newton is growing into a quality pocket passer.” — CBSSports.com
That last quote is vital. Newton appeared to be growing into a quality pocket passer until he was ‘unleashed.’ In his first few games, he was throwing passes like this:
In the first half against the Bengals, he was 13-of-17 for 110 yards, and a touchdown. After halftime, when Newton became a running quarterback again, he was 16-of-29 for 174 yards, a touchdown, and he was throwing passes like this:
Through four and a half games, Newton was a better passer than he had ever been because he had focused on just one thing all spring and summer. Unable to run, he was locked in on making sure his mechanics were right. Things fell apart when he started running again.
There is a chance Newton reinjured his ribs and/or ankle against the Bengals. And again, the injury-plagued offensive line has contributed plenty to his problems, perhaps even affecting him mentally while in the pocket. But his performance early this season proved he is better when he is committed to staying inside the pocket.
And then there is the issue of the number of hits Newton takes, an amount no team should want their franchise quarterback to endure. Newton sees himself as an athlete playing quarterback, but the Panthers need him to be a quarterback who is also an athlete.
The only way he will change is if coaches make him change. Rivera has long said he wants Newton to take fewer hits, yet little has been done to make that happen. Scrapping the zone read and designed runs would be a good start.
Playing as a pocket passer does not have to be as boring as it sounds. Newton can and should use his legs on scrambles, just like Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Colts quarterback Andrew Luck. But someone needs to convince Newton he is a better player when he is a better passer. And he can be a better passer if he is not essentially encouraged to run whenever he likes.
If that someone is not Rivera, then it needs to be Shula or whoever is in his place if he is eventually replaced.
The Panthers will likely add more parts around their quarterback this offseason, and they may even give him a big, new contract. But before they do, they better decide which kind of quarterback they want Newton to be.