Newton Making More than a Cameo appearance so Far

Okay I really Pride myself in Player analysis and scouting but I am man enough to admit when I may have been wrong. Most recently Panther QB Cam Newton has really surprised me. I liked Cam in college, but when draft day came and he went number one overall I was skeptical. I realize the panthers didn’t really have much of an option, and I probably would have either traded or made the same pick, so I don’t disagree totally with the pick. BUT I was incredibly unconvinced as to whether Cam would be a good NFL qb.

In College Cam was beast for many reasons, but I also always thought him a little overrated. Broadcasters marveled at “how athletic and fast” he was but I didn’t see it so much.  I mean sure the kid is athletic but he is no Mike Vick, Tyrodd Taylor, or Denard Robinson. I kind viewed Cam as a Dante Culpepper or Steve Mcnair who were both successful in their own respects.

 The thing is Cam does not have elite speed and he was always bigger than the guys he played in college. He could usually outrun many of them and plow over the others. Now that he is in the NFL I thought he would meet reality. The reality that in the NFL “everyone” is fast and they are much bigger and harder hitting than college. Personally I was a little cynical when it came to Cam starting so early. I don’t think he would be terrible but I did NOT think he would play well, as I thought the learning curve would be much larger. In his first 2 games Cam has set records by throwing for over 400 yards in each game and has also made a few plays on his feet.

 Cam has really played well in his 1^st 2 starts but he still has made rookie mistakes. He tries to run sometimes and he doesn’t realize that the guy across him is just as fast as him. He has also had a few interceptions which are expected from a guy that is thrown into the starting role so quickly. But cam has showed some things that really excite me about his potential and really show why he was so highly touted. On one play in last week’s game ( I was SO glad the broadcasters also saw it) Cam rolled out of the pocket and ran for a 1^st down. The thing that impressed me was that while he ran to the outside he kept his eyes down field and the ball ready. This incredible awareness kept the linebackers from closing in on him because he still looked poised as if to pass. He would not have gotten half of the yards he got on that run if he did not disguise what he was doing and keep the secondary at bay.

Also at one point during the game when the 3^rd quarter started Cam threw his second Interception to Charles Woodson, then on the next possession dumbo Steve Smith fumbled. In response to this Cam goes out and throws another interception. At this point it looked like cam was losing his grip on the game as the score was 23-13. BUT then Cam showed me his drive to win by mounting a 4^th quarter comeback and rushing touchdown causing the panthers to only lose by a score of only 30-23.

Remember its only week 2 so there is still tons of stuff to see but so far Cam Newton has been a pleasant surprise and a valuable addition to the Carolina panthers organization.