Film Review: The Carolina Panthers and Cam Newton
by Brandon on Sep 14, 2011 9:01 AM CDT
in Green Bay Packers Preview
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I'm not sure when the last time I saw a Carolina Panthers game was, so I needed to learn more about their team. And I really needed to learn more about QB Cam Newton after he had one of the best games in the past 20 yards by a rookie quarterback. Not a rookie QB in his first game, but a rookie quarterback at any time during his first season.
The Panthers only lost to the Cardinals by 7 points, but Football Outsiders ranked them as only the 27th best team last Sunday. The Green Bay Packers come in at No. 9 overall, which is fair since the defense was a bit torched by QB Drew Brees. The Panthers offense graded out as average (they weren't able to run the ball: only 2.7 yards per carry as a team), and their defense (28th) and special teams (30th) really dragged them down. The scoreboard could have been a lot worse for the Panthers because the Cardinals blew a couple of early scoring opportunities. They had the ball inside the 10 yard line twice in the first half, and came away with zero points (missed FG and a fumble). And Newton's 2nd TD pass came a few plays after an INT was overturned due to a very weak roughing the passer penalty.
Their best player against the Cardinals was easily Newton. His biggest asset right now is his touch on deep passes. He had some nice highlight reel passes to WR Steve Smith, but he also did a nice job on sideline routes to TEs Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen. And he's got such a strong arm that he can hit these receivers deep and in stride.
But there's still a lot of rookie in him. He locked onto his primary receiver, and he wasn't very good at looking off of him. Also, nearly every pass he threw was too high. So it helps that three of his top receivers (Shockey, Olsen, and WR Brandon LaFell) are 6-2 or taller. Also, Newton is a great runner, but he could have been better at escaping the pressure when he was flushed from the pocket. He admitted in the press game news conference that he was holding the ball too long.
The worst news on defense was that they lost ILB Jon Beason for the season with a torn Achilles. But backup ILB Dan Conner looked fine as his replacement, and I don't expect they'll struggle too much without Beason. Their biggest problem on defense was that their players weren't winning the one-on-one battles. They got no pressure on the quarterback outside of DE Charles Johnson and DE Greg Hardy, and they allowed RB Beanie Wells to run for 5 yards per carry. In the second half, they started to get creative with their blitz packages which led to huge TD passes to TE Jeff King and WR Early Doucet after the blitz didn't get to QB Kevin Kolb in time.
Despite a surprising performance against the Cardinals, the Panthers are still one of the worst teams in the NFL. The Packers secondary needs to get their act together after a rough season opener because Newton can make some big plays against them, but we all know that they can play better than they did last week. There should be a lot of excitement in Carolina this week, after a big game from Newton and with the defending champs coming to town, but the Packers are certainly up to the challenge.
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Who's satrting at RB??
Oh yeah, thats right. James Starks is….. Starks and Gratn combine for 150plus yards Sunday in a 31-13 win
That's very much a realistic possibility
Carolina is weak at the DT position, so teams should be able to run against them. Rodgers should also have a big game because of that as well.
One game at a time...
The Cardinals defense looked terrible
There were receivers running open all over the place. I don’t really expect the Packers to allow that. Steve Smith did have a nice TD catch when Patrick Peterson was in tight coverage though.
Patrick Peterson
He got torched by Newton and Smith, he made up for it with a big touchdown return, but I expect he’ll be a great corner in a year or two. He’s got great size and speed (especially size, at 219 lbs. he’s not going to get shoved around). He wasn’t making many plays on defense, but I can see the potential, and he’ll be really good next season.
The anoiting of Cams heroic play
is/was based on the High School play of the Cardinals who are in a bruising competition for King of the Crapheap known as the NFC West.
As like all rookies,he will get his shining moments against a more quality/qualified NFL team and even a true contender ala the Packers,since we have been known to allow things to occur that shouldn’t in these type of games.
However,nothing is more possibly harmful to the Cam’onster’ by having his debut so blindly sensationalized by the media after playing and yet still losing to a garbage truck with flat tires,whom may possibly be shown why the “Kolb’ler’ Pie” needed to go West as he showed so much against they’re mirror image of the NFC South.
So to clarify...
If Newton should play well against the Packers it still won’t validate anything because “we have been known to allow things to occur that shouldn’t in these type of games”. I assume you mean give up easy points to lesser opponents? You’ve won 7 games in a row including the SB so I don’t see how that argument would hold water.
Regarding the media creating pressure on Newton by ‘sensationalizing’ his debut I would venture if he can handle the pressure of playing the road in his debut and then having DTs and LB constantly bearing down on him like the Cards did last week then media pressure is nothing. Besides, the media circus is old hat to Newton going back to when he transferred to Auburn from UF. Maybe the Packers will rattle him this weekend but given we are at home I’m hoping he actually feels even more comfortable.
Regardless of what Newton does, the Panthers are not a good football team as Brandon pointed out. The defense has serious issues but I do expect better things from ST. The Packers should blow out the Panthers by 17+ points or more. Anything less should raise some questions.
"Constantly bearing down on him like the Cards"
LOL…OK, I’m pretty sure that the majoriy of Packers fans will be the first to give Newton his due for his play if warranted in this coming match up.
Also,I meant the ‘sensationalizing’ post game Greek Mythology heroics as in the ’ Iliad’ works of Homer known better to many as ‘The Trojan Horse’ story.
FTFY
having DTs and LB constantly bearing down on him like B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews are going to this week
"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."
"It's a great day to be great, baby!"
Skol is a four-letter word.
The Munsters of the Midway still suck!
Deep Ball
I watched a little bit of the Panthers and saw the highlights, and I didn’t come away with the impression that Cam did a great job on the deep ball. I recall one of the deep TD’s to Smith where it appeared as Steve Smith had his guy beat so bad (blown coverage) that he had the time to almost come to a complete stop, turn around, catch the ball, turn back around and run for the TD with the defender only catching up after it was too late. If the defender would not have been 20 yards away from Smith at the time of the catch the ball would have been easily knocked down or intercepted. Another one of the deep passes in the highlights also required the receiver to slow down to make the catch. I’m not saying the guy didn’t do a great job in his first game, the stats show that plenty good enough. I’m just saying that if that is the best the cards can do with their secondary then they are going to have a very very long season, and that as long as the Pack doesn’t completely ignore preparing for this game they should have no trouble winning.
it appeared to be the perfect type of ball you throw to a guy who is wide open
He made the throws he was suppose to make..along with some very very good ones….
I hope your coaches and players aren’t thinking what you fans are thinking lol… i am sure they aren’t putting this “slant” on his performance… they better be selling the players on “hey this guy is for real”
And FYI you can go into the Miami record setting game and find highlights of “not so perfect balls” thrown by Brady and Henny the other day as well. ….
You can say “he had wide open recievers” ….hmm….that is how you throw for 400 plus yards. You will have plays where people are wide open…. that isn’t a knock on them as passers. It is good …that means he is making the plays he is suppose to make.
It just seems abit of a homer type of slant to assume there will be no one open lol…in football there will be someone open. It is and always will be about decisions / pressures / and ball placement.
Newton can’t really be put in a box cause honestly no one knows what he is. He shows good balll placement (even tho you may say everyone is wide open lol…please look at some of those throws objectively)…..
he has shown good decision making (nothing special but not a person who panics and does dum stuff)
He has shown a “it factor”…which is something you can pretend isn’t present… but is.
Carolina should get blown out by the Packers… but if they are looking at Newton through these rose colored glasses then it could get scary…hope your players don’t look at it that way…. just saying
This is a Packers blog
Expect a slant toward that side, they are the world champs. However, this game will not be a blowout and we(CAROLINA) could very well win. Jimmy Graham abused Hawk all night. All I keep hearing is that we will be down early and be forced to throw deep. I don’t expect to see to much 4 wide out like we ran against AZ. You can expect lots of 2 TE sets, moving pockets, screens and boots. BJ Raji is a beast, but his fat ass will get tired. On defense, I see Jordy Nelson and Finley being the problems. Gamble will handle Jennings. If the Pack wins by more than 7, I will donate 20 bucks to the charity of your choice. If they I just want you to come to CSR and apologize for disrespecting the future of the NFL. Shankdiddy we are gonna love this win and then the Cam haters will fine some other reason to hate. Lets just pray for no injuries on either side. FWIW Rodgers is my favorite non-panther.
Whoa!
Two and fourteen last year and making bets this year? After opening the season by losing to a 5-11 team last week? I’m glad there’s some excitement in Carolina, but let’s get real. Cam will get quite an education this week from former Panther’s head coach Dom Capers. \
Send your $20 to your local Big Brothers / Big Sisters. Enjoy the game.
Nitschke never wore an earring!
I would hope that Carolina would rush more than NO did last week...
kinda like to see how the run defense holds up.
Its pretty hard to tire out Raji. For his size, he plays nearly every snap and is very athletic.
In Every Climb and Place....
I am an ass hat.
by PhoenicianPakFan on Sep 14, 2011 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions
I respect Raji's game
The game will be closer than people think. I will be the first one to come to the game thread and say we are not worthy if the Pack wins by more than 7. I wrote the check this morning I will post a pic with a big fat VOID on it Sunday @ or around 4pm. Have fun. Enjoy the game.
Haha man, one good game from Cam and most of you guys are ready to anoint him the next Peyton Manning.
Don’t bank on Raji getting “tired”. He played 85% of the snaps last season, and only got better as the year wore on.
I agree you guys will use a lot of 2 TE sets, and that scares me to a degree cause I still feel like the run defense is vulnerable because of how much we use our nickel package. But Cam passing doesn’t scare me whatsoever. This is the best secondary in the league you’ll be facing, and I just saw today that your starting RT will be out. Whoever is replacing him is going to get absolutely abused by Matthews.
For being a 2 win team last season, all of your fans seem to be awfully confident.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on Sep 15, 2011 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions
the next Peyton Manning
Haha man, one good game from Cam and most of you guys are ready to anoint him the next Peyton Manning.
"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."
"It's a great day to be great, baby!"
Skol is a four-letter word.
The Munsters of the Midway still suck!
I don't want anyone to say they aren't worthy...
of anything. Fans are fans of their teams, win or lose, and all these teams play in the NFL.
I’m not jumping on the “Packers are going to pound your team” bandwagon. I hope they do, but I won’t be surprised if you’re right. Packers have a habit of allowing things to get closer than they should be at times if not losing.
In Every Climb and Place....
I am an ass hat.
by PhoenicianPakFan on Sep 15, 2011 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions
I still remember when the 1996 Packers
You know, the Super Bowl champs that year, provided Indy with its only win of that season. Now THAT was a bad loss. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
Raji played the most snaps on the DL last year
For being as big as he is, he’s very well conditioned.
If Carolina wins, then I’ll admit that Cam Newton is the greatest of all time and will renounce my hatred for Auburn. (Not too worried about it…)
The TEs could be a problem for the defense, but when you get down big Cam will have to throw deep. Just as a refresher, GB’s secondary includes: Charles Woodson (Heisman winner and 09-10 DPOY), Tramon Williams (Pro Bowler who did this to the Falcons), Nick Collins (Perennial Pro Bowler who had a Super Bowl pick 6), as well as young, up and coming stars Sam Shields (2 picks, 8 PD as a rookie Nickel Corner who converted from WR his senior year & this), & Morgan Burnett (14 Tackles last week). The liability of our secondary is our Dime Back, Jarrett Bush (who did this in the Super Bowl)
That’s all moot if a certain someone gets to Cam first…
"I'm tired of pretending I'm not a rock star from Mars."
I'm not knocking
The Packs talent level. I have immense respect for them as well as Coach Capers, MM and TT. All I’m saying is we will compete. Chud and Rivera are smart they are not going to put Cam in bad situations. I’m not saying we will pass for 400 yards. You guys are the champs. This game will be close. Thanks for your response.
by doncarolina on Sep 15, 2011 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Nice
Im sure we will see that more than once. Especially now that our starting RT is OUT. But Bell will do fine.
Newton will look much different in this game
While he had a great debut, it came against one of the worst secondaries, and defenses in general, in the league. Patrick Peterson will be a good CB, but it was his first ever NFL game.
The story will change significantly this week against Green Bay. Not only do the Packers have a superior pass rush that will keep Newton from scrambling all over and buying time, but the Packer’s secondary is far superior in coverage. Steve Smith won’t be getting open all over the place this week.
While it’s important for the Packers to stop the run and control the TEs (Shockey and Olson), those two things will largely be taken care of by the fact that Carolina will be down the whole game and will have to pass, and pass deep, to try and catch up. The Panthers defense was already suspect, and now that they’ve lost star linebacker Jon Beason for the year, it should be even easier for the Packers to score.
I think “Camp Cam” comes back down to Earth this week
by rip_city_swagger on Sep 14, 2011 4:05 PM CDT reply actions
I wouldn't expect the Panthers to blitz Rodgers all that much
He is a dissector of blitzes. The packer 4wr blitz routes are our bread and butter. They KILL people with those hot routes.
If Rodgers is having a good game, no team can beat them. Flat out. The defense is just good enough to stop people, and Rodgers takes it personally when he doesn’t get a TD drive. You can see it in his eyes.
We score 5+TD, they score 2TDs and a couple of FGs. 45-20 score
Yeah, I think a lot of people are focusing on their offense vs. our defense when it should really be the other way around. This is an offense with the best QB (arguably) and the best receiving corps in the league. Unless a team has an elite secondary or an elite DL, it’s going to be hard for them to keep us under 25-30 points.
Fire Slocum
by packallday555 on Sep 15, 2011 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions
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