CHARLOTTE — The result didn’t match the buildup, but Cam Newton’s debut with the Carolina Panthers didn’t disappoint, either.
And for a town that watched the worst quarterback play in the NFL last season and has struggled to find an answer at the position for years, that’s a considerable step up.
Newton finished 8-of-19 passing for 134 yards, playing solidly in the second and third quarters but failing to get the Panthers into the end zone during their 20-10 preseason win over the Giants on Saturday night. But he did produce two field goals on crisp drives and, perhaps most important, didn't try to do much (read: no interceptions).
“I just tried to go out and prove to myself that I could play at this level,” Newton said. “My first game, the competitive juices started to flow, and I kind of felt like I belonged at this level and got a little swagger about myself. ... “I thought it was OK, but I could always be better.”
It wasn’t the kind of performance that will demand an immediate replacement of short-term starter Jimmy Clausen. But considering Newton had only two weeks of practice time to prepare for the game, it was an impressive and significant first step.
What he did well
• Moved the ball downfield. The first play the Panthers called for him was a conservative dumpoff to tight end Greg Olsen, but it didn’t take long for Newton to find Olsen for a 30-yard chunk. Later, he hit Armanti Edwards for 36 yards with a nice ball in the seam. Downfield passes are what this offense is built around, and Newton may already throw the prettiest deep ball in franchise history. While that’s not saying much, he brings a new element to the game-planning.
• Took sacks and bounced back. He was sacked on the first play of his second and third drives but never lost his poise or willingness to stay in the pocket. Instinct would have had him breaking the play and running, but he showed the discipline to stay in the pocket. Perhaps the biggest surprise about his performance is that he finished without a rush attempt.
• Took what was there. The Panthers didn’t take that many chances in play-calling, and Newton showed sufficient touch on the little passes to his backs. Considering the nice stable of backs the Panthers have, it's a wise move to check down to them. Combined with the space he creates by throwing long, the dumpoff can be an effective weapon.
What he didn't do well
• Couldn't produce a TD. He fired blanks in the red zone just before the half, throwing three straight incompletions into tight areas after getting the Panthers down there with the strike to Edwards. Newton will have to get better in short spaces before the coaches trust him completely. Once you get close to the end zone, you have to make quicker decisions and the passes have to be pinpoint. He’s not there yet on either count.
• Wasn't accurate enough. Throughout camp and again Saturday night, his misses tended to be in the dirt. Though you prefer that to hanging the ball over the middle, it’s a consistent issue. He drilled a pass to Legedu Naanee that was too low to handle, killing a third-down conversion opportunity.
• Took an unnecessary risk. You have to wonder if his eagerness to please is going to result in putting himself in peril. Newton threw a solid block on a reverse, putting a lick on Giants defensive end Dave Tollefson. But coaches yelled at him in camp after a similar play. It’s good that he’s stout enough to take a shot or two, but a quarterback is going to take enough hits as it is, and there’s no sense borrowing trouble.
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