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Coaching counts. Just ask Cam Newton, who has probably received the biggest training upgrade of any NFL quarter when the Panthers replaced Mike Shula with Norv Turner. Turner's hire, who had been training in the NFL for four years before Newton's birth, raised many skeptical eyebrows, given his history of deep falls and a vertical pass attack.
But Turner took the skilled Panthers players and deployed them in a totally different way and the fallout effect on Newton and the Panthers offensive was stunning.
For starters, let's just look at Newton's statistics. Turner was outright ridiculed for claiming that Newton could complete with 60% of his passes – understandably, given that Newton's end-of-career percentage was below 60% for this year. But Norv was not wrong. Cam now completes 66.4% of his passes after beating nearly three-quarters of his Ravens shots in Carolina's surprising 36-21 victory over the NFL's best defense.
Newton's interception rate is also the lowest of his career and, without really attracting attention, he's achieving a better year in seven games than in 2015 when he had led the Panthers at 15-1 and won the title of player par excellence.
|
Comp. % |
Verges |
TD |
INT |
Verges / attempt |
Rushing Yards |
|
|
2018 |
66.4 |
1646 |
13 |
4 |
6.9 |
309 |
|
2015 (through seven games) |
54.2 |
1523 |
11 |
8 |
7.1 |
386 |
That year, Newton became the only quarter to throw 3,500 yards, more than 30 touchdowns and more than 600 rushing yards in a single season. He is about to become the second quarterback to do so.
But fans of the Panthers should be even more excited about this year's interpretation, as Newton is much less affected. He has been sacked only 10 times since the start of the season, recording by far the lowest bag percentage (4.0%) of his career.
Carolina's offensive line also plays at a surprisingly high level, managing to protect Newton when he has to launch deep from a precarious position.
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All this is the culmination of a change of personnel associated with Turner's ability to adapt his offensive philosophy to that of Newton and to the talent of his unique quarterback. Christian McCaffrey, Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore's are chess pieces, players who can move seamlessly around different formations and have a hasty or received impact. It's not surprising that Moore leads the NFL with 12.1 yards per game by a wide receiver, whether the Panthers are the first to cash in the quarterbacks and broad receivers, or that they are sixth in the league. NFL receiving touchdowns on the ground.
Watch this Sunday Victory Coin on Baltimore for a perfect example of how Turner can use his quick weapons and strengthen his defense in many ways. Samuel's motion is just another thing a defense has to contend with, and even a fictitious action in favor of McCaffrey must be taken into account. Newton hurrying in one direction will always cause the defenders to sink in this way, and then, bang, Moore comes flying in the air for a throw from start to finish.
Good luck for it to stop when the offensive line is blocking. Here is another example of how movement and action play on both defense and allow Newton to read the type of look that defense gives him. Turner brings his playmakers into space and gives Newton easy shots that allow them to collect tons of yards after the shot.
Turner did not give up trying to reduce Newton's race. No need to do it: the Panthers' idea of turning Newton off before the 2017 season was inconceivable. Cam gets hurt when he spends too much time in the pocket, holding the ball, waiting for the games to develop, then taking huge shots from the defenders at full speed.
Focusing on quick throws and the accuracy of playmakers, Turner increased Cam's efficiency, improved offensive line play, optimized the skills of his playmakers and managed to create an offense that should keep Newton in better health during the season.
The result was a MVP caliber debut for Newton and a Panthers offense that is starting to really catch up. If all that is happening for Carolina is of type 2015, pay attention.
Quarterly ranking of quarterbacks.
Cry me on Twitter @ WillBrinson with your complaints, questions and compliments (improbable) and make sure to check my Daily NFL podcast, the Pick Six podcast, to which you can subscribe on iTunes here.
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