Some constructive criticism on Cam Newton's performance. Please don't shoot.

[PantherFanForLife]

Not taking anything away from his amazing performance, but I also think we shouldn't forget he's a rookie who has a lot to learn. They're going to talk about it in the film room so we might as well talk about it too. His tendency to throw to his first read and not look for second options does seem to be there at times, and I noticed it again while voting for rookie of the week on the last play of the game. It's at minute 2:30 of the Cam's Newton full highlight video.

http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies

Had he just been a bit more aware, #17 Legedu Naanee was open for an easy TD and was 2 steps ahead of the same receiver he passed to, but with no one on him, almost the entire route. Before you tell me he was getting blitzed and had to release the ball quickly, notice that Naanee was actually open prior to Goodson, so he could have released it even quicker.

Now I personally don't believe this is a "QB issue", or a permanent flaw, but rather something that just needs to be learned and takes care of itself as he gains more experience. But I do believe this IS something they will be working on as the season unfolds and could affect his game.

One of two things will happen. He could smoothly transition to becoming more patient and adjusting his game to check his #2, #3, etc receivers without disrupting his game too much. But one also has to take into consideration that one of his strongest points in the game against Arizona and as a QB, his ability to quickly release the ball, is probably based a lot on him going to that first read. Considering our O-line isn't very giving, and him needing more time in order to start reading the field, I can see some growing pains in this area as he begins to branch out.

I believe the only way he won't have issues here, is if the O-line improves at the same time as him learning to do this. It will go hand in hand. And this isn't an "IF" situation. He will be learning how to read his other options, and it will be this season, since if he continues to play like that for 16 games it will only be a matter of time before opponent's D's will capitalize on this.

Am I being too picky or do you think this is a valid concern?

[Jangler]

Am I being too picky or do you think this is a valid concern?

[Floppin]

Not taking anything away from his amazing performance, but I also think we shouldn't forget he's a rookie who has a lot to learn. They're going to talk about it in the film room so we might as well talk about it too. His tendency to throw to his first read and not look for second options does seem to be there at times, and I noticed it again while voting for rookie of the week on the last play of the game. It's at minute 2:30 of the Cam's Newton full highlight video.

http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies

Had he just been a bit more aware, #17 Legedu Naanee was open for an easy TD and was 2 steps ahead of the same receiver he passed to, but with no one on him, almost the entire route. Before you tell me he was getting blitzed and had to release the ball quickly, notice that Naanee was actually open prior to Goodson, so he could have released it even quicker.

Now I personally don't believe this is a "QB issue", or a permanent flaw, but rather something that just needs to be learned and takes care of itself as he gains more experience. But I do believe this IS something they will be working on as the season unfolds and could affect his game.

One of two things will happen. He could smoothly transition to becoming more patient and adjusting his game to check his #2, #3, etc receivers without disrupting his game too much. But one also has to take into consideration that one of his strongest points in the game against Arizona and as a QB, his ability to quickly release the ball, is probably based a lot on him going to that first read. Considering our O-line isn't very giving, and him needing more time in order to start reading the field, I can see some growing pains in this area as he begins to branch out.

I believe the only way he won't have issues here, is if the O-line improves at the same time as him learning to do this. It will go hand in hand. And this isn't an "IF" situation. He will be learning how to read his other options, and it will be this season, since if he continues to play like that for 16 games it will only be a matter of time before opponent's D's will capitalize on this.

Am I being too picky or do you think this is a valid concern?

On your play in question I believe that Newton just trusted his receiver to have gotten beyond the 1st down marker. In a post game quote Goodson stated that he thought he was beyond the marker but apparently he had come up just short. So Newton saw a read that he could make and assumed it was a 1st down.

[Panther53521]

Veteran QB's miss open receivers too. On the final play Olsen was open in the back of the end zone. But I can live with it. He will grow and be able to find more of those open men. I know its only one week ... but if that a sign of the future, I will take it.

[PhillyB]

actually the thing i liked the most about cam was his field vision. dude's eyes constantly roved the field. he wasn't just checking his first read and running; he made his first, second, third, etc. and spread the ball out VERY well.

he flat out missed naane, but i'm willing to bet by week 17 he makes that throw and TD every time.

[PantherFanForLife]

On your play in question I believe that Newton just trusted his receiver to have gotten beyond the 1st down marker. In a post game quote Goodson stated that he thought he was beyond the marker but apparently he had come up just short. So Newton saw a read that he could make and assumed it was a 1st down.

Even so, Goodson looked like a harder, more covered and slower target to hit than #17. Naanee was already full sprint, and lost his man, before Goodson could get open. If he hit 17 that would have been a TD.

And yes I know even vets miss miss open receivers, but the only reason this bothered me is because they were both 3 feet away from each other, right in front of him, and his vision was not obstructed. One was open and one was not. That's what makes me believe he had already decided to go with Goodson, no matter what, prior to the snap.

[Floppin]

Even so, Goodson looked like a harder, more covered and slower target to hit than #17. Naanee was already full sprint, and lost his man, before Goodson could get open. If he hit 17 that would have been a TD.

And yes I know even vets miss miss open receivers, but the only reason this bothered me is because they were both 3 feet away from each other, right in front of him, and his vision was not obstructed. One was open and one was not. That's what makes me believe he had already decided to go with Goodson, no matter what, prior to the snap.

Goodson was the primary read on the throw, that was quoted as well. It was 4th and 5, decisive play of the game and it was Goodson's responsibility to get enough yardage for the 1st. Cam saw his primary read 1st and knew he could make the throw, I really don't have a problem with the play from a Cam standpoint.

[rayzor]

watch the rest of the game again and hen say he only looks at his first option.

every QB will have moments in game where they make the wrong choice and miss an open guy....esp. in situations like that.

he does need to get better in making decisions, but that will come with experience.

[Mr. Scot]

Harkening back to debates we had in the Delhomme years, people need to better understand how QB reads work.

You don't look through every single read and then make a choice. As often as not, there wouldn't be time for that anyway.

You look at your first read. He's open? You throw it to him. He's not? You move to the next one.

On plays where the primary read is Steve Smith, you can expect fairly often that it's going to go to him.

This is one reason why people had the perception that Delhomme only threw to Smith. Reality was that was what the play design dictated.

With there already having been questions about Newton making reads, it won't surprise me if this conception rears it's head again.

But it shouldn't.

[PantherFanForLife]

Goodson was the primary read on the throw, that was quoted as well. It was 4th and 5, decisive play of the game and it was Goodson's responsibility to get enough yardage for the 1st. Cam saw his primary read 1st and knew he could make the throw, I really don't have a problem with the play from a Cam standpoint.

Then it is a valid concern cause that's what it looked like to me too. That's gonna happen though, meaning a receiver not doing what he's supposed to do, and when it does, you as a QB need to go to other options. Things like this happen on just about every down.

Again, I didn't think this happened consistently throughout the game, just at times. It just looked obvious on that play and it sucked that it happened on that crucial down. Maybe it was the pressure at the end there which made him have tunnel vision only for Goodson.

And Mr. Scot, I understand that and I re-iterate: the biggest issue here, is that they were both directly in his line of sight, with Naanee actually being open before Goodson while crossing over Goodson's route. Did you watch the video? He clearly didn't have enough time to check all his reads, and that's not what I'm saying he should have done here. I agree with you there. But you had an open guy, in man to man coverage, crossing directly front of your throwing lane and across the route of your "go to" guy. This was more of a matter of seeing what's already right in front of you and just mentally picking A or B. No head movement required in this case.

Hey this could be a good thing for him. Seeing that on film will no doubt make him pay attention next time.

.

[Floppin]

Then it is a valid concern cause that's what it looked like to me too. That's gonna happen though, meaning a receiver not doing what he's supposed to do, and when it does, you as a QB need to go to other options. Things like this happen on just about every down.

Again, I didn't think this happened consistently throughout the game, just at times. It just looked obvious on that play and it sucked that it happened on that crucial down. Maybe it was the pressure at the end there which made him have tunnel vision only for Goodson.

And Mr. Scot, I understand that and I re-iterate: the biggest issue here, is that they were both directly in his line of sight, with Naanee actually being open before Goodson while crossing over Goodson's route. Did you watch the video? He clearly didn't have enough time to check all his reads, and that's not what I'm saying he should have done here. I agree with you there. But you had an open guy, in man to man coverage, crossing directly front of your throwing lane and across the route of your "go to" guy. This was more of a matter of seeing what's already right in front of you and just mentally picking A or B. No head movement required in this case.

Hey this could be a good thing for him. Seeing that on film will no doubt make him pay attention next time.

.

It's still Goodson's responsibility to get past the marker, it's next to impossible for Cam to know if he was before he threw it, do you honestly think that he had time to glance down at the yard markers and fuging count them? It wasn't Cam's fault at all. Goodson is the main read, he can make the throw so he makes it. You don't pass on that because if you do there's no guarantee that you have another open throw and then you've lost the opportunity. You don't pass on an open target that's your main read if you can make the throw.

[Phoenaxe]

I just think he didn't trust Naanee to make the game winning grab.

[KDawg004]

I saw him make several reads during the game. Like Mr. Scot pointed out. If your first read is open, throw it. I believe the Goodson play was just a safe play. And if he wouldve gotten past the 1st down marker like he was supposed to we would've had a fresh set of downs on the 1 yard line. Also allowing us to burn out the clock.

On a side note, it's refreshing watching Cam step into the pocket to make throws. Not bailing at the first sign of pressure.

[rayzor]

Goodson was the primary read on the throw, that was quoted as well. It was 4th and 5, decisive play of the game and it was Goodson's responsibility to get enough yardage for the 1st. Cam saw his primary read 1st and knew he could make the throw, I really don't have a problem with the play from a Cam standpoint.

a lot of this has to do with newton being a rookie or a green QB. until they have more experience and the coaching staff has more faith in them, their job is to do what the OC tells them to do. OC tells him that if he can get it to goodson, get it to him. it was goodson's job to get the first down.

it's going to take a couple years before the coaching staff will allow him the freedom to make the call, esp. in situations like that. his job is to do what the coaching staff tells him to do.