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

[panthers55]

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.

very good point. I think folks here mistaken believe that on a particular play every receiver is equally a potential target and the quarterback progresses through his various reads. As you noted plays are usually designed for a particular player or perhaps 2 receivers based on how the defense lines up or the way we line up our formation. Newton is making his initial read of the defense and deciding who is likely going to be open based on the defensive alignment. Obviously once the ball is snapped and the defense shifts their coverages, the Qb looks to who he was planning to throw it to and if open throws it. If they aren't open he goes to his second read and if they are not open dumps it to the safety valves or begins to scramble.

Like on that last play to Goodson, the play was designed for Goodson the whole way. Two receivers came through that area to clear it out and Goodson came underneath and was supposed to be open. The linebacker stayed home though and made the tackle unfortunately. But that play was designed for a particular player not for anyone at all. As you noted, most plays are designed with a primary and secondary receiver and then a safety valve. Even with 4 or 5 receivers, there are guys who are going to be more or less open based on the defense or whether we want to pick on a safety, linebacker or a DB in single coverage.

[panthers55]

Nannee was supposed to come through that area and clear out the linebacker while Goodson was going to come in behind him to what was supposed to be a clear area and then run for the TD. It was designed for Goodson with Nannee being used to clear the area not as a primary receiver. Or at least that is what I saw. Throwing over the middle inside the five yard line is always risky which is why we went short with Goodson and counted on his running ability to get the yards. Instead he caved over the minute he was touched. I bet Stewart doesn't go down that easily.

[rayzor]

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.

.

if newtons orders from the OC was to get it to goodson if he's open enough for the first down, then that's what he was supposed to do.

it doesn't matter if there was someone close by that was in a better situation if the orders from the top were to get it to goodson if he was open and if he wasn't then look for your 2nd or 3rd read.

there are going to be more than a few questionable plays that will have us scratching our heads, but for a couple years you have to consider a couple things: 1) he's still green and 2) he has to follow orders.

[Devoid]

I think coaching could have done a better job for the last plays as well. We had one timeout and 1:30 or so on the clock at the 13 yard line (going off memory). They went for the end zone 4 times in a row. I think Cam felt rushed and tried to force it in, when the coach should have calmed him down with a run or short pass. The 5th play should have been the 1st play. Also the play with the penalty could have been a TD if Olsen drags his feet or Cam puts closer to the back post. With experience these games will be wins. Damn it feels good to be a Panther!

[PantherFanForLife]

if newtons orders from the OC was to get it to goodson if he's open enough for the first down, then that's what he was supposed to do.

it doesn't matter if there was someone close by that was in a better situation if the orders from the top were to get it to goodson if he was open and if he wasn't then look for your 2nd or 3rd read.

there are going to be more than a few questionable plays that will have us scratching our heads, but for a couple years you have to consider a couple things: 1) he's still green and 2) he has to follow orders.

I realize that and again I'm not taking anything away from him. After his performance though, rookie or not, he's raised the bar on himself and if for no other reason, it's still good to point out things like this to remind everyone of the fact he is a rookie and areas that needs improvement.

Phoenaxe, I was thinking that too. I know Naanee had one reception for 21 yards, but I didn't see him as involved as the others.

And maybe you're right in that those were the orders and he was forced to do that. I just always believed that when you have better options you take them, regardless of how the play was initially designed. Should also note #88 had broken away too by the time Goodson was open. In fact Goodson was probably the least open out of all of them. It was the riskiest choice at that point if you ask me.

[panthers55]

I think coaching could have done a better job for the last plays as well. We had one timeout and 1:30 or so on the clock at the 13 yard line (going off memory). They went for the end zone 4 times in a row. I think Cam felt rushed and tried to force it in, when the coach should have calmed him down with a run or short pass. The 5th play should have been the 1st play. Also the play with the penalty could have been a TD if Olsen drags his feet or Cam puts closer to the back post. With experience these games will be wins. Damn it feels good to be a Panther!

Given that they have had to install the whole playbook in less than 6 weeks, I suspect we have not really done as much situationally as we would like to have done. I suspect we are still installing plays as we speak and will do so for the next 6 or 7 weeks at least. So honestly all of this nitpicking at this point makes little sense.

[AntiBuc]

Did you see the Cardinal's ILB # 56? If Cam had made one more read, he'd have run the risk of a sack; good decision at the moment to get the ball out.

[PantherFanForLife]

Did you see the Cardinal's ILB # 56? If Cam had made one more read, he'd have run the risk of a sack; good decision at the moment to get the ball out.

Yes I did. I mentioned that initially. And quite the contrary. It was actually waiting for Goodson to run his route and get open that endangered him from #56. Again, Naanee was open prior to Goodson getting open. So was #88 in the endzone. He could have gotten that ball out even earlier.

Come on y'all. It was what it was guys. Razor's probably correct in saying he stuck with the design of the play. And that was my point. I don't agree he should have cause he had safer, better targets, earlier. I love the guy too, but I have to call it if I see it. That's just something he needs to work on.

And I agree that Goodson probably screwed his route too. He seemed way too slow getting up there, but again, that's when you gotta make that decision. It seemed as the play was already over by the time Goodson finally got in position.

[rayzor]

Given that they have had to install the whole playbook in less than 6 weeks, I suspect we have not really done as much situationally as we would like to have done. I suspect we are still installing plays as we speak and will do so for the next 6 or 7 weeks at least. So honestly all of this nitpicking at this point makes little sense.

rivera said in one of the pre/post practice media discussions last week that they had just gotten to the point they should have been heading into training camp as far as installation of the playbook goes. lack of OTAs and minicamp kept that from happening. he also said that each week will essentially be a new installation of the playbook so expect to see new things added every wek, but along with that, expect to see some thigns let on the table.

it's a young team learning a new system coming out of a very shortened offseason. thems the breaks.

[Munch4455]

Not trying to jump on anyone, but I don't see how you guys say that Naanee is open. Sure he can get the ball to him, but the second he makes his cut, Antrel Rolle makes a break right towards him. He might have caught the ball, but in no way he gets a first down bc he would get popped immediately after catching it. At least Goodson has heart and the ability to make tackles that might have been able to make something happen. But I agree with the fact that they expected that pass to be 100% wide open and a waltz into the endzone, seeing as you would expect the linebacker there to jump underneath the drag route, leaving that area completely void of any defenders. Overall great discipline by the defender to stay at home.

[PantherFanForLife]

Not trying to jump on anyone, but I don't see how you guys say that Naanee is open. Sure he can get the ball to him, but the second he makes his cut, Antrel Rolle makes a break right towards him. He might have caught the ball, but in no way he gets a first down bc he would get popped immediately after catching it. At least Goodson has heart and the ability to make tackles that might have been able to make something happen. But I agree with the fact that they expected that pass to be 100% wide open and a waltz into the endzone, seeing as you would expect the linebacker there to jump underneath the drag route, leaving that area completely void of any defenders. Overall great discipline by the defender to stay at home.

Antrel would have not caught him as he was already in stride and even if he did I think Nannee had the better momentum to at least go for the first down. You can see Naanee slowed down his route and turned around after he saw Newton went for Goodson which is why it looks as if Antrel would have caught him. But the window to get that ball to Naanee was open prior to Antrel even realizing Naanee was left uncovered. Goodson, oth, was covered the entire time. He was covered, before he had the pass thrown to him.

Naanee was basically in the exact spot Goodson caught the ball a full second before Goodson got there, without a man on him.

PS: If you want me to get really technical it is exactly at 2:46 if you pause the video and Newton was staring right at him. At 2:47, Goodson is in that same spot, but covered. Now that I look at it, Naanee was just a bullet I think. I like this kid's acceleration. Damn. We need to get him out there more often.

[Munch4455]

If he had thrown to Naanee when he was where goodson caught the ball he would have been tackled by lennon as well. The only time he was open is when he was over the middle of the field, in the small amount he would have to decelerate to catch the ball Rolle would have caught him easy. If it was Steve on the drag route, then I say TD, but Naanee isn't even close to a speed guy. Not to mention after watching it again, the man covering Lafell would have had a good chance at making as tackle as well seeing as Lafell ran a 5 yard curl.

[The Saltman]

Did someone do a funny shot in the head gif yet?

[chknwing]

throw to his first read? Did u watch the game? He scrambled around avoiding a sack the whole day and found the open receiver. How the hell did you come to the conclusion hes throwing to his first read?