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

[teeray]

And your point is?

Ahhh you edited....RIGHT! That's my point. He made the pre-snap decision to go to Goodson, but passed on two other opportunities that opened up prior to Goodson getting in position. That was actually the entire point of the original post.

He didn't capitalize. What should have happened....is when Naadee cut....and the defender lost him and ran into the endzone instead of following him, leaving Antrel to pick him up, Cam should have capitalized right there instead of waiting on Goodson. He had Naadee open first. Then half a second later, when Antrel was going after Naadee, 88 became open. He could have gone to him for the TD. But instead he waited on Goodson, his pre-snap decision. The one he never took his eyes off of that allowed Lennon to hone in on.

That was my point.

Again, this wasn't a case on passing on your number 1 option. In this play, his number 1 option ended up being his number 3, because of Naanee's defender getting fooled and two other guys opening up early. That was the unexpected part that he could have/should have capitalized on.

The number one option isn't who is the most open. It is either pre-designed by the play call or determined pre-snap by the coverage you see. I think that is what you are failing to grasp.

It simply doesn't matter who is more open. You go to read 1, then 2, then 3, etc.

[teeray]

Again, that was my whoooooole point. That was the problem.

And I disagree. What matters, at least imo, is which one of his guys were in the best position to get either the TD or first down. Both of those others guys were in better positions to do that. That was the ultimate goal. Not a completion. It was 4th and out!

Then literally every QB in the NFL is doing it wrong because that is how they all do it. Maybe you should start a seminar for QB coaches and revolutionize the game.

[teeray]

Again, that was my whoooooole point. That was the problem.

And I disagree. What matters, at least imo, is which one of his guys were in the best position to get either the TD or first down. Both of those others guys were in better positions to do that. That was the ultimate goal. Not a completion. It was 4th and out!

You don;t seem to understand what I am saying. The pre-snap read determines what match ups you have and what coverage they are in (hopefully) from that information you determine who your first read is going to be, then second, then third.

You don't have a time machine to see who is going to be more open after the snap so you go with your best match up or what coverage you read. Then it is a matter of going through your progressions

So Cam likely had the match up he wanted with Goodsen versus a linebacker and went with that being the first option.

After the ball is snapped it no longer matters who is most open it is a matter of getting through progressions. If read one is open or figures to be open you got there with the ball.

[PantherFanForLife]

The number one option isn't who is the most open. It is either pre-designed by the play call or determined pre-snap by the coverage you see. I think that is what you are failing to grasp.

It simply doesn't matter who is more open. You go to read 1, then 2, then 3, etc.

Please read. I said the number 1 option is always whoever is in the best position to get you the first down or TD in a 4th and goal. And regardless of how the play was designed, the way that particular play unfolded made Naadee the best choice, followed by 88, and then Goodson.

I realize Goodson was most likely his 1st option and his pre-snap decision, and for the last time, I'm saying he stuck with his pre-snap decision, which is what was the problem. What I believe he should have done is be more aware to adjust to the new opportunities created as the play unfolded.

[PantherFanForLife]

You don;t seem to understand what I am saying. The pre-snap read determines what match ups you have and what coverage they are in (hopefully) from that information you determine who your first read is going to be, then second, then third.

You don't have a time machine to see who is going to be more open after the snap so you go with your best match up or what coverage you read.

So Cam likely had the match up he wanted with Goodsen versus a linebacker and went with that being the first option.

After the ball is snapped it no longer matters who is most open it is a matter of getting through progressions.

Uhm....you should read over that again and see how silly it sounds.

Yes, in real NFL football, QB's frequently change their target receivers POST-snap depending on who gets open, how the play unfolds, and who beats their man. This is actually....quite normal and happens on a regular basis.

[edromeo]

Then just go back 3 pages, cause I already did.

No doubt.(and congrats on a good thread)

I have since looked through the thread.

My first post was in reponse to the OP hadn't gone through the whole thread yet.

Yeah I did. More than once. Which is why I keep saying he was the worst choice.

Imo Lenon doesn't PI then Goodson gets the 1st down.

If you watch the video and see the speed Naanee had before Antrel started going after him, you will see that wasn't the case. Naanee had him easily with a blocker waiting for him. He wasn't running towards Antrel, straight for the goal line, he was running sideways and would have ran past his blocker.

Oh, I see it but I also see 25 looking right at Cam with a clear line of site to Naanee and a good chase angle, in fact it looks like 25 has already 'pulled the trigger'.

I think it was a 50-50 decision and you don't grade a QB down for when it comes down to his choice unless its clear that player X was open and player X was covered.

I don't think its cut and dry in this case:

Naanee defender is in perfect position to play an early throw because he's looking at Cam and has view of Naanee in front of him then starts driving hard downhill.

I think Naanee's defender has as good a chance of stopping Naanee short of the 1st as Lenon did on Goodson.

88 also had his guy, and had plenty of running room to keep running away from his defender if Newton threw the ball in the back of the endzone. Only he could have caught that ball.

I thought this at first too.

But man that is a tough throw, especially for a rookie.

He would have to throw something like a skinny post except up high because he doesn't want to put the pass to close to 31 and he basically has to throw it right behind 25 as soon as 25 commits to cover Naanee.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/carolina-panthers/09000d5d82226822/Cardinals-defense-4th-down-failed

I think the NFL elites make that throw.

And I do think Goodson was his first read. But he had two other options prior to his first read becoming open that were much better choices, imo.

Based on the depths and timing of the patterns I don't think Goodson could be the 1st read because he gets open last.

Pre-snap I actually like the the #1 WR on the left on backshoulder but it doesn't look like they were part of the progression the way they were running.

[rayzor]

Yeah I did. More than once. Which is why I keep saying he was the worst choice. If you watch the video and see the speed Naanee had before Antrel started going after him, you will see that wasn't the case. Naanee had him easily with a blocker waiting for him. He wasn't running towards Antrel, straight for the goal line, he was running sideways and would have ran past his blocker. 88 also had his guy, and had plenty of running room to keep running away from his defender if Newton threw the ball in the back of the endzone. Only he could have caught that ball.

And I do think Goodson was his first read. But he had two other options prior to his first read becoming open that were much better choices, imo, though Rayzor says that's not how things are done, so I guess it doesn't count.

there were better options, but that's hindsight.

i can understand what they were trying to do and it was a pretty good plan, goodson just didn't finish where he was supposed to. the play didn't work out like they hoped. it happens. you move on.

[PantherFanForLife]

Honestly I think the throw to Goodson was probably the one that required the most precision seeing how Lennon already had him wrapped up. I don't think the throw to 88 would have been out of Cam's comfort zone at all after seeing how good he throws.

Again, I think this is just a case of him being a rookie, and the mistake wasn't poor execution on his part at all. In fact, I agree with Rayzor in believing he probably executed the play exactly as it was drawn up and it's likely Goodson just got there way too late.

I just don't agree that he should have stuck with the original execution. I think that in this case,....that was the mistake. The mistake was simply sticking with the original execution and not being aware enough to capitalize on openings. A veteran would have pulled the trigger on the other options as the play unfolded.

[edromeo]

Honestly I think the throw to Goodson was probably the one that required the most precision seeing how Lennon already had him wrapped up. I don't think the throw to 88 would have been out of Cam's comfort zone at all after seeing how good he throws.

That throw to Shock would require him to manipulate 25 with his eyes, wait for him to jump Naanee's route then throw it behind 25 but throw it before and high to eliminate 31's ability to make a play on the ball all while getting blitzed from both edges.

Again, I think this is just a case of him being a rookie, and the mistake wasn't poor execution on his part at all. In fact, I agree with Rayzor in believing he probably executed the play exactly as it was drawn up and it's likely Goodson just got there way too late.

I think it was a well defensed play.

And I don't think there was any reason for Cam to expect Goodson to not beat Lenon and not get into the endzone.

The mistake was simply sticking with the original execution and not being aware enough to capitalize on openings. A veteran would have pulled the trigger on the other options as the play unfolded.

I think he was aware of the options on the play, followed the progression and made a safe decision and a safe throw that ultimately failed to get the needed yardage.

I still think that pre-snap he should have looked or signaled back shoulder to the #1 WR on the left in 1-on-1.

[teeray]

Let me try it this way. Through what Cam may have seen. Cam Newton brought Naanee in motion to get a pre-snap read and read that they were in man to man.

They also showed blitz coming to his left.

So what he may have seen is that either the linebacker clears with Naanee and Goodsen is wide open or Goodsen is one on one with a linebacker. That is the match up he wants.

Olsen is covered by the safety, Naanee is covered by the corner with inside help, and Goodsen is left one on one with a linebacker. BOOM! Goodsen is my read.

After that you only come off him if he isn't open. If he isn't open you go to your second progression, etc. Cam read man, did indeed get the best match up to get the first down or touchdown, and went with his read.

If you have match ups of safety to tight end, corner to receiver, adn LB to a guy like Goodsen then you take Goodsen versus linebacker all day long.

It doesn't matter who is the most open. It simply doesn't. That is not how playing QB works. It sounds great but is simply wrong.

Again you should start a seminar for QB coaches and revolutionize the game.

[PantherFanForLife]

there were better options, but that's hindsight.

i can understand what they were trying to do and it was a pretty good plan, goodson just didn't finish where he was supposed to. the play didn't work out like they hoped. it happens. you move on.

I do too, and had Naadee's man followed him across, Antrel would have stuck with 88 and follow him into the endzone, leaving Goodson with a lot more room to run and push past Lennon for the first down. But when Antrel had to give up 88 and switch tor Naadee, he also stood still in his spot, basically throwing an obstacle in Goodson's path.

[edromeo]

It doesn't matter who is the most open. It simply doesn't. That is not how playing QB works. It sounds great but is simply wrong.

I agreed with most of you post except for this part.

Some offenses preach that a QB should get what yards they can get as fast as they can get it especially when being blitzed.

If something breaks open before your primary WR then you should take that.

[teeray]

What you are saying suggests his options for his progressions come after the snap. It doesn't work that way.

[edromeo]

i can understand what they were trying to do and it was a pretty good plan, goodson just didn't finish where he was supposed to.

It looked like Goodson was on a 'texas' route.

I think Goodson should have gained more separation maybe he could have stemmed outside to the flat for 1 step then broke inside.