Examining the first TD

[rayzor]

again, great starting point for newton.

i am loving this potential more and more. so much further along than people thought...even among his "nuthuggers".

[SpeedOFLight]

Motorola XOOM into the call

Here's a replay look at the first touchdown from Cam Newton to Steve Smith.

As fun as it is to watch the play itself, I'm gonna suggest taking a look at what happens pre-snap for something that is, at least for me, very encouraging.

Prior to the snap, you'll see Newton letting the line know that the defense has moved an extra guy over to his left. This looks to have Newton thinking "blitz". Ryan Kalil waves to his left. Jordan Gross and Travelle Wharton acknowledge by pointing left. The Cards move around some but stay largely in the same area, an alignment that leaves Smith matched up one on one with Kerry Rhodes, a safety.

When the ball is snapped, Gross and Wharton slide left and Jonathan Stewart stays home. Sure enough, the Cardinals send an extra rusher from that side. Newton doesn't flinch, and he never looks anywhere except at Smith. He waits for the right moment, and passes. The pass isn't perfect (Smith has to slow down a little to get it) but it's there, and he's so far behind Kerry Rhodes at this point that the adjustment makes no difference.

Worth remembering that the Cards defense is run by former Steeler secondary coach Ray Horton. The Steeler defense is generally known for being good at disguising their intentions, but Newton recognizes what's likely to happen, sees the matchup, acts on it, and we have out first ever Newton to Smith touchdown.

I realize most folks care more about what happens after the snap than before, but I'm as encouraged by what I see pre-snap here as I am the actual execution.

Mr Scot. I have to commend you on your post. You always provide an in-depth look to things. Sadly I can't watch that video right now but I like the aspect to the game that you pointed out that no one else spoke on. Kudos

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Nobody has really mentioned Newton moving the offense and executing in the 20 seconds before the 2 minute warning in the 4th.

Very impressive.

[ACobra289]

Agreed the pass was not perfect, but when somebody is that wide open deep, the last thing you want to do is overthrow them. :)

[Snake]

I know we don't have the weapons on offense that New Orleans has, and Cam might not have the cerebral part of the game down to the point of Drew Brees yet, but NO shredded that defense. This isn't Foxball Panthers. We have an amazing RB tandem. We have a pretty good O-line. We have a QB making the right reads and making fairly sound decisions. We have Olsen & Shockey. And most of all, we have a happy, excited Steve Smith. When he likes his QB and likes being here, he is hard to stop. It should at least be closer than people think.

TBH I think we have a better offense as a whole then NO. They just have a better QB at this point. GB cant really blitz us any more than AZ did but TBH I think Capers willl think twice before he does too many Jail break blitzes on Cam next Sunday. Capers will be more trying to get into Cams head than just relentlessly blitzing him. Its going to be up to our OC and QB coach to tear apart Capers plan and make him pay.