Challenges Facing Cam And Other 2011 Qbs

[fieryprophet]

http://www.nfl.com/new...000d5d8291681e/

For Newton and fellow first-round sophomores Jake Locker , Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder , the past month and the weeks ahead signify the first real, toned-down learning experience they've had as NFL players. Progress is the expectation, and it'll be necessary, too. On the other side of the coin, defensive coaches have time to review and revise their plans to attack these young quarterbacks.

"One of the things Cam and I have talked about is, 'You're no longer an unknown,' " Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "People know what to expect from you. People know what we do offensively. Now, we'll find out how much you've grown."

With that in mind, the time is right to look at where Newton, Locker, Gabbert and Ponder need to improve this spring, with a little help from their coaches ...

Cam Newton, No. 1 overall pick, Carolina Panthers How to improve on a rookie year in which he threw for 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns, and ran for 706 yards and 14 scores? It goes back to the pre-draft criticism of Newton -- becoming fundamentally better under center and as a traditional quarterback. That's not to say Rivera and Co. are going to try and turn Newton into Dan Marino. They won't. The idea is to make him even more diverse as a player.

"Probably the biggest thing with him is technique, both throwing on the move and taking the snap from under center," Rivera said. "Evaluating from last year, I'd say we see where we want him to work on his footwork, going under center, planting and stepping into his throws. He just needs to be more consistent with it. Those things are big."

A month into that work, the quarterback's eating it up, according to his coaches.

"The offensive coaches evaluated all his strengths and weaknesses, the things he needs to do physically as a quarterback to get better," Rivera continued. "I can tell you, he's working it. You watch the individual periods he's doing, those techniques he's trying to improve, it's impressive. And he wants to learn more of this offense. We watch the amount we're teaching, because he's doing so much to get better. It's interesting watching. He's a bright kid, and he's constantly hungry for more, which is nice."

[4Corners]

I'm really interested to see if Dalton regresses.

[Montsta]

People say defensive coordinators now have a year of tape, but you have to remember Cam will now have a whole offseason to watch tape as well, and will be even more comfortable in our offense so he can do more read and react and not force throws because it's what the play calls for. I don't think he'll regress at all. Ponder either.

[fieryprophet]

People say defensive coordinators now have a year of tape, but you have to remember Cam will now have a whole offseason to watch tape as well, and will be even more comfortable in our offense so he can do more read and react and not force throws because it's what the play calls for. I don't think he'll regress at all. Ponder either.

The interesting thing to me is how forward Rivera is about that very fact. No mention of "hey, you'll improve naturally" but instead a reminder that other teams are going to come after him harder. No laurel resting here.

[Donald LaFell]

People say defensive coordinators now have a year of tape, but you have to remember Cam will now have a whole offseason to watch tape as well, and will be even more comfortable in our offense so he can do more read and react and not force throws because it's what the play calls for. I don't think he'll regress at all. Ponder either.

i think defenses have the advantage this year. Suprisingly i think the lockout hurt defenses more than QBs, even rookie ones.

[Jackofalltrades]

I have a boner.

Improved Cam, Beason back AND better D and ST's?

Orgasm acheived.

[TheOracle]

Staying healthy. That's it.