Cam Newton: Defenses focusing on Steve Smith

[jtnc]

Steve Smith began this season with a bang, with five 100-yard receiving games in the Panthers' first half of the season.

Opposing defensive backs took notice, and started rolling extra coverage toward Smith.

Rookie quarterback Cam Newton is still looking Smith's way, but he's just not been as open as he was earlier in the year.

Newton targeted Smith six times in last week's 38-19 win at Tampa Bay. Smith caught two of the passes for 32 yards – his least productive game since he had two catches for 15 yards in a torrential rain against Jacksonville.

“He's a tremendous receiver and caught a lot of people off-guard as far as his value to this team. But last week was probably the week that he got the most attention that I've ever seen anybody (get),” Newton said of the Bucs' coverage.

“They were rolling to him. They were pressing him, also. Having a guy under him and over the top of him, so it was physically impossible for me to make an accurate throw without putting the ball in jeopardy.”

Smith is still tied for second in the NFL with 1,092 receiving yards. But Newton said part of his maturation process has been spreading the ball around to different receivers when Smith is covered.

“You just see the safeties pre-snap and I think that's something that came with time, playing game after game, practice after practice,” Newton said.

“The games begin to slow down, so to speak, and you see the safeties sliding over to Steve's side and all the attention that he's getting. We try to do a good job of moving Steve around a lot. But they're going to find 89, regardless.”

--Joseph Person

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/

Seems like Cam is learning to not turn the ball over.

[jtnc]

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[Tarheels23]

Too bad, Jake never grasped this concept.

[brian032]

Too bad, Jake never grasped this concept.

Which aided his descension. Though, some of the best highlights you'll ever witness as a Panther fan were the ones where he just tossed up to Smitty.

[footballisasport]

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/

Seems like Cam is learning to not turn the ball over.

That's what u took from that article...WOW.

I took away the fact that teams realize the threat tandem Cam and Smithy were making. But let's be honest, Smithy isn't AJ Green. The years are upon him even thou he is still good. He isn't as swift and elusive as his younger days, so teams cover him quicker and that leaves Cam looking for other openings.

This only means the rest of the offense need to step up their game.