Pats Blogger: Cam Newton Aced Belichick's Exam

[fieryprophet]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/11/21/patriots-blitz-could-not-contain-cam-newton/rb6dupvLcYguhB9dWQO9uI/story.html

 

Bill Belichick didn’t exactly send the house at Cam Newton on Monday night, but he dialed up more pressure than usual in the first half, bringing an extra pass rusher on seven of 15 passing plays.

Newton responded with a sinister laugh. “You want to blitz me? Go ahead.”

Almost every significant play the Panthers had on offense was the result of Newton and the Panthers taking advantage of the Patriots’ aggressiveness.

The 42-yard pass to Steve Smith in the first quarter? The Patriots rushed six defenders. The 9-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell? Also on a blitz, with the throw landing in the spot that a blitzing Dane Fletcher vacated. Newton’s 24-yard run on third and 6 in the second quarter? Another six-man pass rush, with Newton running right past a blitzing Dont’a Hightower. The crucial defensive holding call on Devin McCourty on third and 7 on the Panthers’ final drive? You guessed it — another blitz.

[TheGreatestOfAllTimeCam]

Newton I guess has statistically been really good against pressure all year long. I just need to find the advanced metrics I saw that back that up.

[FearTheCats]

I hope teams blitz him on every down. He is just too athletic, too strong, and too fast for defenders to rattle him. 

[Huell]

I just read something on here saying that Cam is the only QB besides Eli to lead a game winning comeback vs Brady/Belicheck era?

But ESPN is too busy trying to find ways to prove the rule book and officials were wrong than talk about that for one second.

[rayzor]

I hope teams blitz him on every down. He is just too athletic, too strong, and too fast for defenders to rattle him. 

yep. also every week i keep seeing as the "keys to winning the game" for opposing teams is to pressure cam, shut down the run, and make cam beat you with his arm.

 

you'd think at some point they would figure out he's just about as dangerous as a passer as he is a runner. you've got to respect the whole package because he is just that...the whole package.

 

[TheRumGone]

yep. also every week i keep seeing as the "keys to winning the game" for opposing teams is to pressure cam, shut down the run, and make cam beat you with his arm.

 

you'd think at some point they would figure out he's just about as dangerous as a passer as he is a runner. you've got to respect the whole package because he is just that...the whole package.

 

 

remember what all of us were talking about Cam this offseason?

 

it has finally come to fruition. he is utilizing his entire skill set. and it's amazing to watch.

[rayzor]

remember what all of us were talking about Cam this offseason?

 

it has finally come to fruition. he is utilizing his entire skill set. and it's amazing to watch.

yep. it's a bit different from what i was expecting, but still awesome.

 

i said i was expecting a bret favre type gunslinger who could beat you with his legs, but what we have is a lot better of a passer than that. he doesn't have the big throws much anymore, but he can eat up that field with very little mistakes.

[fieryprophet]

yep. it's a bit different from what i was expecting, but still awesome.

 

i said i was expecting a bret favre type gunslinger who could beat you with his legs, but what we have is a lot better of a passer than that. he doesn't have the big throws much anymore, but he can eat up that field with very little mistakes.

 

We know he can make those throws, he just has focused much more on his short game this season. As he matures and the deep game comes back like he did early on, then every single inch of the field will be in play on every snap. And it will be glorious.

[TheRumGone]

yep. it's a bit different from what i was expecting, but still awesome.

 

i said i was expecting a bret favre type gunslinger who could beat you with his legs, but what we have is a lot better of a passer than that. he doesn't have the big throws much anymore, but he can eat up that field with very little mistakes.

 

i think that has more to do with not having a true #1. he's playing within the team's ability and thats evident by us being a more methodical, TOP type offense than big play team in years past (because of smitty's ability).

 

we draft a prototypical #1 WR and i think we will see a return of the big play.

[PantherWake]

Arizona is the only team that had success blitzing him

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[ajax4132]

If Cam keeps on his current trajectory, he will be impossible to defend in the NFL

[ajax4132]

The big play was always there, Shula and Cam are just mixing it up. 

 

The great QBs always have a knack for hitting the short and intermediate routes and once the safeties move up to take away those routes, then you go deep. 

 

We dont have a Calvin Johnson type who Cam can just throw it up to at ta whim

[TheMaulClaw]

yep. also every week i keep seeing as the "keys to winning the game" for opposing teams is to pressure cam, shut down the run, and make cam beat you with his arm.

 

you'd think at some point they would figure out he's just about as dangerous as a passer as he is a runner. you've got to respect the whole package because he is just that...the whole package.

 

 

Over on the Dolphins board they're actually hoping to not get penetration as much as controlling their gaps and mush rush.  I think we need to work the screen game on Cameron Wake's side and sprinkle more of the read option to move them off their gaps.  Also our weapon against the mush rush is Tolbert.  They're not bringing that guy down short of 5 yards if they're just camping letting Trollbert run at them full speed.

[Cary Kollins]

Good article...I don't know if the Boston Globe staffs bloggers though.