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Greg Cosell's Film Study: What's different with Panthers and Cam Newton

Cam Newton is off to a bit of a slow start (AP)
Cam Newton is off to a bit of a slow start (AP)

The Carolina Panthers haven’t had an easy start to their season. A lot of that is due to the schedule: They have played the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, two of the best defenses in the NFL.

But when you study the Panthers’ film through three games, you see differences in their offense from last season.

While quarterback Cam Newton had great passing stats last season on his way to an MVP award last season, the Panthers are still a run-based offense. And while we still see multiple backfield actions that include Newton in the run game — and they’re multiple in all personnel packages and formations — they haven’t developed continuity or consistency with their run game. Against the Vikings last week, they could not control the tempo or stay ahead of the sticks. They tried in the second half, coming out attempting to re-establish their running identity with some quarterback power/speed option combinations, but the rhythm we’re used to seeing from the offense wasn’t there.

And when the running game isn’t keeping the offense on schedule, the passing game is affected too. I’m not sure why, but it’s my sense that the Panthers haven’t used as many “max protect” looks in the passing game this season. That was a key to their deep passing game last season, which was very effective.

And as we saw against the Vikings, the Panthers’ tackles had problems protecting on deep drops by Newton. In turn Newton’s lower-body mechanics — which aren’t consistent under the best of circumstances — deteriorated as the game progressed due to the consistent pressure.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer saw what the Panthers were struggling with and attacked it. Good coaches recognize the flow of the game and what the opponent is struggling with an do their best to challenge and exploit it. It was a combination of good defensive coaching and an offense that wasn’t running the ball effectively, then had trouble protecting Newton.

Here’s a play was a good example of how the Vikings schemed to take advantage of Carolina’s struggles.

The Vikings had a double mug front (defenders in blitz position on either side of the center), a staple in Zimmer’s defense. The concept had both Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr blitzing, with three-technique defensive tackle Brian Robison (from a two-point stance) looping behind Kendricks and Barr into the “A” gap. That concept got the Vikings’ best pass rusher, Everson Griffen, matched up one-on-one with left tackle Michael Oher, who was struggling all game in pass protection. Griffen won that matchup and got the sack.

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The Viking defensive line did an excellent job consistently closing down the pocket and squeezing Newton. Newton spent the whole game throwing out of a hole. He has the size and arm strength to throw with bodies around him, but he’s not a natural pocket quarterback. Newton wasn’t comfortable in the pocket against the Vikings, which was the same story in Week 1 against the Broncos.

Perhaps we’ll see the Panthers adjust and go with more max protect looks as the season progresses. It worked well for them last year.

Here’s a play that showed how Newton’s timing was affected by the pressure as the game wore on. The Vikings used another double mug front and safety Harrison Smith came blitzing off the edge. Based on the front and how the Panthers protected, Smith couldn’t be accounted for so Newton had to beat him. Beating the free blitzer is Newton’s responsibility on this play. But Newton didn’t pick up his drop tempo and throw the shallow cross to tight end Ed Dickson, which came open quickly with Robison dropping into that zone. Instead of Newton hitting Dickson, Smith got the sack.

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Newton made an error on the Vikings’ first-half safety. It was a shot play (deep pass) with Newton dropping into the end zone. But Newton’s internal clock stopped and he stayed in the end zone too long. He had a checkdown easily available to Dickson in the left flat.

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Newton was also a beat late on an interception late in the third quarter. Ted Ginn ran an out route and Newton threw it too far inside. Cornerback Terence Newman, because Newton wasn’t on time, was able to recover after being beaten and he undercut the throw.

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To this point we don’t see the same rhythm or continuity we saw from the Panthers offense last season, either running or passing. Kelvin Benjamin was only targeted once last week, late in the fourth quarter, and the Vikings didn’t do anything specific to take him away. The offense just isn’t executing as we’re used to seeing.

However, there’s no reason to think the Panthers’ offense won’t bounce back. It’s early in the season, and a lot of offenses won’t look good against the Broncos and Vikings this season. The Panthers this week face the Falcons, who don’t have a strong pass rush. Maybe this is the week the Panthers start to turn things around.

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NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.