The Panthers gave quarterback Cam Newton a lucrative contract extension this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they feel he’s a finished product as a player.
Newton has completed 59.5 percent of his passes through four NFL seasons and offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey have been focusing on his footwork and decision-making this offseason as part of the effort to boost that number after boosting his salary. After minicamp wrapped up on Thursday, coach Ron Rivera said he felt things were “heading in the right direction” on both of those fronts a year after Newton missed most offseason work while recovering from ankle surgery.
“That’s one thing that Kenny and Mike have been working with him on, getting his footwork in the proper position and then getting set and throwing the ball,” Rivera said, via the Charlotte Observer. “That’s something they’re going to continue to harp on. I saw a couple of new drills I hadn’t seen in the past as far as getting his footwork down. And you do see the difference. [Wednesday] was about as good as I’ve seen him as far as practice.”
Rivera also said that he thinks Newton has tended to “stick with a guy a little too long” in the past, but that he saw progress in terms of moving on to other receivers who can then make plays with the ball rather than waiting for something bigger down the field. Observations like this are certainly promising, but they’re only worth so much in offseason practices. The key for Newton and the Panthers will be his ability to keep his footwork and decision-making strong when he faces opposing defenses in full-contact situations.
