Panthers Must Sit Cam Newton or Finally Unleash Him

Don't tug on Superman's cape...unless he's no longer invincible. 

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has done his best impression of Clark Kent in recent weeks. He's still big and strong, but his ability to fly around the field is missing. The signal-caller clearly isn't right physically, and it's having a profound effect on the Panthers offense. 

Newton is at his best when he's a true dual-threat quarterback. His ability to run the football has been neutered the past three weeks due to a lingering ankle injury and a cracked rib, though. 

Newton can't be as effective without the threat of running the football. It takes far too much away from his game and the Panthers offense. He's simply not consistent enough of a passer to remain in the pocket at all times. 

It comes down to Panthers brass to decide what's best for the team. Should they sit Newton and allow him to get fully healthy or take off the restrictions and simply unleash the player the quarterback truly is?

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera indicated which was way the team is leaning Monday after Newton ran the ball two times for seven yards Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. 

The quarterback's ability to run the football should become a bigger part of the offense in the coming weeks.  The coaching staff will still be very careful when and where they'll incorporate Newton into the running game. 

"But we have to do things the right way," Rivera said during Monday's press conference, via ESPN.com. "You don’t want to unleash him unless he’s ready to be unleashed. We’ve got to listen to what the trainers and doctors are saying, and we’ve got to listen to what he’s telling us.

Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula echoed Rivera's sentiment: 

"

I wish I could say, 'Hey! We're going to cut him loose this week!' I don't want to lie to you. That's something we're going to talk about this week. It's something we have to monitor every week for sure. But he's getting healthier and ... we'll see. 

"

The team's trepidation must go by the wayside if the organization is going to get back to last year's winning ways. Newton is easily the team's most effective weapon. This is especially true now that the team's stable of running backs is completely depleted.

Veteran running back DeAngelo Williams is expected to miss a couple weeks due to a high ankle sprain he suffered against the Ravens. 

Jonathan Stewart missed Sunday's contest with a severely sprained knee, and he's not guaranteed to return to the lineup against the Chicago Bears. And Mike Tolbert was previously placed on the injured reserved with a designation to return after he suffered a "hairline fracture" in his left leg during the Steelers contest. 

It's now up to the 6'5", 245-pound freight train at quarterback to make a difference in both the running and passing game. 

Newton's passing statistics are respectable after three games. He's completed 63.8 percent of his passes, thrown three touchdowns and hasn't been intercepted. But his ability to run the football combined with a cannon for an arm is what truly makes him special.

When Newton is full-go, he's can be nearly impossible to defend. Instead, the Auburn product labored through eight carries for 33 yards in three games.

His entire skill set is desperately needed too. The Panthers are the worst team in the NFL when asked to convert in the red zone.  

Newton's ability to run can open up a myriad of options for the Panthers. He doesn't simply scramble when nothing is open downfield. Shula can sprinkle in designed runs, particularly in short-yardage or goal-line situations. The Panthers quarterback is the team's best option in both scenarios. 

Rivera told ESPN that the expansion of Newton's overall offensive package is vital to the team's success this season. 

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As he gets healthier and healthier, the offense is going to start to expand. That’s the best part, too. That for us is a huge plus. But if we don’t take care of what we need to get corrected running the ball and stopping the run, it’s going to be a long season for us. 

"

If history is any indication, Newton running the ball more often and effectively is the key for the Panthers to win games. 

Year	Wins	Losses
2011	52.2	39.3
2012	53.9	40.4
2013	38.3	36.0

A varied offensive attack keeps opponents on their heels. The play-calling doesn't become predictable and stale. Newton, meanwhile, is at his best when he's allowed to freelance and shoulder the load. 

When the fourth-year quarterback is simply asked to stand in the pocket and pick apart a defense, he is unable to do so. Backup Derek Anderson is far more capable to slinging the pigskin all over the yard as a true pocket passer. 

If Newton is unable to live to the standards he previously set, the quarterback needs to sit. He clearly hasn't helped the offense to this point, and the Panthers don't have enough of a supporting cast to properly protect him. 

Anderson showed earlier in the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that he can get the ball out quickly and to the right targets. He's not going to run the ball either, but at least the Panthers know exactly what to expect of him as a passer. And that can prove beneficiary as the season continues. 

It's certainly an option to consider if the team still doesn't feel Newton is healthy enough to expand their offense. 

Otherwise, let Newton do what he does best, because it's best for the Panthers to have their dynamic quarterback behind center making plays.