NFL Preseason Predictions 2011: Cam Newton Will Struggle in Rookie Season

Carolina Panthers rookie Cam Newton is going to struggle at quarterback in the NFL.

He is extremely talented, he is extremely athletic and there is no doubting that he knows how to make professional caliber plays.

Anybody who watched him play at Auburn during their BCS National Championship run will tell you the same thing: He was the by far the most talented player on the field.

In fact, he was the most talented player in the nation, and he was rewarded with the Heisman Trophy for that accomplishment.

There are few who doubt that Cam Newton is a superior athlete, with more talent in his little toe than most players coming into the NFL right out of college.

If you doubt that, please go watch the tape. Newton himself will prove you wrong.

That being said, there are many people who doubt Newton’s ability to play quarterback in the NFL, and all those people have good reason too.

Newton played in a very simple offensive scheme, which is a red flag, and he also seemed to be immature and overconfident at times.

Others wonder whether or not his style as a run-first quarterback would translate into the NFL, where pocket passer quarterbacks seem to be dominant.

Pete Prisco, a Senior NFL Writer for CBS SportsLine.com, reports on what he saw out of Newton at Panthers camp:

"On one play, Newton dropped in a 25-yard touch throw to tight end Jeremy Shockey that was a thing of beauty. Then on the next play, he held the ball as the coaches screamed for him to check it down. He made some nice throws, and some horrible ones. But you get so mesmerized by the pretty ones that the ugly ones don't seem as bad.

"He's a tremendous athlete and he wants to translate his athletic ability into being a quarterback, and he's doing a good job," Panther Coach Ron Rivera said. "You do have some tremendous plays, the ones that make you say 'wow.' Some of his flat-footed throws, throws off his back foot or throws when he's under duress are some of those. And then you see him get anxious as he tries to force the ball. He's a work in progress."

Newton's body language is usually upbeat. But during Tuesday's work, he seemed to let his problems get the best of him. His body language wasn't pretty.

"He does wear his emotions on his sleeve," Rivera said. "You see it at times. He beats himself up. But he's competitive. That's the sign of a guy who really wants to be great."

Newton's head is spinning. Due to the lockout, the Panthers are forced to install a new offense at an accelerated pace. Newton had a playbook during the lockout to study, but he said it was a far cry from what he has now.

"That's Dr. Seuss compared to doggone Shakespeare," Newton said.

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Panther coach Ron Rivera is right. Newton is going to be quite the work in progress.

He has the talent to be great and he apparently has the desire and the will to be great, now all that he has to do is put the two together.

Being a quarterback in the NFL is so much more than talent though. It’s about poise, leadership, responsibility and an overall knowledge of the game and the people around you.

The great ones know how to put everything together; skill, confidence, leadership, passion, humility and knowledge.

Your average run of the mill quarterback may only be successful at a few of those things, while struggling at others.

Quite frankly, the difference between a good quarterback and a great quarterback in the NFL is a huge gap.

Newton may have said it the best.

It’s like Dr. Seuss compared to doggone Shakespeare.