Giants vs. Panthers: 4 Things We Want to See from Cam Newton's Debut

Tomorrow night will begin a new era for the Carolina Panthers: The Cam Newton Era.

With the first pick in last year's draft, the Panthers took Newton with the hope that he could be a franchise quarterback who would lead the team out of the NFL cellar. 

Unfortunately, it looks like we won't get to see Newton play against the first team defense as Carolina plans to start Jimmy Clausen, but regardless, here are some things to watch for when Newton takes the field. 

4. What Kind of Leader Is Cam Newton?

Quarterback is one of the most important positions in football for several reasons, and one of them is leadership.

There are two ways that a quarterback can lead: The first is by example, and the second is by his presence. For example, how is his body language, is he being vocal, etc.

Newton obviously led in college by example, as he often put the team on his back and carried them to victory. However, the NFL is a league where quarterbacks generally need to have a good presence around their teammates to lead them.

It will be interesting to see how the rookie directs his team.

3. Can Cam Newton Run in the NFL?

At Auburn last season, Cam Newton ran for an incredible 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns. 

It's unrealistic, to say the least, to expect anything close to that from Newton in the NFL. 

But for Newton to be successful, he is going to need to establish a run game. Will he be able to do that? NFL teams are obviously going to use schemes to do their best to contain Newton. Will Newton be able to make adjustments to his game to be able to run at the pro level?

The Panthers are looking for a Michael Vick-type dual threat out of Newton, and he must provide.

2. Can Cam Newton Throw Downfield in the NFL?

I literally have no idea what Cam Newton is doing in that picture, but if he tries that tonight, I doubt it will work.

Fans want to know if Newton can throw the long ball. The coaches need to know if Newton can throw the long ball. So we better see Newton throw the long ball.

One of the bigger questions surrounding Newton was his ability to throw downfield accurately. In an ideal situation, we'll get to see Newton attempt to make some of those tougher passes tonight. If he is going to be a good passing quarterback, he's going to need work on his precision.

1. How Will Cam Newton Handle the Hits?

Cam Newton isn't a small guy. He isn't supposed to be fragile, and he's not supposed to be a wimp.

However, that doesn't mean he's ready to get rocked by an NFL player.

Don't get me wrong, Newton obviously played some NFL-ready players in the SEC last year, but he has limited experience playing against the big boys.

When Newton starts running, how many hits will he be able to take before it starts to affect the rest of the game? Keep an eye out to see if anyone gets a good lick on Newton and how he reacts.