Cam Newton Bombs Away Again: Based on Some Scouting Reports, Who Knew(ton)?

Nolan Nawrocki's Pro Football Weekly scouting report on Cam Newton read something like this: "Streaky passer with spotty accuracy...Played in a simplified, run-first, dive-option read offense with very basic high-low reads...Limited field vision...Does not process the passing game.”  

Cam proceeded to bomb away for a rookie record 422 yards in Week 1, but that was against the Cardinals.  However, for an encore, he torched the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers for 432 yards.  So much for processing the passing game.   

Spotty accuracy—he completed 66 percent of his passes at Auburn, 60 percent at Blinn College and 62.7 percent in his brief NFL tenure.  Seems fairly consistently accurate to me?  Maybe they were thinking of Mark Sanchez. 

Played only in a simple, run-first offense—probably true.  Interpretation is that the terminology, pro-style schemes and his ability to read defenses would be limited.  Not to mention the thought that a starting NFL rookie QB will have LBs/DEs licking their chops like Jethro at the Golden Corral.  A couple of rookie passing records now belong to Newton—854 yards in two games if you are playing along at home.  

Limited field vision—other scouting assessments say he always keeps his head up even while he runs.  Newton’s four picks in two games may still show this, but there is a lot of visioning going on with successive 400-yard games. 

This led Aaron Rodgers to say, “I think someone said in the locker room that I'm kind of glad we played him early in the season," Rodgers said, "because when he figures it out fully, he's going to be even tougher to stop."

As a Carolina Panther fan, this gives you hope.  Sure, there is room for improvement.  Closing skills of DBs like Charles Woodson will take getting used to.  However, what overcomes limitations is the desire to be great.  While filming a commercial with Tom Brady, he peppered him for nuggets of wisdom.  Joe Namath commented on the way he plays, his demeanor. He worked out with Chris Weinke to gain insight into Panther football.  And he has played down the stats to focus on they will get it right. 

There is a book titled, It's Not How Good You Are, But How Good You Want To Be.  Check it out—Cam seemingly has.